Is Vice the greatest world news media outlet of all time? If not, who is? I'll wait...
...That's what I thought. Not only does Vice find some of the most fascinating and under-reported stories in the entire world, but they also have a knack for taking chances and providing their audience with an insider approach that can't be found anywhere else. What began as a Canadian-based, government-funded magazine, has blossomed into one of the most popular multimedia, multi-platform news outlet in the world.
Their most recent project/development was the Vice television show on HBO. This half hour show airs Fridays at 11pm, and tomorrow marks the half way point of their inaugural season. Each episode features two to three stories, or segments, which range from child soldiers in the Taliban to an epidemic that Vice refers to as the 'Chinese Cockblock'.
The reporters, including Vice co-founder Shane Smith, are equal parts brave, intelligent, and downright heroic, as they boldly go where no reporters have gone before. Okay well maybe not no reporters, but it made for a pretty cool sentence so I just went for it. If you are a representative for Vice, feel free to quote me on the aforementioned line.
Okay, I'm getting off topic. The bottom line is this! Vice is outstanding, and you should watch it! The truth is, Vice scares the shit out of me. The reporters seem to be in constant danger. Whether they're dealing with the most dangerous people on earth or simply dealing with self proclaimed 'sane' people who very clearly are not, I am in constant fear for the reporters' lives. Truthfully, that is the best praise I could give to Vice and, in my opinion, gives you plenty of reason to check it out. The website is www.vice.com, and you can find all you need to know about the HBO show here.
If you're looking for a sample, check out the preview of episode 5, airing tomorrow at 11pm on HBO, below.
Ah, cameos. The short, but sweet, appearances by our favorite characters in random television shows/movies. There were a number of surprising/awesome celebrity cameos in the Sopranos, but these were, in my opinion, the top three. Check it out!
3. Will Arnett as the FBI agent's wife
This is the apitomy of a great cameo. A completely unexpected actor in a totally random role on a popular TV show. If you don't remember Will Arnett scoring a gig on the Sopranos, you're not alone. He played the husband of the FBI agent who went undercover to befriend Adriana. Don't believe me? Look for yourself!
2. C.S. Lee as Tony Soprano's doctor
This is such an obscure cameo, that I couldn't even find a picture of the actor in the show. C.S. Lee, an actor best known for playing Masuka on Dexter, apparently started his career off as Tony Soprano's doctor after he got shot by Uncle June. If you've ever wondered why Masuka makes so many dirty, distasteful jokes, it probably has something to do with the enormous pressures that come with keeping a mob boss alive after a devastating gun wound. Talk about stress, huh?
1. Michael Kenneth Williams in the project building 'safe' house
"Come at the king, you best not miss." Good point Omar. Even if the "king" in this scenario is a low life who lives in the projects with an especially talented chess player for a daughter. It's worth mentioning, however, that I do not endorse her dismantling of Jackie Junior's intellectual pride right before he took a bullet to the head. That's really messed up, Chalky White's daughter... really messed up...
Okay, okay. Enough with the positivity. It's time to talk about the worst characters from the Sopranos. This list was extremely easy to make and I couldn't imagine how anybody could disagree. Strangely enough, however, I looked up a number of other 'top five' lists and found that many of my worst characters were actually listed among other list's best characters. Make no mistake, the people in this list absolutely suck.
5. Big Pussy
You will come to discover a common trait shared by all of these characters. They have the most punchable faces in television history. Big Pussy is named Big Pussy. That should be enough right there. He is also the first major character to become a snitch for the FBI. The fact that he was so proud of himself for snitching and felt like a 'real cop' made him so much more hateable.
4. Artie Bucco
Artie Bucco is the definition of a loser. The other characters in the show talk about him like he was so cool when they were growing up, but I just can't picture that. He strikes me as the type of guy that tries so hard to fit in with the group, but never truly earns their respect. He's by far the creepiest with Soprano girls and he let's his emotions get the best of him far too often.
3. Ralphie Cifaretto
Ralphie is the worst! Well, not literally as he is only number three on the list. But Ralphie is pretty damn close to being the worst! Between bad jokes and a big mouth that ultimately got him killed, Ralphie was one of the few whacked characters who I didn't feel bad about at all. He had to go.
2. Paulie Gualtieri
Paulie was the biggest shocker on those other countdowns I mentioned above. He was almost universally selected as one of the best character in the show. That blew me away. I thought for sure he would be one of the most hated. Paulie is so annoying. Every once in a while, he'll make me laugh. That is the only reason he isn't number 1 on this list. Nevertheless, he comes in at number two, and is well deserving of the ranking. Truly awful.
1. A.J. Soprano
When he's not yelling at his parents or acting like a spoiled brat, he's crying. A.J. is my pick for the absolute worst character in the show. First of all, the kid is a bad actor. In his defense, it's difficult to stick with the same child actor for practically 7 seasons. The struck gold with Meadow Soprano, but A.J. didn't work out as well. Equally hateable is A.J.'s various hairstyles throughout the show. The worst one is pictured above. The chin strip look in the final season is arguably just as bad, however. A.J. sucks; plain and simple.
