As you sit on the couch this morning nursing your turkey hangover, it's as good as time as any to think about something you probably forgot while you were filling your face with cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes: Thanksgiving is about giving thanks.
This week, let's take a look at what I was thankful for in 2009.
The implosion of "Jon & Kate Plus 8": Well guys, you made it five long, interesting seasons. But as it turns out, when you start becoming a "TV family" your "real family" starts to deteriorate. I admit, in the beginning I enjoyed this show. But when life became more about Kate's hair and Jon's Ed Hardy jeans, it grew less likable and more infuriating. And while I feel bad for little Madi, Cara, Alexis, Leah, Hannah, Aidan, Joel, and Collin, perhaps they can get more attention now that their parents have one less thing on their plate. What's that? Both Jon and Kate have new projects in the works? Oh well, good luck with the nannies, kids.
Taylor Swift: Did anyone have a better year than Taylor Swift? She hosted one of the funniest "Saturday Night Live's" in recent memory, won a slew of awards including Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year and began dating the werewolf from "Twi..." "Yo Taylor, I'm really happy for you and I'm a let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time. One of the best videos of all time."
"Community": NBC's sitcom about a disgraced lawyer who goes back to community college is utterly brilliant. It's a true ensemble comedy featuring "Talk Soup's" Joel McHale, a thank-God-he's-funny-again Chevy Chase, and Don Glover, who some of you might know from the comedy troupe and Internet sensation, Derrick Comedy. And being paired up with "Parks and Recreation," "The Office" and "30 Rock," has made Thursday nights Must See TV once again.
"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" and "Brutal Legend": Yes, I'm a bit of a gamer and these two were by far my favorites of the year. With its gritty realism and no-holds-barred attitude, "Modern Warfare 2" is probably the most intense war game of its kind. As one of my Twitter friends said, the game made me "question my morals." And while "Brutal Legend" is just as, well, brutal, it does so in a much funnier way. Jack Black lends his voice to Eddie Riggs, a roadie who gets transported to a fantasy world to kill demons. Joining Black are rock icons like Lemmy Kilmister, Rob Halford, Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford. Rock on!
Surviving: This year we lost a ton of celebrities. The deaths of DJ A.M., Bea Arthur, David Carradine, Dom DeLuise, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, John Hughes, Michael Jackson, Natasha Richardson, Ricardo Montalban, Soupy Sales, Walter Cronkite, etc., made 2009 a tough year to be famous. But it's almost over. Breathe easy, Earnest Borgnine, Mickey Rooney and Phyllis Diller. It's almost over.
John Noble: The little-known Aussie theater actor might be recognized as Denethor in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" series. But now he's certainly making a name for himself as the mentally unstable Walter Bishop in Fox's "Fringe." Typical Walter quote: "Peter, you've been abducted. Of course you need crepes."
Sharlto Copley: Seemingly out of nowhere, this South African producer, actor and director became a hot commodity after being the driving force behind one of the year's biggest films, "District 9." Copley will next be seen as "Howling Mad" Murdock in 2010's A-Team movie.
Zombies/Vampires: It was certainly the year of the undead as blood suckers and brain eaters alike made a huge impact in entertainment. From mega hits like HBO's "True Blood" to the adaptation of the "Twilight" series for the big screen, you couldn't miss these guys if you tried. Even video games like "Call of Duty: World at War" featured a special Nazi zombie level accessible only when you beat the game.
Jane Lynch and the cast of "Glee": This Fox hit is by far the Fanboy pick for best show of the season. From its hip song numbers to its relatively unknown cast, the show has few detractions. And perhaps the series' brightest star is Lynch's Sue Sylvester. As a cruel, manipulative and sometimes racist cheerleading coach, Lynch commands the screen with lines like, "I don't trust a man with curly hair. I can't help but picture little birds laying sulfurous eggs in there, and it disgusts me." We love you Sue Sylvester. But that's just how Fanboy "C's" it.
This week, let's take a look at what I was thankful for in 2009.
The implosion of "Jon & Kate Plus 8": Well guys, you made it five long, interesting seasons. But as it turns out, when you start becoming a "TV family" your "real family" starts to deteriorate. I admit, in the beginning I enjoyed this show. But when life became more about Kate's hair and Jon's Ed Hardy jeans, it grew less likable and more infuriating. And while I feel bad for little Madi, Cara, Alexis, Leah, Hannah, Aidan, Joel, and Collin, perhaps they can get more attention now that their parents have one less thing on their plate. What's that? Both Jon and Kate have new projects in the works? Oh well, good luck with the nannies, kids.Taylor Swift: Did anyone have a better year than Taylor Swift? She hosted one of the funniest "Saturday Night Live's" in recent memory, won a slew of awards including Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year and began dating the werewolf from "Twi..." "Yo Taylor, I'm really happy for you and I'm a let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time. One of the best videos of all time."
"Community": NBC's sitcom about a disgraced lawyer who goes back to community college is utterly brilliant. It's a true ensemble comedy featuring "Talk Soup's" Joel McHale, a thank-God-he's-funny-again Chevy Chase, and Don Glover, who some of you might know from the comedy troupe and Internet sensation, Derrick Comedy. And being paired up with "Parks and Recreation," "The Office" and "30 Rock," has made Thursday nights Must See TV once again.
"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" and "Brutal Legend": Yes, I'm a bit of a gamer and these two were by far my favorites of the year. With its gritty realism and no-holds-barred attitude, "Modern Warfare 2" is probably the most intense war game of its kind. As one of my Twitter friends said, the game made me "question my morals." And while "Brutal Legend" is just as, well, brutal, it does so in a much funnier way. Jack Black lends his voice to Eddie Riggs, a roadie who gets transported to a fantasy world to kill demons. Joining Black are rock icons like Lemmy Kilmister, Rob Halford, Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford. Rock on!
Surviving: This year we lost a ton of celebrities. The deaths of DJ A.M., Bea Arthur, David Carradine, Dom DeLuise, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, John Hughes, Michael Jackson, Natasha Richardson, Ricardo Montalban, Soupy Sales, Walter Cronkite, etc., made 2009 a tough year to be famous. But it's almost over. Breathe easy, Earnest Borgnine, Mickey Rooney and Phyllis Diller. It's almost over.
John Noble: The little-known Aussie theater actor might be recognized as Denethor in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" series. But now he's certainly making a name for himself as the mentally unstable Walter Bishop in Fox's "Fringe." Typical Walter quote: "Peter, you've been abducted. Of course you need crepes."Sharlto Copley: Seemingly out of nowhere, this South African producer, actor and director became a hot commodity after being the driving force behind one of the year's biggest films, "District 9." Copley will next be seen as "Howling Mad" Murdock in 2010's A-Team movie.
Zombies/Vampires: It was certainly the year of the undead as blood suckers and brain eaters alike made a huge impact in entertainment. From mega hits like HBO's "True Blood" to the adaptation of the "Twilight" series for the big screen, you couldn't miss these guys if you tried. Even video games like "Call of Duty: World at War" featured a special Nazi zombie level accessible only when you beat the game.
Jane Lynch and the cast of "Glee": This Fox hit is by far the Fanboy pick for best show of the season. From its hip song numbers to its relatively unknown cast, the show has few detractions. And perhaps the series' brightest star is Lynch's Sue Sylvester. As a cruel, manipulative and sometimes racist cheerleading coach, Lynch commands the screen with lines like, "I don't trust a man with curly hair. I can't help but picture little birds laying sulfurous eggs in there, and it disgusts me." We love you Sue Sylvester. But that's just how Fanboy "C's" it.
