The sixth and penultimate season of Mad Men begins this Sunday, April 7th, a week after the season finale of The Walking Dead. Yes, AMC gets to follow up one hit show with another. Good decision to have it begin a week after The Walking Dead, and a sincere thank you to AMC because it will help hold us over until our favorite zombies/walkers return in the fall.
One of the big questions is always "what time-frame will Mad Men pick up in?" Season 5 ended in 1967, and we famously got a dose of an actual Beatles song, "Tomorrow Never Knows" from their 1966 album Revolver. In a video interview with Jon Hamm posted on the Rolling Stone website, Hamm explains he prefers The Rolling Stones to The Beatles. Mad Men also featured The Rolling Stones' "I Can't Get No (Satisfaction)" in Season 4. Maybe this time we'll get a song from both bands at the same time? Other musicians who could start to be played in episodes are Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Doors, and Aretha Franklin.
Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris
AMC also just released 10 photos from Sunday's two-hour premiere, and some of the photos feature Christmas decorations and a tree, so we can assume Season 6 picks up in November/December 1967. Most of the season will take place in 1968 that means, and should be heavily influenced by the civil rights movement and the escalating protests of the Vietnam War.
The seventh and final season should take us into 1969, with the moon landing and Woodstock. I'm looking for an episode called "Sally Goes to Woodstock". Just hopes she stays away from the brown acid. I was hoping that we'd get a few seasons that take place in the 1970s, for some leisure suit and bell-bottom fun, but it looks like that may not happen. Unless the end of Season 7 takes us there.
People all over the world can watch the 121212 Concert tonight starting at 7:30pm ET. There are already plenty of rumors about some of the surprises in store for the concert, which will help raise money for the Robin Hood Foundation for Hurricane Sandy relief. A ton of channels will be showing it, such as AMC, Fuse, and HBO. Check the website for more.
One such rumor that has been virtually confirmed is that Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic will be reuniting as Nirvana, with Paul McCartney taking over Kurt Cobain's vocals! A fusion of the biggest musical act of the 1960s & all time, The Beatles, with the biggest band of the 1990s, Nirvana. Apparently they will be performing a new song.
Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam will also be singing Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" with original Pink Floyd member Roger Waters.
With The Rolling Stones performing, one can also wonder who might join them onstage to take the female vocals if they perform "Gimme Shelter"? Lady Gaga is doing it at their concert on Saturday, so might she show up? Or Mary J Blige, who performed it with them in London?
The Rolling Stones have released their new music video (watch below) for the song "Doom and Gloom" off their career-spanning hits set "GRRR!" which was released last week. The new video stars Noomi Rapace, known to Americans for her roles in the hit films Prometheus and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. She also starred in the Swedish versions of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy as Lisbeth Salander.
Props to The Rolling Stones for still kicking ass after 50 years and releasing a fairly imaginative music video to an energetic new song. The video features a scene with ZOMBIES, which automatically makes it great in my book. The Stones will be playing a few concerts soon in London and the New York area, and rumors are they might play more dates in 2013. One such rumor is that they'll be one of the three headliners for the Glastonbury Festival in 2013, which makes its return after taking a year off. It was last headlined by U2, Beyonce and Coldplay.
They also released their first official app to the iTunes store. Looks like they'll be rocking beyond their 50th year. Mick Jagger still just wants to know, "Baby won't you dance with me?"
Caution: Will make you want moves like Jagger. 'Doom and Gloom', the first new song from The Rolling Stones in seven years, was just released to radio and for purchase on iTunes today. I have a feeling this will easily become a favorite for many Rolling Stones fans, and maybe even convert some new ones. Check it out:
When I first heard the song I thought it could easily stand on similar footing with 'Start Me Up'. That's the song from their catalog it most closely resembles, which is obviously a good thing. Its a loud, energetic song that really does make you want to move and dance as Mick Jagger previously said. They had to put out a rollicking song like this in the wake of Maroon 5's 'Moves Like Jagger', and he'll surely be moving again when they hit the stage later this fall in New York and London.
'Doom and Gloom' probably blasts past most peoples' expectations before hearing it. Amazing that they could release a song like this 50 years in their legendary career. Props to Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ronnie Wood for continuing to make us feel good.
'Doom and Gloom', the new single by The Rolling Stones, will be released on Thursday October 11th to radio and for sale on iTunes (and hopefully Amazon). It marks the first new song by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards & Co since their last studio album, A Bigger Bang, was released in 2005. The song will also be one of two new tracks on their upcoming career spanning hits set GRRR! which comes out on November 12th.
Jagger says, "It’s called Doom & Gloom, though it’s a really raunchy rocker you can dance to & not gloomy at all! It was fun and quick to record, & Jeff Bhaskar has done a great mix. Hope you like it." It will be played for the first time on BBC Radio 2 at 8:15 am British time. Should be interesting to hear what they've come up with 50 years into their career.
Richards also said that the band will be playing more shows in London and New York than previously announced. He didn't say when the dates will be, but presumably later this fall or early winter.
Fans have been speculating about what The Rolling Stones have been up to in preparation of celebrating their 50th Anniversary. First it was announced that they will be playing four live shows in November at the O2 Arena in London and at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, two at each venue. They also have a new documentary called "Crossfire Hurricane" spanning their 5 decades that will air November 15th on HBO. Directed by Brett Morgen, all four members (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts & Ronnie Wood) will be talking about their history in the film. Expect some background on their albums, and of course the normal "sex, drugs & rock 'n roll" stories.
ESPN has also licensed 16 Rolling Stones songs to be used on every NFL Monday Night Football telecast during the 2012 season, calling it "Legend to Legend." Expect some classic hits and some deeper tracks that may not be as well known when watching Monday Night Football this year.
