Artic Monkeys Can't Stop the Beat

Artic Monkeys have been touring and enjoying the success of their new album Humbug for awhile now. So of course when the tour wraps up they are going to take a much needed break, right?

Wrong!

The band plans to get right back into the studio to start working on their next project. There are no details available yet, except their plans to do this. For those of us (like me) who realized their love for the band after they had already passed their home town on the tour, this is exciting news. Let me do the math for you:

new album = another tour

At least it probably does. Either way, new music from this great band is nothing to sneeze at. After all, they weren't listed as one of my top bands of 2009 for nothing.

Happy Birthday + News Roundup

Lots of music and television news to share today. But first...

A happy birthday shout-out to Robbie Coltrane. Coltrane is best known for his portrayal of Hagrid in theHarry Potter series, although he is in a number of other films as well. He turns 60 today.

Moving from movies to television, it has already spread pretty quickly that this is officially the last season of 24. There was talk about it moving to NBC, but that is definitely not happening. The movie is in the works though, and will likely follow chronologically the events of the current season.

And in music, RXP's Experience Next presents: One Eskimo. This show is free to all and will be at Brooklyn Bowl on March 31.

Last, but certainly not least, MGMT's video for Flash Delirium is online for your viewing pleasure.

Bonus round:

For Doctor Who fans, here is an interview with Stephen Moffat.

The new season of Doctor Who premieres this weekend in the UK and April 17th in the US.

Bad Romance

Possibly as a birthday present for the performer's recent birthday, Hayley Williams (lead singer of Paramore) has posted an acoustic cover of the song Bad Romance.



Compare to the original:



Which one do you prefer?

Happy Birthday (x2)

Two birthday shout-outs today, one mainstream music artist and one slightly lesser known television star.

First off, thought you would be interested to know it is Lady Gaga's birthday today. She is known for her dance beats and outrageous costumes, but do any of you know her real name? It's Stafani Joanna Angelina Germanotta, in case you were wondering. Did you also know she started out performing in the Lower East Side of NYC? The area is known for it's music scene with Bowery Ballroom being located there, as well as a number of other venues. And I bet you didn't know her name is based from the Queen song "Radio Ga Ga" either. There are so many things yet to be discovered about this performer, but just know there is more to her than her costumes.

Next, News on Shuffle would like to wish a very happy birthday to Gareth David-Lloyd, who plays Ianto Jones on the Doctor Who spinoff, Torchwood. Many fans consider him a favorite on the show, especially regarding his relationship to the lead, Captain Jack Harkness. Even if you don't watch Torchwood, you still might recognize him as Dr. Watson from the recent Sherlock Holmes film.

As a combined birthday tribute, I thought it would be cool to share a video with Ianto and a Lady Gaga song. So here is Jack & Ianto's Bad Romance



And because what's a birthday without some dancing, why don't we Just Dance?

Happy Birthday, Nathan Fillion

News on Shuffle would like to wish Nathan Fillion a very happy birthday. Fillion was once star of the Joss Whedon cult classic, "Firefly" as well as Whedon's other cult favorites "Dr. Horrible" as Captain Hammer and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (where he guest starred in the final season). He currently star's on the ABC show "Castle". Other appearances by Fillion include a recurring role on a season of Desperate Housewives as Dr. Mayfair and the portrayal of Joey Buchanan on the soap opera "One Life to Live". Fillion turns 39 today.

Anticipating Tony

Tony nominations aren't going to be announced until May, but there is already some talk as to which musicals might be nominated. Assuming they both get nominated, I personally think who wins is going to come down to one of two: American Idiot or Memphis. While American Idiot is only in previews now, it already has a lot of interest from the general public. On the other hand, Memphis not only has quite a following already, it is also a superb show with very strong elements to it. I cannot tell you which I think deserves the win until I see American Idiot for myself. I know the album it is based off of is one of my favorites by Green Day (or the rock genre for that matter) and that it has the potential to be something special. Whether that potential translates on stage and connects with audiences is yet to be determined.