The next list will countdown the top five best characters from the Sopranos. This list was extremely difficult, as there have been a number of major and minor characters who have made a profound impact on one of the best shows on television. Here's the list.
5. Christopher Moltisanti
It took me a while to get used to Chris, but he definitely emeraged as one of the best characters in the show. He dances the line between authority and immaturity beautifully. He's also responsible for some of the funniest lines in the show. Of the top of my head, his line about getting the 50 cent movie for free at the car wash was definitely one of the funniest on the show. Chris's newest money venture involves being the spokesman for 1800 Tequila. So remember, if you're pouring your own shot with an 1800 bottle, you're probably supporting the mob in some way.
4. Furio Giunta
Going against my general rule of never trusting a man with a ponytail, Furio is a shoe-in on any top five list. Introducing a character from the old country adds some perspective on the ridiculousness of many of the Italian-American traditions. Furio was eager to get his hands dirty and never backed down from a Tony Soprano order. Plus, he flirted with the idea of hooking up with the Boss's wife. Biggest badass on the show, without question.
3. Silvio Dante
Take a good look at the face directly above this sentence. That is the face of loyalty. A little uglier than you expected? No matter! Silvio is the only one of Tony's top guys who didn't stray from his side at one point or another. Chris made that oddly specific movie plot, Bobby remained loyal to Junior, and Paulie often gossiped with Johnny Sack and Carmine. Not Sivlio though! Loyal to the very end. In an underworld where all the rules have gone to shit, this is a highly respectable attribute.
2. Tony Soprano
Tony Soprano is your quintessential protagonist. Was he perfect? No. Could you justify and relate to every decision he made? Yes. That's the true testimate of a main character. A great combination of intimidating, sentimental, hilarious, and depressing, Tony brought a certain lovable innocence to the Mob Boss role. The Sopranos wouldn't be the same without Tony at the helm.
1. Corrado 'Junior' Soprano
Junior is my favorite character, by far. Pound for pound, the funniest guy on the show, Juniors clever, fast-talking whit combined with his out-dated, old school mentality made him a fan favorite. He always seemed to working out some master plan in the earlier seasons. When his health began to deteriorate in the later seasons, he became an adorable old man. His unexpected relationship with characters like Bobby and the Asian mental patient, Junior was an oddball in every sense of the word. Great character on a great show.
Our first list will rank the top five best episodes of The Sopranos. In a true American classic, this HBO series had some of the greatest moments in television history. Here are the top five.
TOP FIVE BEST EPISODES:
5. Season 2, Episode 13 -- Funhouse
The Sopranos best moments often took place in a dream sequence. Dreams, one of the most overdone and outdated television tools, was somehow made new again in the Sopranos. The first extended dream, which took place in the episode entitled "Funhouse," was by far the creepiest. Very memorable episode.
4. Season 6A, Episode 8 -- Johnny Cakes
The season 6 subplot involving a closeted gay character struggling with his own insecurities and feelings of danger vs. safety was one of the bravest moments in television. They don't shy away from the touchy subject, exposing all facets of the beauty and ugliness involved in the battle for gay rights.
3. Season 5, Episode 11 -- The Test Dream
Without a doubt the best dream sequence in the series, the dream lasts an impressive 20 minutes while avoiding a single boring/redundant part in the story. Really great episode.
2. Season 6A, Episode 2/3 -- Join the Club/ Mayham
If you like Sopranos dream sequences, then episodes two and three of season 6A were like a dream come true. When Tony Soprano gets put in a coma, he essentially goes through two full episodes of non-stop dream sequence. Trippy imagery and eerie symbolism flood the plotlines.
1. Season 6B, Episode 9 -- Made in America
The series finale has been one of the most talked about, loved, and hated finales in television history. I have my own theories, yet I'm hesitant to shine my own light on the episode, as it's truly something you have to experience for yourself. If you're dying to know what I think, you can email me and ask. All I'm going to say is this. Listen to the flashback quote from Bobby earlier in the episode. That's what gave it away for me.
This season of The Ultimate Fighter has been one of the best ever. Between the coaches, the competitors, the brutal knockouts, and the shocking upsets, MMA fans have little to complain about this year. The semifinals of TUF air tonight at 9:00 pm ET, followed by the live, 3 hour season finale on Saturday at 9:00 pm ET. The final four fighters have been selected and the matchups have been set. If you've been watching from the very beginning, you already know what you're in for. If you haven't, here are the top five reasons why you should start watching tonight.
5. Top Level Coaching
The coaching this year has been absolutely top notch. I'll admit, I was skeptical when the names were first announced. There is no questioning Jones' and Sonnen's talent as fighters, but coaching other fighters is a whole different animal. Sonnen is a world class shit-talker, who surprised everyone with how caring and sensitive he was towards his team of fighters. Jones is a freak athlete, but at the age of 25, who knew he would have the maturity and leadership to be an MMA coach? Not to mention the fact that many of the fighters on Team Jones are older than him.
