Halloween is tomorrow. Different origin stories are floating around online but our version of Halloween is more than likely based on the Celtic festival Samhain. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker half of that year. It was brought to North America in the 19th century by Irish and Scottish immigrants where it was confined to their communities and by the first decade of the 20th century it was celebrated by people of all types from coast to coast. We also didn't adopt the turnip as our jack-o-lantern of choice, but the pumpkin which was much easier to crave, you can make amazing pies with them and the seeds are delicious when baked for 10 minutes with some salt. And like any other holiday (is that what it is) there is boatloads of Halloween themed TV shows. I only mention this since the new South Park finds Randy Marsh buying the closed down Blockbuster Video store in hopes of reviving the rental business in South Park, while Stan, working at the store on Halloween, still goes trick or treating as Captain America via Facetime on his iPad with the rest of the gang. They need Captain America to complete their group of Avengers thus a sure win at the schools costume contest. Great parody of 'The Shining' and my favourite episode of the show in some time. Randy Marsh episodes are always key. You can stream the episode HERE from The Comedy Network.
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Hurricane Sandy didn't stop to NYC funnymen from performing their late night duties without an audience, even pausing for laughs, despite (and similar to other nights) there are none. Jimmy Fallon and David both braved Sandy to deliver their monologues to an empty studio. Denzel Washington even showed up to Letteraman's set in a yellow rain coat quipping that he had swam there. "Only for you, Dave." Millions were without power, but the show must go on, and Fallon felt that maybe people needed some laughs after a long, wet day. "I'm assuming that people at home will be watching either on their laptops get their generators out… and they're going to want to leave room to laugh," Fallon said. Good job Jimmy, and David for still putting on a great show even though no one was there to watch it. True pros! Here's some footage:
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Mickey Skywalker and Princess Minnie. That sounds horrible. George Lucas has potentially bastardized the Star Wars legacy even more after selling his company, Lucasfilm for a cash and stock deal valued at $4 billion. Disney now has control of the entire Star Wars franchise as well as the even bigger merchandising operation. Disney also scored a legendary special effects studio Industrial Light and Magic, and the Skywalker Sound audio production studio. "It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I've always believe that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime." He will act as creative consultant on the already planned Star Wars: Episode 7, the first of a planned new trilogy, with the first one coming out in 2015 if all goes well. "The film is in what I'll call early-stage development right now" said Disney CEO Bob Iger, but Lucas has mentioned for years the he has treatments for the seventh, eighth, and ninth instalments. And it'll be nice to get Mark Hamill some work. Here a staged 'candid' interview with George Lucas and the sale put up on the Star Wars website today:
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In an upcoming TV interview with David Frost, ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney claims that Yoko Ono did not break up the Fab Four, eliminating the second biggest reason for people to dislike her. Her "music" is still the biggest reason. "She certainly didn't break the group up. I don't think you can blame her for anything," adding that Lennon was definitely going to leave. "When Yoko came along, part of her attraction was her avant garde side, her view of things. She showed him another way to be, which was very attractive to him. So it was time for John to leave." The interview will air in November. Here's there song "God" from the Plastic Ono Band (Lennon and Ono's group) first album, released in 1970. "I just believe…. in me… Yoko & me.." Great song, classic album. The only John & Yoko record that is pretty solid front to back.
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Swedish darlings, the Refused are f*cking dead. Again. After pleasing punk and metal heads alike by announcing their reunion at Cochella then a full tour they have decided to call it quits again. This news break the same day Pennywise announces that former frontman Jim Lindberg is rejoining the band after they released an album mere months ago (that was better than anyone could have expected) with Ignite frontman Zoli Teglas. All is not lost though, since Hot Water Music has announced their first headlining tour in eight years over the winter, with a stop off at Toronto's Danforth Music Hall on January 29th.
Some upcoming Toronto shows:
Nov 01: Napalm Death, Municipal Waste @ Opera House
Nov 07: Dethklok, Machinehead, All That Remains, Black Dahlia Murder @ Sound Academy
Nov 08: Gallows @ Lee's Palace
Nov 13: Motion City Soundtrack @ Mod Club
Nov 14: Bob Dylan @ ACC
Nov 15: Trash Talk @ Annex Wreck Room
Nov 17: Dropkick Murphys, Teenage Bottle Rocket @ Hamilton Convention Centre
Nov 17: K.E.N. Mode @ Garrison Room
Nov 21: Henry Rollins @ Glenn Gould Studio
Nov 25: Motionless In White, Stick To Your Guns @ Mod Club
Dec 08: Conor Oberst @ Massey Hall
Dec 09: Job For a Cowboy @ Annex Wreck Room
Dec 12: Killswitch Engage @ Opera House
Dec 14: The Flatliners @ Opera House
Dec 15: Madball, Figure Four @ Annex Wreck Room
Dec 26-29: Alexisonfire @ Sound Academy
Dec 28: Rusty @ Horseshoe Tavern
Jan 29: Hot Water Music @ Danforth Music Hall
Rock & Roll!
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Congrats to the San Francisco Giants on winning their second World Series title in three years. The Giants completed the sweep in the tenth inning of game four in Detroit to clinch the series. No one really expected this, but it has been a post season of unexpected moments, from the Athletics stunning run to the Tigers demolition of the hated Yankees. But the Giants really were the most remarkable team of the 2012 post-season. After having to real off three straight wins against the Cincinnati Reds in the divisional series, they were facing a 3-1 deficit against the Cardinals in the NLCS only to storm back and take the series in seven games. They truly showed that you need shut down pitching to win championships and they did just that with all four starters pitching terrific, and Barry Zito, left off the 2010 championship teams playoffs roster, was lights out all playoffs long. Who would have though they would have won the Series when their two time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum was pitching out of the bullpen because of struggles with dropping too much weight in the offseason, came to camp much to small and proved ineffective finishing the campaign with a 10-15 record. He pitched well in the playoffs giving up 5 runs in 17+ innings of work and pitched 4.2 innings in relief against the Tigers in the World Series and surrendered just a walk. In fact, the Giants pitching held Detroit's potent offence to a horrible .159 batting average. Pablo "Panda" Sandoval was crowned World Series MVP on the heels of this 3 home run, 4 hit performance in game one. The Giants have a young team and could be on the verge of legacy status if the win one more series in the next season or two. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 2010 & 2012 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
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And for those of you who like the nostalgia sorta thing (and if you were growing up in the 80-90s) here's a couple Saturday morning Halloween specials for you to check out, thanks to YouTube!:
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