Jukebox the Ghost @ Bowery Ballroom

I'm not sure whether it was here or Twitter that I mentioned having a surprise in regards to my trip to see Jukebox the Ghost at Bowery Ballroom earlier this month. It took longer than expected, but my surprise is finally ready for the masses. See, I was asked to write a review for Beyond Race Magazine, and I thought it was only fair to wait until it was posted on their website before I did the same here. So here is my part of the review. The other section on the headliner (Tally Hall) was written by my friend who works at the magazine. (He also edited some of my bits, because I am, to be perfectly honest, not that good a writer). The complete review has been linked to above, in case you want to take a look. So, without further ado, I present: Jukebox the Ghost.

The following is my review as written by your humble blogger. There are a few edits on the BRM post, but that was probably for the best. Consider this the "deleted scenes" at the end of the movie, if it so pleases you.

Fresh from a month in Europe, Jukebox the Ghost played to a packed house at Bowery Ballroom. The band always has something special to offer their audience, and this was no exception. Whether it be ghosts for Halloween or Christmas lights strung everywhere, the stage is always an element of the experience. The staging this time was set with bubbles blown from members in the audience, turning the room almost into a playground. The comparison seems appropriate, for if Jukebox could be described with one word it would be “fun.” Not only does it fit the audience's experience, but what the band seems to feel as they perform. Ben (their keyboardist) tells stories of their tour or some other tale as if he's sharing this with a group of friends who have stopped by for a friendly visit. Two other members (Tommy and Jessie) shared that they caught a bug while in Europe. “Jessie is actually too sick to do this next song – but he's going to play it anyway,” Tommy comments before starting his favorite dance tune from their new album (release of which is unknown at this point). This shows a dedication to their music (and their fans) that is remarkable. You can tell they enjoy performing just as much as the audience enjoys watching them. The crowd dances and sings along throughout the set. There is even participation during a few of the songs. This is especially evident with the fan-favorite “Hold It In”, which they concluded their set with. Not only does the audience sing along, but there is also clapping which not only adds to the rhythm of the song, but also brings a wave of joy as the song progresses. It's as if you have become part of the experience, part of the fun. And that is just one more way Jukebox the Ghost becomes not just another band, but something truly special.

Happy Birthday, Alyson Hannigan

News on Shuffle would like to wish the lovely Alyson Hannigan a very happy birthday. Hannigan was once the star of the cult classic "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as Willow and also appeared in the spin-off, Angel. She currently stars with Neil Patrick Harris in the CBS comedy "How I Met Your Mother". Hannigan is married to Aleixs Dennisof, who also starred in "Buffy" and "Angel" as Wesley. They have a daughter who was born March 24, 2009. Hannigan turns 36 while her daughter turns 1.

Happy Birthday to them both.

New New News

Lots of new music things for us to look forward to.

1) Wolf Parade is apparently working on a new album to be released in 2010. The goal is to have the finished product ready by the spring.

2) MGMT also have a new album, which is already available for streaming online. When you're finished listening you can pre-order the album on their website.

3) The American Idiot musical is starting previews tomorrow. Buy your tickets today.

3.1) There is already talk of turning American Idiot into a movie as well. Seems Tom Hanks wants in on the gravy train. Thoughts on this? Good idea? Bad idea? Not entirely sure?

Lastly, don't forget to program your Tivo for Lost tonight. The season is heating up, and there is still a lot more to discover about the inhabitants of the island.

