Videos of the Week
Tommy Christopher
Contributor
Posted:
01/20/08
Man, this has been a long week. I've typed my poor hands into gnarled hooks, only to be called a "hack" by a guy who agreed with me! I did my first press conference, which was cool, but apparently asking a follow-up question is akin to spilling the "Grey Poupon", so I went away from that experience a little annoyed. My dog is running for president now and won't take my calls. Hence, I've been looking forward to "Videos of the Week" as a respite to my sad existence.
On the plus side, my pals Romney Girl and Mr. Sandy Clark (what do you call a candy bar at the beach?) were always there to buck me up, and I thank them. I also want to thank the thousands of you who checked out last week's "VOTW" and made little Thomas a star. This time around, I want you to post links in the comments section to any videos you see this week that you think might work for next week's "VOTW." Diversity of opinion, etc.
In honor of their last show on Air America Radio, (they will continue online) I'm going to kick things off with a clip from The Young Turks. In this clip, Cenk Uygur pats himself on the back for being the first to float John Edwards as a kingmaker, and predicts the rest of the media will come late to the party. Hilariously, Politico obliges today. Even funnier? I floated it almost 2 weeks ago.
That's OK, though. I'm sure Cenk wasn't stealing from me. Not again. But I'm watching you!
I'm going to continue the much-needed massage of my ego with a clip from Countdown. On Monday's edition, Keith Olbermann pretty much parroted my analysis of the now-defunct Democratic racial tension, right down to the metaphors, but they didn't post that clip. Instead, check this one out.
Two things: Did she faint at the idea of repealing the Bush tax cuts? That's one politically engaged teenager. Secondly, Bill, you couldn't help her out?
I'm generously chalking up Olbermann's echo to "parallel thought", but faithful viewers of BallWitness News will recognize the theft of yet another joke in this next clip. Ours was funnier.
I'm going to get myself in trouble by embedding Obama Girl again. I found a couple of things amusing about this clip from Barely Political. First, there was the interview with a "Sam Cedar." The other thing I noticed is that she's using my third-string, $10 backup microphone for her interviews. Obama Girl, that is a shame, and as a fellow journalist and a gentleman, I cannot allow it. When you get to Denver for the Democratic National Convention, look me up and I will get you a real mic. Or you can just use mine.
Here's a great clip from The Onion News Network, with a premise that makes you slap your forehead for not thinking of it. The devil is in the details here, from the inane morning show banter to the sight gags in the hospital room.
Child Bankrupts Make-A-Wish Foundation With Wish For Unlimited Wishes
Here's a great little parody I came across over at The Specious Report, and saw later on Countdown.
Next up is my favorite clip this week from The A Daily Show. Watch, and then we'll discuss.
First of all, "Your Majesty?" This is the "smoke 'em out, dead or alive" cowboy who's going to protect us from wolves?
Cenk Uygur noted earlier this week, on The Young Turks, that during the 2000 Presidential debates, President Bush said that the president "must jawbone OPEC members to lower prices." Looks to me like the President is giving his jaw a different kind of workout now.
There's a huge Youtube trend that peaked late last year for so-called "reaction videos." If you're not familiar, basically you watch a really disturbing, gross, scatological sex video, and film your own reaction to it. The trend started with something called "2 Girls, 1 Cup." Now, I've never watched that, or any "reaction video", until today.
My wife assured me that this reaction video, to a film called "2 Girls, 1 Finger", would make me wet myself laughing. Sure enough, I am now urine-soaked. Warning: Even the reaction video is kinda gross, and there's some language, so send the kids out of the room, throw on some "Depends", and enjoy.
I defend inclusion of that video on the basis that it serves as a literal and metaphorical rebuke of American popular culture. We have reached the point where we watch each other make ourselves throw up for our own amusement. You think I'm exaggerating, but these reaction videos are hugely popular. I think it also says something about the mainstreaming of pornography. Maybe I'll do a separate story on that.
Here's a funny moment from last night's MSNBC election coverage, where the entire production staff loses it after Fred Thompson's speech. The clip is 5 min., but the first 20-30 seconds will do.