It was also announced today that the band will be releasing two new songs recorded in Paris, their first since the last studio album "A Bigger Bang" came out in 2005. The two new tracks, "Gloom and Doom" & "One Last Shot", will be included on a new career spanning 50-song greatest hits album titled "GRRR!" This will take the place of 2002's "Forty Licks", which has been out of print since switching music labels. Fans probably wanted a full new album, but i'm sure any new songs will be well received. For those who already have most of their music and don't need a greatest hits album, you can download just "Gloom & Doom" and "One Last Shot" on Amazon or iTunes.
There will also be an 80-track super deluxe edition with all sorts of goodies for fans including a poster and bonus CD. A vinyl box set for the die hard fans will be out as well. "GRRR!" will be released on November 13th, 2012 to coincide with the HBO documentary "Crossfire Hurricane" and the four live shows. Quite the autumn for Rolling Stones fans. The creative album cover for "GRRR!" was designed by Walton Ford.
The Opening Ceremony to the London 2012 Olympics is just hours away, being shown in the USA on NBC at 730pm ET (tape delay). I already have the inspiring Olympic theme songs stuck in my head, as millions of you probably do. The ceremony is directed by Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle. It will of course celebrate British culture, and most of it is kept under wraps, but there are some rumors that have slipped through as well as some confirmations.
One amazing rumor that I hope is true is that a 40-foot Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter will do battle with various other British characters such as ones from Alice in Wonderland & Peter Pan. He will apparently be taken down by 30 Mary Poppins actors who will descend from the rafters. We'll see how exactly this plays out. I assume Ralph Fiennes will be portraying Voldemort on some giant screen or something similar.
Another is that there will be a short film of James Bond. Earlier in the year they were filming some helicopter scenes around London, with two helicopters chasing through the Tower Bridge. Maybe they can't compete with the 2,008 drummers from Beijing 2008, but London has the advantage of beloved popular culture and entertainment, plus huge musical superstars.
Paul McCartney will also be performing to apparently close the opening ceremony. Expect a huge sing-along of The Beatles classic, "Hey Jude". The Spice Girls have been confirmed to be performing at the Closing Ceremony on August 12th. Mick Jagger has denied that The Rolling Stones will be making a surprise appearance at one of the ceremonies.
And of course, the parade of nations featuring all the athletes will take place as per tradition.
The season finale of Saturday Night Live was also the final episode for Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg and possibly Jason Sudeikis; all of which joined the show together in 2005 along with Bill Hader. Some reports say Sudeikis is unsure if he wants to leave. He does portray Mitt Romney, so unless someone else takes that over he could be back for the fall.
SNL sent Kristen Wiig off in memorable style, one of the best they've ever done. With Arcade Fire and Mick Jagger performing The Rolling Stones classic songs "She's a Rainbow" and "Ruby Tuesday", she danced with each of the cast members and shed some tears. Some alumni also returned for that moment - Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch and Chris Kattan. Her humor will be missed, but this just gives her more time for movies and TV. The "Bridesmaids" star has six movies in the pipeline as of now.
Andy Samberg also said farewell, with the final SNL Digital Short airing - "Lazy Sunday 2" with Chris Parnell. The duo started the Digital Short idea back in 2005 with "Lazy Sunday" and it went viral on the web, ushering in a new era and coolness-factor for SNL. It also helped YouTube reach new heights, which is referenced in "Lazy Sunday 2." One of my favorite shorts is the "Natalie Rap" with Natalie Portman from 2006.
Now of course people will be saying "How will SNL survive without 'so-and-so'" and "The show will not be the same." People have been saying that since the 1970s, and the show continues on and new talent rises. While its sad to see them go, this is how SNL works. New people step up, and hopefully some of the newer cast can do that now that they have the chance. Former cast members of Wiig, Sudeikis and Samberg's caliber go on to do much more. (And they always return to SNL for fun) Here are some examples of former cast currently making us laugh elsewhere:
Tina Fey - If Fey didn't leave SNL, we wouldn't have gotten the great "30 Rock". Next year is the final season for "30 Rock". Amy Poehler - Left SNL to star in NBC's "Parks & Recreation", one of the best comedies on TV. Jimmy Fallon - Has his own late night talk show. Will Ferrell - Don't even need to mention the countless movies he has done. Maya Rudolph - On NBC's new hit "Up All Night". Her character Ava is one of the best on TV. Also did "Bridesmaids" with Wiig. Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Went on to the TV classic Seinfeld, and currently stars on HBO's incredibly funny new show "Veep". Ana Gasteyer & Chris Parnell - Currently playing a funny and dysfunctional couple on ABC's best new comedy "Suburgatory." Molly Shannon - The queen of guest roles, recently featured in "Up All Night", "Glee" and "The Middle."
So basically, SNL will be fine. Taran Killam and Vanessa Bayer will probably be getting more screen time. No pressure. Watch Wiig's Farewell and "Lazy Sunday 2" below.
In honor of March Madness in College Basketball, ESPN is having one for Rock Bands at this fun little time wasting link where the fans vote for their favorite bands to move on in the tournament. There are 64 bands so it's too many to list here, but the four "#1 seeds" are fittingly The Beatles, U2, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Some of the others include Aerosmith, The White Stripes, The Jackson 5, Bon Jovi, Nirvana, Queen, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd and a whole bunch more.
On a side note, Creed as of this writing has 9% to The Beatles' 91%. There are actually 9% who would pick them over The Beatles? Scary. My prediction for the final would be The Beatles and either Led Zeppelin or U2. Beatles for the win either way.
So if you don't want Nickelback to beat Led Zeppelin, go vote.