Dr. Horrible's Reprise

Remember that nasty writer's strike a few years back? While some took that opportunity to get some much needed rest, others spent that time working on other projects. For Joss Whedon, that meant putting together a little mini web series known to us all as "Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog" (or "Dr. Horrible" for short). The doctor (not to be confused with The Doctor of Doctor Who fame) had a PhD in Horribleness. He also had an adorable little crush on a fellow laundry person called Penny. The story was cooky, the songs full of fun, and the final masterpiece priceless. If you haven't seen it yet, you should definitely rectify that error immediately. Then you, too, can be just as excited about the idea of a sequel as the rest of us are. There is talk that it will actually be a feature film, as opposed to another web movie. Something big enough scale to give it the justice it deserves without taking away from the low-budget feel that made it so great. That sounds like a Horribly good idea to me.

John Barrowman's Desperate Debut

The following has mild amounts of spoiling. Please wait until have seen the episode if you don't want even the vaguest of details.

From the minute John Barrowman first appears on screen, you know you are going to be in for something special. He starts out cool and charismatic. Your first thought is, "Well, he doesn't look that scary." Oh, but he will be. For two minutes later you see another side of him, and as he smashes the window of the neighbor's apartment and gets ready to tie up a few loose ends, you realize he is definitely going to be trouble. He won't be seen again until the final seconds, but the glare he gives from the shadows of his car could give the bravest of us chills. Desperate Housewives won't be on again until after Easter unfortunately, but you can be certain there will be plenty of action once it returns.

Hold on, folks. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Muse @ SXSW

Muse played a semi-secret show at SXSW on Friday and announced that video would be available on MySpace this weekend. Said video is now up (and has been linked to above). Unfortunately only the last two songs are available due to sound issues that night, but the video is still worth checking out. Includes the two final songs for the night: Stockholm Syndrome and Knights of Cydonia.

Happy Birthday, Gary Oldman

A big happy birthday shout-out goes out to Gary Oldman, who turns 52 today. Oldman is known for being in a number of films, including Batman Begins/The Dark Knight, The Fifth Element, and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead, as well as his portrayal of Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series. Sirius returns to the wizarding world in the final chapter, Deathly Hallows. Oldman is also listed as reprising his role as Commissioner Gordon in a future Batman film.

As a postscript I would also like to wish a happy belated to Oldman's fellow marauder in the Harry Potter films, David Thewlis. Thewlis plays Remus Lupin in the series. He will also be making an appearance in Deathly Hallows. He turned 47 yesterday.

Happy Birthday to you both.

Fooling April @ Rockwood Music Hall

Fooling April played an intimate show at Rockwood Music Hall tonight at 6pm. Even though the band is from Philly, this was not their first time in NYC (although it was their first time playing at this venue). Normally they play the Bitter End on Bleaker St., but the change in venue suited them nicely. Their set ran for just under an hour and included songs both old and new (well, newish). Next time they come to the area I will be sure to promote it so more people can experience the positive vibes this band has to offer. Or, if you're in the Philly area, you can go see them play their Beatles charity tribute on April 1st. It promises to be a night to remember.

Torchwood: American Edition

After reading today's title article, I felt the need to share a brief analysis of the anticipated American Torchwood and what I believe will make or break the success of said show.

I first became a fan of Doctor Who and Torchwood back in December, when I finally decided to spend my vacation checking out what all the hype I had heard about both series was about. When I first heard that there would be an American version of the show, my immediate reaction was... fear.

Well, maybe fear is a little strong. Concern might fit better. Worry that an Americanized version would be a poorly made and watered down mess compared to the original that stole my heart from the first episode and dragged it through the ringer through series 3. (No spoilers will appear in this post, in case some of you aren't completely up-to-date on your Torchwood watching).

So, yeah, I was concerned. Concerned that they would strip down the elements that, in my opinion, made the show great, until there was nothing left but a few mere scraps. Sadly, American television seems to be under the belief that its viewers don't want to watch anything that is controversial. Or maybe they are afraid of the few people who will take offense to something. Either way, I find this silly. If someone doesn't like it then they don't have to watch. And if enough people are open-minded enough to accept the show and its characters for what they are then the networks can have what they want (namely ratings and money) while the viewers get an exceptional show that makes them think.

