Holy turnaround, Batman! Last week, I was complaining about my American Idol fatigue, and tonight, the show charmed me stupid. I’d say this was one of my top five episodes of all time.

Do you think Cecile Frot-Coutaz reads The Critical Condition? Did she mix it up this week just to make me happy? I’m choosing to believe she did.

What?

After the jump, I’m going to break it down, crooner style.

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Talk about a technological morning! Today I Skyped with a friend who’s working in Palestine, and she told me about a Chinese version of YouTube that has full episodes of tons of American shows.

The site is called YouKu, and though I don’t read a lick of Chinese, I still found it easy to find English-language programming. Typing in “Law & Order,” for instance, got me right to every episode from the current season.

This site could be useful, since it’s impossible to DVR everything and sites like Hulu sometimes take content down. Also, I noticed that you can get full episodes of pay-cable series like The United States of Tara.

Granted, the networks may yank all their content once they realize it’s there, but I feel like it’s possible they don’t have legal sway over a Chinese site. At any rate, live it up while you can!

For more TV On Demand (in English), I heartily recommend Sling.com. Thanks to Sling—and the persistence of Roommate Joe and Tara, a Sling blogger/editor—I have  started watching The Paper, a kick-ass MTV reality series set at a high school newspaper. I know… I was dubious, too. But you should watch it. It’s like the movie Election brought to life. (You can Sling it here.)

I couldn’t invent this story. Apparently, the Flaming Lips and the governor of Oklahoma will be saving democracy this afternoon.

You see, after winning an online vote, The Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??” was named the official rock song of Oklahoma…

… and this caused a giant controversy. And not just because “Fight Test,” a vastly superior Flaming Lips song, wasn’t chosen.

No, Oklahoma’s house of representatives rejected “Do You Realize??” as the state’s official jam because band member Michael Ivins once wore a t-shirt with a hammer and sickle on it. Which obviously means he’s a dirty pinko commie.

Today, however, Oklahoma governor Brad Henry is signing an executive order overturning the house’s decision. The Sooners will not be denied their anthem. All is right with the world.

I’d say this story distills the culture war. When future generations ask us what the fuss was about, we can just send them a link.

In closing, here’s a sentence from Billboard.com’s report on the uproar (emphasis mine):

Over the course of a month the act watched as its popular track, from 2002’s Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, won an Internet contest for best Sooner State rock song – over All-American Rejects, Leon Russell and The Call.

C’mon, Oklahoma! Didn’t anyone vote for Oklahoma natives Color Me Badd?!?! They rock way harder than damn Leon Russell.

In yesterday’s New York Times, I enjoyed my second-ever television feature (and my first in the Sunday Arts & Leisure television section.) 

If you want to know more about the unusual working relationship of actors Bobby Cannavale and Sarah Paulson—and you know you do—then read this story!

Most of my mainstream media writing is about the theater, but that’s a topic I almost never broach on The Critical Condition. That’s largely because I don’t like to write about things on this site that can only be experienced in New York.

Happily, the best new musical of the season, next to normal, has posted an excellent video of my favorite scene. The clip is crafted with a filmmaker’s eye, meaning it’s shot and edited to be compelling on a flat surface, yet it also captures the spirit of the live version. (I don’t think I’ve seen another filmed stage performance that’s so effective on both levels. Anyone?)

After the jump, I’ll post a snippet of a number called “I Am the One.” Even if you don’t know the musical, I recommend this kick-ass power ballad on its own merits. Arrange it the right away, and I guarantee you it could be a hit single for Pink or Kelly Clarkson.

I’ll also break down why the direction pushes this already fantastic song toward the spectacular.

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You guys rocked the second part of the 90s music quiz. And here Roommate Joe and I thought this one would actually be harder than part one. You schooled us like we were punk-ass first graders.

Answers are posted after the jump. There were only a handful of lyrics that weren’t guessed, and those are in italics.

