Entourage, the After show.

Welcome back to another session of Entourage, the After Show. Last night's episode was the 3rd episode of the 6th season and the 69th ever episode of the hit HBO show.

When they showed the previews to this week's show last Sunday my immediate thought was hey, this episode is going to blow. However, I was glad to see I was wrong. I thought Entourage last night had an "old-school" feel to it. I thought that the episode had a great mix of comedy, good storyline and just plain fun. It's good to see that Turtle is trying to man-up and become something of himself. BTW, did you see his shoe and hat collection? JEEZ. Anyway, the Ferrari's Turtle got were sick and even ADIV'S boy 50 cent made a cameo appearance.

The Murphy group took a hit when Charlie was deemed to have SUCKED in his comedy show and now Eric and Vince are no longer producing the show, leaving Vince as E's only real client once again. What a shocker.

Drama was Drama, the pay for the school comment and the only bitches let bitches make them insecure comment were classic Drama lines.

The big story for me this episode was the fact that Ashley is growing on me. She was a lot better than she was in her first showing, but you gotta know that Sloan will be back.

Ari Gold is the man, there is nobody better than that guy.

With that said, Happy Birthday Turtle, onto next week's show and god bless Entourage.

Anil's TV Talk - Session 1

I WATCH WAY TOO MUCH TV. It is a fact. But it gives me the opportunity to review lots and lots of shows. I'm going to talk about a few of my favorite shows briefly...hopefully I'll be able to talk more about them later.

Let's start with comedies first (In a VERY particular order...)

1. 30 Rock

Best comedy on TV right now. Tina Fey is an unbelievable writer with an uncanny ability to play Liz Lemon also. And all of this along with her modest good looks make her an ideal wife candidate (if only she were Indian). Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, and Jack McBrayer (Kenneth the Page) are absolutely brilliant on the show as well. But really, I can't say enough about the writing on this show. It hits you in the same way Arrested Development did...incredibly dense so that you actually have to suffocate yourself in order to stop laughing and hear all the jokes. If you haven't checked this show out yet...just watch the pilot. Oh and it's one of those shows where you really should put everything down and just watch it...otherwise you'll miss something.

2. Entourage

I didn't realize how high this show was on my list until just now. It definitely has it's down moments (e.g. the story line where Drama and Turtle are looking for rim jobs (???), the entire episode of the gang going out and doing shrooms) but overall the show definitely keeps me coming back. Jeremy Piven is incredible. He makes me feel like I know exactly what all Hollywood agents are like. The passion, frustration, and incredible comedic timing he brings to the show all make him a standout in every episode. The rest of the cast is fairly sub-par but I find E to be extremely relatable meaning Kevin Connolly must also be extremely relatable because I can't imagine he's doing much acting to play that role. Regardless, seeing the life of a movie star (apparently consisting of tons of beautiful girls and tons of money) with some great jokes from Ari Gold every week make Entourage a keeper.

3. Weeds

It's no secret that this show has fallen off. A great premise of a single mom trying to make money by dealing pot in the cookie cutter Californian suburb of Agrestic. Mary Louise Parker plays the sexy, cunning, yet clearly out of her element Nancy Botwin to a tee. Kevin Nealon and Justin Kirk make for two hilarious supporting characters to add to the show. The problem is, the story lines have just started to go dry. I won't spoil it for those who haven't been watching the show but the first few seasons were very, very funny as well as progressing pretty interesting plots. But over the past 2 seasons, it seems like the show has just gotten caught up in one specific story (again being vague to avoid spoilers) which quite frankly isn't that interesting or funny or intriguing or anything really. Nancy has almost completely lost touch with her family and the other characters. Their interactions, however, were what made the show so good. Weeds needs to become funny again. Soon.


4. The Office (U.S)

This show WAS amazing. I never got into the British show...more because of my laziness in acquiring it...not because the show wasn't good enough. But as a result, the only version of this show that I have been acquainted with is Steve Carell's. So when I first started watching, I really really liked it. I could totally relate to Jim and Pam's whole we're-quirky-and-witty-best-friends-yet-there's-something-going-on-here relationship. Dwight and Michael were both hilarious characters and the supporting cast of Oscar, Angela, Phyllis, Toby, Stanley, and Kevin made for a great ensemble. Now I don't know what it is but this show just has not been as good as it was in it's first few seasons. Nothing happens anymore. Sure there are always great one-liners and Michael's personality never fails to bring humor to any situation. But I don't know...Jim/Pam and Michael/Jan drama can't really be matched with the new storylines. I thought Holly was GREAT (Amy Ryan is awesome) but now she's out too. Hopefully this coming season will bring great things to put this show back on the map.