(Chael Sonnen's Speech About Failure)
4. Likable Underdogs
In the history of underdogs, these are two of the very best. If you like rooting for the nice guy, these fighters are for you. Dylan and Kelvin, the last and second to last overall picks respectively, are two of the most unexpected champions out of the bunch. Nevertheless, they have ignored the critics and battled their way to the Final Four. Can one of these guys go all the way and bring home the title? They each face their toughest challenge tonight.
(Dylan Andrews - Ultimate Underdog)
3. Hateable Josh Samman
Okay so his hair isn't quite as douchey as it was in those pictures, but Josh is just as hateable, I assure you. Every good competition needs a good guy and a bad guy. While The Ultimate Fighter had other candidates for the 'Most Hated' award, Josh has taken the cake. Josh continues to refer to himself as the most talented fighter in the pool, providing fans with the quintessential cockiness that everyone loves to hate. Add his signature mounted-double-punch attack to the mix, and you have one of the most annoying, self-centered jerks in TUF history. Assuming there are no upsets tonight, we'll get to see Uriah take on Josh in an Ultimate Fighter Finale for the ages.
(Double Punch Finish vs. Chris Cope)
2. Sonnen vs. Jones
If you're like me, the reason you were excited about this season in the first place was due to the upcoming matchup between the two coaches. Although it won't have the same hype as the Sonnen vs. Silva bouts due to a significant lack of hatred between the two parties, this should still be a heck of a fight. Jon 'Bones' Jones has never been taken down. Take a second to let that sink in. Over the course of his entire career, while admittedly short, he has never been taken down. Chael Sonnen is arguably the best wrestler in the entire world. A man who took down Anderson Silva seemingly at will, should have no problem doing the same to Jones. This should be an exciting one, to say the least. After the season finale of TUF on Saturday, we are just two weeks away from UFC 159, where the two coaches will square off for the Light Heavyweight Championship. This is a great time to be a UFC fan.
(UFC 159 Extended Preview)
1. Uriah Hall
Uriah Hall is the MMA version of the Incredible Hulk. The first and most obvious comparison is his sheer power. This guy is downright scary in the octagon. I believe that UFC President Dana White said it best; "The way this guy knocks people out... You don't even want to clap; you feel bad clapping. It's viscous, it's quick, it's nasty. This guy is the nastiest guy in Ultimate Fighter history." The person who feels the worst after these brutal knockouts, however, is the man behind the devastation. Further enforcing the Hulk metaphor, Uriah seems to come back to his senses after his fights are over and immediately fill with regret. His "What have I done?" attitude makes him as lovable as he is terrifying. Uriah is the best fighter in the competition and the most deserving of a UFC contract. Can somebody pull off the ultimate upset and knock him out of the competition prematurely? We'll have to watch to find out.
NBC has just announced that in one year, Jimmy Fallon will be taking over for Jay Leno at 11:35. We all knew this day would come eventually, but now it's official! I'm confident that the Conan/Leno fiasco will not be repeated, as both NBC and Leno have likely learned from their mistakes. Plus, as much as I love Conan, he never had quite the right vibe for the Tonight Show. Jimmy, on the other hand, is perfect. With a plethora of talent, an amazing house band, and a top notch team of writers, Jimmy is poised to not only take the late night scene by storm, but to redefine what the Tonight Show is all about. His experience on SNL and his background in sketch comedy should be fully utilized as Lorne Michaels has signed on as the executive producer. The show will also remain in New York, as opposed to Leno's Tonight Show, which is currently filmed in Los Angeles. Who will be taking over for Jimmy at 12:35? No announcement has been made yet. So we decided to take it upon ourselves to pick out the top three candidates.
Bert Kreischer
Extremely well-liked? Check. Awesome story teller? Check. Hosting extraordinaire? Check. Loyal Deathsquad following that would drive up ratings/flood the internet with positive reviews? Check! If I keep doing NBC's job for them, I expect to receive at least a check in the mail, if not a producer credit. Bert Kreischer would make an amazing Late Night Host. It's that simple. Who's Bert Kreischer? Read my post about The Machine or check out our write up on the Bertcast!
Seth Meyers
From SNL Weekend Update anchor to late night television host; this would not be the first time. After Jimmy Fallon blazed this very same path, Seth Meyers has been on the short list for next Late Night host for a while now. He has slowly weened himself out of most of the SNL sketches, and currently focuses on the behind the scenes aspect, as well as the mid-show news segment, which closely resembles a late night monologue. Saying Meyers is the obvious choice for the job is an understatement.
Joel McHale
The relationship with NBC is already there, even if Community is NBC's redheaded stepchild. Joel has hosting experience with the fan favorite, celebrity least favorite "The Soup." And he is more handsome than the guy who's famous for being handsome. With Community seemingly coming to an end, Joel is the perfect candidate for the job!
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