Now comes my challenge to the networks. I would imagine that Fox sees Torchwood as a potentially huge cash cow for them. It has grown in popularity recently, mostly due to the crossover it shares with Doctor Who. And who can you thank for that? Why David Tennant and Russell T. Davies, of course. David gave them his good looks and talent which, paired with Davies' superb writing, made the show a huge hit. It was a big enough explosion to help the show find its way overseas. Now Fox wants to take advantage of this while it can, which I don't blame it for. My only fear is that it fails to see the elements that make the show what it is, and ultimately end up suffocating it.

What elements am I talking about? Well, the writing is a huge part of it. Davies pen is razor sharp, and his stories have an edginess that should not be touched. The man pays great attention to detail. He also isn't afraid to write a story that his audience might be disgusted by, believing that their loyalty is strong enough that they will not turn away. The success of Children of Earth proves he is right in his beliefs. If you've already seen it, then you know exactly what I mean. If you haven't, then what the hell are you waiting for?!



Go watch.

Right now.

I'll wait.

Finished?

Good stuff, I know.

Right, moving on then. (But still, no spoilers. Promise.)

Now the issue at hand: controversy. More specifically our opposition to it here. The networks have shown that they may be ready to introduce the token gay character on their shows, but they will not risk making them the lead. And heaven forbid they also be a hero. Because our heroes have to follow a certain mold, and mostly that means being this tough, straight, man. (OK, more women are starting to play the hero too, but the ratio is in no way equal).

So this is my letter to Fox (and anyone else who cares to listen):

Dear Network,

Please do not assume that Americans don't want to see the same kind of show that the UK has been giving its audience for years now. You may not think we can or want to handle it, but who knows? We might surprise you. Give Russell and everyone else involved a chance to do their thing without any interference. Trust that they know what they are doing. If you do, your faith will likely be rewarded.

I usually try to stay objective in my writing, but this speech has been slowly building for some time now. I only hope the networks dare to prove me wrong and show me that they have more faith in their viewers than I think they do. Here's hoping.

Muse to Play SXSW

It seems Muse is appearing all over the world these days. It almost makes a blogger want to start a segment titled "Where in the World is Muse" to keep track of all the festivals they will be playing this year. The most recent addition to the list has been SXSW. The band has announced they will play an intimate show Friday night. For those who don't have the powers of teleportation to magic themselves to Texas in time for the event, they will get the opportunity to watch on MySpace the next day. This band is amazing live, so if you can make this show you should definitely jump at the chance. And even if all you can do is watch online I still say DO IT. I promise that you will not be disappointed.

Things I Learned About St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day: A time when everyone decides it's cool to be Irish for a day. (Also, a great excuse for everyone to go drinking in the middle of the week). Bet you didn't know these facts about the history of the day though. I know I certainly didn't.

1) The day was originally set as a day of remembrance for St. Patrick, who died on this date more than 1500 years ago.

2) St. Patrick's color was blue, not green. The use of green became popular in 1798, during the Irish Revolution. It represented the clover, which was the symbol of the revolution.

3) Bars in Ireland were actually, by law, forced to be closed on this day. That is until the law was repealed in 1961.

Bonus Round:

St. Patrick wasn't even Irish?! That's right. He was actually born in Britain but moved to Ireland as a missionary.

These facts and more are courtesy of Time Magazine (linked above). Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Virgin Mobile Freefest

The Virgin Mobile FreeFest is back, and the line-up so far looks pretty sweet. Bands include Mates of State, Taking Back Sunday, The Hold Steady, The Bravery, and Franz Ferdinand, among others. The event is scheduled for August 30th in Columbia, MD. Admission is free (you heard me) but they ask for a $5 donation to a youth homelessness charity. Good music for cheap AND helping a good cause? Sounds pretty good to me.

Flyleaf on Tour

Flyleaf is going on their UNite & Fite Tour starting this month and through the beginning of June. The tour will start in the UK and swing by the US. The New York date is scheduled for May 22nd at Webster Hall. Tickets go on sale March 20th.