And as a side note...Extras (Ricky Gervais' OTHER show on BBC), Da Ali G Show (no explanation necessary) and Arrested Development (still the greatest comedy ever) are all shows that have sadly met their demise but are, in my opinion, better than any of the other shows on this list. I'll try to get around to describing each one of them soon so that you can understand just how important it is that you watch each of these 3 short lived shows.

That's all for now. Tune in next time for my list of top dramas.

Signing off mothas...

Sid's Sayings

"THAT'S BASEBALL!"

"ARE you SERIOUS!?"

"F-K OFF"

"GET A LIFE"

"EASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSY" (Mr. Hamilton is the originator, props to Hammer)

"SIT DOWN and SHUT UP!"

"GO f-CK Yourself"

"GOD BLESS"

The Best Ever? Come on...

Hello everyone. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank dah 3 choafs for inviting me to write for dah4choafs.blogspot.com. Now rather than jump into too much new material, I'm going to use this post as a vehicle to comment on the post which precedes me.

Let me start by saying that I really like a lot of music. And I don't mean that I listen to "everything" (I hate it when people say that)...I mean that I've really delved into, listened to, researched, and learned about multiple genres of music. I've gone through many phases in terms of my music taste: pop music (anything on Z100), dance music (103.5 KTU BABY), hip hop, grunge, metal, hard rock, r&b...you get the idea. But overall, I'm probably most passionate about alternative rock and rap.

So let's talk about rap. Now don't get me wrong. ASID is a great guy and I have a great deal of respect for him. I too have become a (recently turned) T.I. fan after listening to Paper Trail. But listen bro...T.I. is not the best out there right now, he is not one of the best rappers of the last ten years, and Paper Trail is not arguably the best album in recent years.

There it is. I said it. Don't take this personally, man.

Sure he’s more lyrically sound than a lot of other popular rappers out there today and everybody loves a good story of repentance. But frankly, that’s not good enough to be atop the game. What makes a good rapper? Beats? No…that’s the producer’s job. Catchy and stupid lyrics? Listen…I love “Kiss Me Thru the Phone” as much as the next guy (if not more), but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to start referring to its artist as King Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em.

My criteria for a great rapper? Versatility…great lyricism (powerful yet playful)…using their position of fame to deliver a significant message to the people. Most people that know me are aware that I ride Eminem’s dick…hard. He consistently rhymes words that should never be rhymed together (his ability to write and deliver multies is absolutely ridiculous).

But what’s important is that he doesn’t do this just for the sake of rhyming…he’s always saying something either of importance…whether it’s something humorous (My Mom, The Real Slim Shady, My Name Is, Without Me, Just Lose It, all his skits, etc), something of significance to his background (Brain Damage, Yellow Brick Road, Cleanin’ Out My Closet, Déjà vu, 8 Mile), battling his critics and enemies (pretty much everything…Say What You Say, Criminal, The Way I Am), and what in my opinion makes him amazing, his songs with messages and stories that can appeal to everyone (Beautiful, Mockingbird, Rock Bottom, Till I Collapse, Lose Yourself, Hallie’s Song). Oh and don't forget his insane story telling (Stan, '97 Bonnie & Clyde) and ability to kill it on songs he's featured on (Jay-Z's Renegade and The Notorious B.I.G.'s Dead Wrong).