Thanks to everyone who participated! (And in case you missed it, here the first part of the quiz.)  [Read more →]

 I just learned that The Sci Fi channel is rebranding itself as Syfy. The new name is pronounced exactly the same as the old one… it’s just spelled differently.

There are two big reasons the channel wants to alter its brand. First, it wants a name it can trademark, which seems unnecessary to me. The network has been around since 1992, launching successful programs like Battlestar Galactica and Mystery Science Theater 3000, so hasn’t it already branded itself? Why fix what isn’t broken?

The other justification for the switch is even more dubious. According to The New York Times,  Syfy/Sci Fi president David Howe said the original name was scaring off poential viewers.

“If you ask people their default perceptions of Sci Fi, they list space, aliens and the future,” he added. “That didn’t capture the full landscape of fantasy entertainment: the paranormal, the supernatural, action and adventure, superheroes.”

But… you guys? How does “Syfy” capture that landscape more effectively? After all, the old name and the new one are pronounced exactly the same. If a friend talks to you about the network, you’re hearing the same sounds—and making the same assumptions—no matter how the words are supposed to be spelled.

And if you’re a dubious viewer, I’d argue that reading the word “Syfy” will make you think the channel is even lamer than you assumed. As the title of a network, “Sci Fi” is simply descriptive, with no implied attitude about what’s being presented. The word “Syfy,” however, makes it seem like the channel is trying very, very hard to be cool.

I mean, imagine that a department store at your mall suddenly starts selling “Pantz” instead of pants. If you already think department stores are lame, will this re-branding change your mind? Will you cancel your Gap card and spend your paycheck on Pantz and Sherts and Shooze?

If we move  this scenario to cable television, then it’s clear who’s wearing the Pantz.

Hey everyone,

Here’s the link to my appearance on CNN.com. Holla!

–Mark

After an eight-month delay, The Brothers Bloom is finally coming to theaters. Will the wait have been worth it? Let’s find out… after the jump. 

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Roommate Joe has outdone himself with his latest post at SOAPnet.

While discussing the plastic surgery of various male stars—he calls it “Brotox”—he uses the word “allegedly” to describe their altered appearances. As in, “Michael Jackson allegedly had a nose job.”

And he has to do that, because Bret Michaels and Steve Wynn haven’t admitted to having their faces rebuilt. If a news outlet doesn’t quantify its observations about a celeb’s image, it could get sued.

But on the other hand, we’re not blind. Look at that picture up there. Kenny Rogers doesn’t need to acknowledge that he’s had work done any more than I need to acknowledge that I look fetching in blue.

In the way he uses the word “allegedly,” Joe simultaneously adheres to and comments on the ethical law. Everytimes he avoids litigation, he reminds us how ludicrous it is that people might take legal action because someone pointed out the obvious.

Another interesting point: The word “Brotox” joins “bromance,” “metrosexual,” and “manorexia” on the list of terms that suggests our culture is surprised when men behave in a “feminine” way. You know, as if the idea that a man could feel affection for a friend or be concerned about his appearance is so remarkable that it needs its own word.

I can’t decide if these terms are harmless or pernicious. By calling a close male friendship a “bromance,” for instance, are we suggesting that male affection deserves to be highlighted and ridiculed? Or that it needs to be separated from the kind of affection female friends share? Like, women call their friends “girlfriends,” so it seems like close male friends could just call each other “boyfriends.” Only that could make guys seems gay or womanly, so instead, they get to use the word “bromance. ”

The more I write about this, the more I think I’ve got a point. Why does it have to be so noteworthy when men express feelings and insecurities? Why does it merit a new word? Why can’t we just lump ourselves in with everyone else?

We haven’t discussed it, but I’m pretty sure Roommate Joe was aware of this cultural lunacy when he invented “Brotox.” He’s a shrewd guy, and he’s definitely not interested in maintaining rigid gender paradigms, or else he wouldn’t text me so often with potential drag queen names.

So what do you guys think?