News Roundup

A few quick news items that should probably all get their own posts but sadly there just aren't enough hours in the day.

Peter Graves, the star of the television series Mission Impossible, died last night near his home in LA. He would have been 84 in a week.

ABBA is among the list of new inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Other famous artists include Genesis and The Hollies, among others.

Kings of Leon, recent winners of Record of the Year, will be touring this summer. The tour kicks off in Atlantic City on June 5th and continues through September 23rd, where it will stop in Dallas. Complete list of dates can be found here.

Desperate Housewives will (finally!) be introducing us to Patrick Logan, the character that is supposed to be after Angie and her family, next week. As I have already mentioned, the role will be played by Torchwood star, John Barrowman. Discussion of this story will continue in the coming weeks.

Finally, don't forget that 24 is on tonight. You don't want to miss a minute of this exciting season.

The Doctor Is In

Doctor Who has been voted the greatest screen doctor in a recent poll. The runner up was Doctor Brown from Back to the Future.

Doctor Who has been around for generations, but has had a recent surge in popularity with David Tennant's portrayal of the iconic character in the new series.

Other doctors on the list include Dr. Spock from Star Trek, Dr. Cox from Scrubs, and Dr. Watson from Sherlock Holmes.

Top 10 Doctors:

1. Doctor Who

2. Dr. Brown (Back to the Future)

3. Dr. Kennedy ( Neighbours)

4. Dr. Evil (Austin Powers)

5. Dr. Spock (Star Trek)

6. Dr. Gellar (Friends)

7. Dr. Doolittle

8. Dr. Cox (Scrubs)

9. Dr. Ross (ER)

10. Dr. Watson (Sherlock Holmes)

Who knew going to the doctor could be so much fun?

Summer Glau sets her sights for The Cape

Summer Glau never seems to be able to stay on one show for too long. She has been all over since we first met her on Serenity in Joss Whedon's series "Firefly". She has since made appearances as a guest on "Big Bang Theory" and "Dollhouse" (another Joss Whedon series). All of these shows only a geek could love. Coming this fall she will be able to add "The Cape" to that list. The superhero-themed show will be one of the new series on NBC.

The Shepherd's Tale

Firefly fans get ready, because one of the mysteries left after the show ended will finally be seeing some light. Shepherd Book may have not received a lot of screen time, but there were certainly mysteries surrounding his character that fans were dying to have answered. For one thing he didn't really seem to fit on the ship with the rest of society's rejects. For another, he didn't always act like a holy man ought to. Well our questions will finally be answered in November thanks to Dark Horse comics. Joss Whedon and his brother Zack will be writing the graphic novel which goes into the past of one Shepherd Book. Looks like those nagging questions will finally be answered.

Pearl Jam Announces Tour, Visits MSG

Pearl Jam is set to tour the U.S. in May, including two dates in Madison Square Garden (May 20th & 21st). Other stops include Buffalo, Hartford, and Boston. Band of Horses will open all of the dates except the MSG shows, which The Black Keys will open. Pre-sale starts March 15th and public on-sale starts March 19th & 20th (depending on what city you are in).

Conan O'Brien Set To Tour U.S.

Conan O'Brien may be done with late night TV for awhile (at least until Sept 1, according to the settlement with NBC), but his days (or nights) of making people laugh are far from over.

There will be a tour.

It will take place during the summer.

It will be epic (maybe).