Finally, I want to conclude this week's edition of VOTW by giving you one more chance to sample the entire BallWitness News canon, bloopers included. No, I don't have any shame. You should know, I can see what goes on behind the scenes here, and I know only about 10% of you watched it last week. Unacceptable. I wanna see at least 50% adherence this week. Doing it out of pity is fine. See you next week, and don't forget the suggestions.
On the plus side, my pals Romney Girl and Mr. Sandy Clark (what do you call a candy bar at the beach?) were always there to buck me up, and I thank them. I also want to thank the thousands of you who checked out last week's "VOTW" and made little Thomas a star. This time around, I want you to post links in the comments section to any videos you see this week that you think might work for next week's "VOTW." Diversity of opinion, etc.
In honor of their last show on Air America Radio, (they will continue online) I'm going to kick things off with a clip from The Young Turks. In this clip, Cenk Uygur pats himself on the back for being the first to float John Edwards as a kingmaker, and predicts the rest of the media will come late to the party. Hilariously, Politico obliges today. Even funnier? I floated it almost 2 weeks ago.
That's OK, though. I'm sure Cenk wasn't stealing from me. Not again. But I'm watching you!
I'm going to continue the much-needed massage of my ego with a clip from Countdown. On Monday's edition, Keith Olbermann pretty much parroted my analysis of the now-defunct Democratic racial tension, right down to the metaphors, but they didn't post that clip. Instead, check this one out.
Two things: Did she faint at the idea of repealing the Bush tax cuts? That's one politically engaged teenager. Secondly, Bill, you couldn't help her out?
I'm generously chalking up Olbermann's echo to "parallel thought", but faithful viewers of BallWitness News will recognize the theft of yet another joke in this next clip. Ours was funnier.
I'm going to get myself in trouble by embedding Obama Girl again. I found a couple of things amusing about this clip from Barely Political. First, there was the interview with a "Sam Cedar." The other thing I noticed is that she's using my third-string, $10 backup microphone for her interviews. Obama Girl, that is a shame, and as a fellow journalist and a gentleman, I cannot allow it. When you get to Denver for the Democratic National Convention, look me up and I will get you a real mic. Or you can just use mine.
Here's a great clip from The Onion News Network, with a premise that makes you slap your forehead for not thinking of it. The devil is in the details here, from the inane morning show banter to the sight gags in the hospital room.
Child Bankrupts Make-A-Wish Foundation With Wish For Unlimited Wishes
Here's a great little parody I came across over at The Specious Report, and saw later on Countdown.
Next up is my favorite clip this week from The A Daily Show. Watch, and then we'll discuss.
First of all, "Your Majesty?" This is the "smoke 'em out, dead or alive" cowboy who's going to protect us from wolves?
Cenk Uygur noted earlier this week, on The Young Turks, that during the 2000 Presidential debates, President Bush said that the president "must jawbone OPEC members to lower prices." Looks to me like the President is giving his jaw a different kind of workout now.
There's a huge Youtube trend that peaked late last year for so-called "reaction videos." If you're not familiar, basically you watch a really disturbing, gross, scatological sex video, and film your own reaction to it. The trend started with something called "2 Girls, 1 Cup." Now, I've never watched that, or any "reaction video", until today.
My wife assured me that this reaction video, to a film called "2 Girls, 1 Finger", would make me wet myself laughing. Sure enough, I am now urine-soaked. Warning: Even the reaction video is kinda gross, and there's some language, so send the kids out of the room, throw on some "Depends", and enjoy.
I defend inclusion of that video on the basis that it serves as a literal and metaphorical rebuke of American popular culture. We have reached the point where we watch each other make ourselves throw up for our own amusement. You think I'm exaggerating, but these reaction videos are hugely popular. I think it also says something about the mainstreaming of pornography. Maybe I'll do a separate story on that.
Here's a funny moment from last night's MSNBC election coverage, where the entire production staff loses it after Fred Thompson's speech. The clip is 5 min., but the first 20-30 seconds will do.
Finally, I want to conclude this week's edition of VOTW by giving you one more chance to sample the entire BallWitness News canon, bloopers included. No, I don't have any shame. You should know, I can see what goes on behind the scenes here, and I know only about 10% of you watched it last week. Unacceptable. I wanna see at least 50% adherence this week. Doing it out of pity is fine. See you next week, and don't forget the suggestions.
Tommy's Mom's Blog, The Lady of Light
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