Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
I'd like to start off this introduction by saying, right up front, that I would like to be an Imagineer. Seriously. Those are the folks that make all the coolest stuff at Disney. This is not just a momentary whim, but a life-long wish. I know, now you're wondering why I'd bring this up; well, you'll just have to read on and find out (enticing, isn't it?).
Sunday, June 3:
8:00 – 9:00PM
Nature – “Wisdom of the Wild”. I think that they’re referring to the animated film, because goodness knows that the wild as a real life thing just isn’t that smart. I mean, there’s no ice cream, no air conditioning, and no television. It has to be about the animated movie.
9:00 – 11:00PM
Mystery! “Jericho, Series II”. I must remind you that this Jericho is not the same as the CBS show, Jericho. I understand, it can be very confusing to have two shows with similar names, but they are not the same show. Please do try and remember that.
Monday, June 4:
8:00 – 9:00PM
Antiques Roadshow – “Memphis (Hour One)”. First up in Memphis: a 35-year-old peanut butter and banana sandwich, stolen from Graceland. Second up: a TCB thunderbolt, stolen from Graceland. Third up: a velvet Elvis, that’s right, stolen from Graceland.
9:00 – 11:000PM
Six Days in June. Actually, there are 30 days in June. I know because I remember that little rhyme about 30 days have September, yada, yada, yada. The six days in question here of course are about the Six Day War between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
Tuesday, June 5:
8:00 – 9:00PM
Nova – “Great Escape”. Like Steve McQueen, all I need’s a fast machine, so I can hop fences while riding atop it. Nova is going to take a look the real story upon which the movie is based. In real life, Steve McQueen wasn’t there; the character may have been, but not Steve himself, and that’s a darned shame.
9:00 – 10:00PM
Frontline – “The Tank Man”. Now this is something I’m truly interested in, no joke. This episode goes in search of the Chinese man who stood in front of the tanks in Tianenmen Square back in 1989. I’ll give you that we’re years later at this point, but I’m still intrigued.
10:00 – 11:00PM
Independent Lens – “La Lupe: Queen of Latin Soul”. All about Lupe Victoria Yoli or La Lupe or La Yiyiyi, depending on what you like to refer to her as. She rose to fame in the 1960s but was back in obscurity at the time of her death in 1992.
Wednesday, June 6:
8:00 – 9:00PM
Secrets of the Dead – “Gangland Graveyard”. We’re focusing tonight on the FBI investigation into and downfall of “Big Joey” Massino. This is, for you movie buffs, the Donnie Brasco thing, popularized in the movie Donnie Brasco.
9:00 – 10:30PM
Great Performances – “We Love Ella! A Tribute to the First Lady of Song”. You know what this is. It’s famous people singing a bunch of different Ella Fitzgerald songs. Those people include: Natalie Cole, Patti Austin, and Cyndi Lauper, among others.
10:30 – 11:00PM
Encore! with James Conlon – “Being It or Playing It?”. Does the artist become one with the music or is the printed score the final authority? Here’s my question, even if the artist becomes one with the music can’t the printed score be the final authority? Just asking.
Thursday, June 7:
8:00 – 9:00PM
The This Old House Hour – Episode TBA. It’s This Old House and Ask This Old House. It’s like maintenance… for your home. Wait, no, that’s exactly what it is. That doesn’t mean it’s not awesome though.
9:00 – 10:00PM
Antiques Roadshow – “Memphis (Hour One)”. First up in Memphis: a 35-year-old peanut butter and banana sandwich, stolen from Graceland. Second up: a TCB thunderbolt, stolen from Graceland. Third up: a velvet Elvis, that’s right, stolen from Graceland.
10:00 – 11:00PM
Great Old Amusement Parks. A look at amusement parks that were around before Disney. Lord knows though that there’s nothing wrong with Disney. In fact, if anyone from Disney is reading this right now, I’ve always wanted to be an Imagineer, I applied online but never heard back, do you have any way of getting me in the door for that all-important first interview?
Friday, June 8:
8:00 – 8:30PM
Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal #4649. Another whole week has gone by and good old Gwen Ifill and National Journal are here to fill us in. For the record, I like to pretend the National Journal is a sidekick, like Robin to Batman, Starsky to Hutch, or chocolate sauce to chocolate ice cream.
8:30 – 9:00PM
NOW #323. It’s the Emmy award-winning weekly newsmagazine. It looks at issues facing our democracy. The show is hosted by David Brancaccio. And, even better, they still send me e-mails (I think that makes me cool and them nice). Thanks, Now!
9:00 – 10:00PM
Bill Moyers Journal #1109 – It’s Bill Moyers. It’s his 1,108th journal (not really, but I’m not going to explain to you the way in which TV shows are numbered at this point in time, maybe later if you’re nice). He’s a good journalist so I assume this will be good journalism (at least the odds are it will).
10:00PM – 11:00PM
Secrets of the Dead – “Gangland Graveyard”. We’re focusing tonight on the FBI investigation into and downfall of “Big Joey” Massino. This is, for you movie buffs, the Donnie Brasco thing, popularized in the movie Donnie Brasco.
Saturday, June 9:
9:00 – 10:0PM
Austin City Limits – “James Blunt/James McMurtry”. Blunt is from England. McMurtry is the son of famous author Larry McMurtry. He’s not from England. He is, much like Blunt, a singer however. That’s why they’re both on this program. It’s a singing program.
You may think I’m kidding about the whole Imagineer thing, but I’m not. I would LOVE to be an Imagineer. I really, really would. I’m creative, I think outside the box, I’m a hard worker, I could be an Imagineer. Come on, Disney, give me a chance, you won’t regret it!