Presenting Conan O'Brien in the "Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour"

The tour will hit most of the major spots, including an appearance at Bonnaroo. The rest of the dates are:

4/12, Eugene, OR (Hult Center for the Performing Arts
)
4/13, Vancouver, BC (Orpheum Theatre
)
4/16, Spokane, WA (INB Performing Arts Center)

4/17, Edmonton, AB (River Cree Resort & Casino
)
4/18, Seattle, WA (Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
)
4/22, San Francisco, CA (Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium
)
4/24, Universal City, CA (Gibson Amphitheater)

4/29, San Diego, CA (San Diego Civic Theatre)

4/30, Phoenix, AZ (Dodge Theatre
)
5/1, Las Vegas, NV (Pearl Concert Theater)

5/4, Reno, NV (Grand Sierra Resort and Casino)

5/5, San Jose, CA (San Jose State Event Center
)
5/6, Sacramneto, CA (Sacramento Memorial Auditorium)

5/9, Boulder, CO (Mackey Auditorium
)
5/10, Denver, CO (Ellie Caulkins Opera House)

5/13, Dallas, TX (McFarlin Auditorium)

5/14, Austin, TX (Austin Music Hall
)
5/15, Tulsa, OK (Brady Theater
)
5/16, Kansas City, MO (The Midland)

5/18, Minneapolis, MN (Orpheum Theater
)
5/19, Chicago, IL (Chicago Theatre)

5/22, Toronto, ON (Massey Hall)

6/1, New York, NY (Radio City Music Hall
)
6/4, Boston, MA (Wang Theater)

6/6, Uncasville, CT (Mohegan Sun Arena)

6/7, Upper Derby, PA (Tower Theatre)

6/8, Washington, DC (Dar Constitution Hall)

6/11, Manchester, TN (Bonnaroo Music Festival
)
6/14, Atlanta, GA (Fox Theatre)

Way to tackle unemployment head-on, sir.

Happy Birthday, John Barrowman

John Barrowman, star of Torchwood (the spin-off of Doctor Who), is celebrating a birthday today. The actor and singer turns 43 today.

Actually, Barrowman has a lot to celebrate at the moment. For one thing, he is currently in the States and on the set of Desperate Housewives, where he will guest on the show for several episodes. The first of these will be March 21st, according to TV.com. Barrowman will be playing the villain in connection with the new family on Wisteria Lane, but has said in several interviews that he will play a major part in all of the ladies' lives on the show.

Another exciting thing in the life and times of John Barrowman is the new album he has just released. This self-titled work has been said to be his most personal yet, as he goes back to his Broadway roots and has chosen songs that have some significance in his life. (One example is the song his mother used to sing to him as a child, "You'll Never Walk Alone," from the musical Carousel).

There is also talk of Barrowman reprising his role of Captain Jack Harkness for the American version of Torchwood that is in the works, but he insists that he knows nothing about this at the present time. Is he just saying that because he's not allowed to tell? Guess we will just have to wait and see. One thing is certain, it would be a crime to waste his experience with the show and his obvious enthusiasm at potentially getting to take the part back up again.

Evelyn Evelyn pre-order

You've heard of Evelyn Evelyn. They got all that buzz when people complained to Amanda Palmer about them. Well how bout some good news surrounding the conjoined twins?

Hear ye, hear ye. Amanda Palmer & Jason Webley are proud to present to the debut album of none other than Evelyn Evelyn. This is exciting stuff you will not want to be left out of. So go follow the title link down the rabbit hole and reserve your copy today.

Remember When: The Day Buffy Was Chosen

To each generation a slayer is born.

I'm sure you are not only familiar with this statement, but know how it continues. Thirteen years ago today we were introduced to Buffy Summers and the rest of the Scooby gang in what would become one of the defining shows of our lives (especially those of us who were adolescents at the time). The show was quirky, the characters oddballs, but together they made television magic. To think this show started as one of the biggest jokes in movie-dom is astounding, mostly because it became so much more. The characters gained depth and the story developed new levels with each season. By the end of its seven year run it had a huge following and left an impression on every life it touched. So grab your DVDs, make some popcorn, and take a moment to pay tribute to a great show.