Throughout his career, Eminem has had to deal with the most controversy and public scrutiny but continued to strive through all of this and deliver hit after hit after hit. He’s unbelievably talented and his critics have been forced to acknowledge it because he’s just that good (countless Grammy’s, #1 Billboard hits, and the only rapper to win an Oscar). Most of the scrutiny he faces is unwarranted and a result of racism (yeah…racism). How many black rappers have said the word faggot, bitch, or that they’re going to kill someone? Pretty much everyone of them except for Will Smith. But somehow the American public is stupid enough to think that he actually means everything he says. The Secret Service admitted to looking into his threats to the President of the U.S…are you kidding me? How many people have said “Fuck Bush”…a lot…really…a lot. Our boys protecting the President might want to use their time a little more productively. It’s insane. You don’t assume that Denzel Washington is actually a gangster/crazy corrupt cop that will kill you. Eminem is an artist who writes stories…some fictional some not…and he’s amazing at it.

And all this scrutiny and attention in the public eye detracts from his talent. Most people would probably admit that they’ve never really paid much attention to Eminem as a serious artist. We’ve all seen his Real Slim Shady music video and heard stories about how he hates gays and women. But how many people beyond real hip hop fans actually understand him to be a great artist? Not enough. Do yourself a favor…if you’re convinced that Lil’ Wayne is by far the best rapper alive…listen to The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show, or the 8 Mile Soundtrack (really anything will get the point across). Hip Hop listeners and readers of Vibe have crowned Eminem as both “The Best Rapper Alive” and “The Best Rapper Ever”…that means he’s not only better than Weezy, Jeezy, Kanyeezy, Easy Peasy and anyone else out there now…but readers agree he’s even better than those two really famous rappers that were in that big feud and both ended up dead.

I’ll probably come back to talk more about Eminem…there’s tons of stuff I have to say and I’m sure I missed a lot. Oh and let me add that I think Lupe Fiasco is another brilliant lyricist that doesn’t get enough credit…he is a revolution in and of himself. I’m glad Lupe has decided to push Lup.E.N.D back to treat us to more of his great music.

Signing off mothas…

T.I. and his jail time

As many of you MAY or MAY NOT know, I am a huge T.I. fan, I think his rap style, voice and lyrics are the best out there right now. Unfortunately for all of the people out there who like T.I. he is in jail as we speak.

T.I. was sentenced to a year in jail for having guns and silencers in or around his house. This occurred after he released what arguably was, the best rap album in recent years, Paper Trail. His album had many top hits including, "Whatever you like", "Slide-Show", "Dead and Gone", "My life your entertainment", "On top of the World", "Live your life" and "Swagga like Us" featuring many of the top artists in the world, like Usher, Ludacris, Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, Justin Timberlake, and John Legend, and Rihanna (before the Chris Brown beating incident, whoops).

One of T.I.'s last songs before he went behind bars was a song he was featured in with Mary J. Blige called "Remember Me", a very fitting song for Mr. T.I.

So as the world turns and everyone must listen to the other rap stars such as Jay Z, Lupe Fiasco, my boy DRAKE and the aforementioned Lil Wayne and Kanye West, T.I. sits in prison, waiting his release date. Let's hope these next 300 or so days go quick so we can all get back to listening to one of the best rappers of the last ten years. Yeah, I just said that.

God Bless you T.I.

Just a Quick One here

Women I love and will always love:

My Mom

Emmanuelle Chriqui

end of list

Entourage, the After show.

Alright, one of my things is going to be a special "after-show" blog of Entourage giving my thoughts on the recent, as Anil and I like to call it, EP (episode). So for the first time here it goes...

I stand by the quote I made after the show ended. "I think this was one of the BEST episodes ever!" Did I overreact? Probably. But I still thought it was an awesome episode. I was glad to see that The Gatsby movie turned out well (did you think it would go any other way?) and to see that Turtle actually got some spotlight with Jamie Lynn. Drama was his usually self and that girl he was with was an absolute freakazoid. Vince's girl, for once, got NO attention, it was kind of strange to see the girl he brought to the premier showing, get no camera.

This brings me to E, Eric Murphy, my favorite character on the show. Why? Simple, he is most like me. A relationship person who plays the cute, serious card. I've been rooting for Eric and Sloan to get back together for a while and I thought tonight was the night it could happen. Unfortunately for me, some weird little girl who looks like she is 7 has ruined that. Sloan denies Eric attempts for them to get back together but later texts Eric "Sorry!" Eric deletes the text. Can I blame E for doing that? No. But deep down I know he regrets the deletion of that text message. Sloan and E will reunite and all will be good.

God bless you and god bless Entourage.