Oscar Watch 2010

Last night's Oscars really boiled down to who would win Best Picture: Avatar or the Hurt Locker. Both took a considerable number of awards throughout the night (6 total for Hurt Locker and 3 for Avatar) but at the end of the day the big prize went to The Hurt Locker. The reaction from everyone, especially the winners themselves, was extraordinary. The cheering was loud enough that you could probably have heard it in your house, even without the TV on. Congratulations to everyone involved in the movie for a great success. Other winners for the night included Up for Animated Feature Film and Music (Original Score), Star Trek for Make-Up, and Sandra Bullock for Best Actress in a Leading Role. A complete list of winners has been linked to above.

Muse On Tour: Boston Edition

Picture it: Fall, 2009. Muse headlines for arguably one of the greatest bands of all time: U2. "Who are these guys?" the crowd wonders. They're really good.

Flash forward to now. Muse is on a tour of its own, and you can be sure everyone in the crowd knows who they are. They sit through a fun yet otherwise uneventful set from Silversun Pickups. Many are only familiar with one song, the hit "Panic Switch" It is played near the end of the set. Everyone dances and sings along. They know it means they will soon be getting what they came here to see.

Break. Set change. Waiting.

The lights go down. Everyone cheers. Our time is now.

The stage shines with intense light displays and video. Portions of the stage rise and fall to reveal the band. What follows is over an hour of one of the most impressive displays of musical ability I have seen in a band. It was truly inspirational.

The main set ended with a few songs missing, so I started my predictions of what the encore would be. It was a long shot, I knew, but I was hoping for Exogenesis Symphony. To me, it showcases their talent as musicians. I was pleasantly surprised to see I had gotten my wish. It was followed by Stockholm Syndrome and then concluded with Knights of Cydonia. A great finish, although I was disappointed they didn't play Invincible. It is the best song on the live album, and I was hoping to experience it for myself.

Overall the show was fantastic. If you get a choice to see them live DO IT. They are one of the best live bands you will possibly ever see.

Davis Cup Action

Davis Cup 2010 is officially underway. If you want to follow along you can do so here:



More coverage to follow as the tournament progresses.

When Two Loves Collide

If you are a regular follower of this blog then you should notice at this point certain musical artists and television shows get more coverage than others. You probably have also figured out my love/obsession with the new series "Glee". You have not been exposed to my obsession with Doctor Who and all things related (mostly that means David Tennant and John Barrowman).

Now usually I try to keep it as professional as possible around here. That means it's ok to talk about something I love, but try to be objective and not, well, squee like a little girl just because I am excited about something. I also try to not use the word "I" all the time (which was doing good up till now, I think). See, there I go again. And again. It's all downhill from here. But that's what love does to you. It makes you forget yourself sometimes. So pardon me as I share my story: when two loves collide.

As I said before, I love "Glee" with a passion only other musical geeks could possibly understand. So when I found out one of my new favorite actors, John Barrowman, was in talks to possibly be on the show, of course there was joy. In fact, I screamed. One of those silent screams that makes people wonder if you're having an episode of some kind. I already had heard about his upcoming appearance on Desperate Housewives (another of my favorite shows). And I knew there was a small chance he could be appearing in the American version of Torchwood. (He claims that he doesn't know but my theory is that it just isn't official yet). But, I digress.

So Glee. And John Barrowman. Who has a new CD and has already shown he has talent both acting and singing. Yeah, sounds good to me.

Glee hits the road for spring tour

Things we already know about the hit show "Glee":

1) Well, it's a hit. Ratings are good and people are talking.

2) It's a show about a glee club. That means lots of singing and dancing.

Knowing these two things it should come as no surprise that the cast of Glee will be going on tour this spring. The list of dates is short, but they're hitting most of the big cities (including two dates in New York City).

May 18 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre
May 20 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
May 21 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
May 25 Chicago, IL Rosemont Theatre
May 26 Chicago, IL Rosemont Theatre
May 28 New York City, NY Radio City Music Hall
May 29 New York City, NY Radio City Music Hall

So, who else is Glee-ful over this latest announcement?