Author: The Dishmaster

Leave Lana Del Rey Alone — The Girl is Good

The late comedian Drake Sather once said that he wished he’d waited to perform on Letterman, because he wasn’t ready for the success that happened immediately thereafter. He didn’t have enough material, and the attention he gained as a result of his performance waned far too quickly. When I read that interview with Sather, I thought, “That can’t be true. If you waited, you might have forgone an opportunity that would never come your way again. You might have never had the experience of performing on that coveted stage, and you could have spent the rest of your life kicking yourself and living the regret of “the guy who turned down David Letterman.” But Lana Del Rey’s recent performance on Saturday Night Live might have confirmed Sather’s theory — there’s just no room for error. She performed on SNL because Lorne Michaels took a liking to her, and she was a media flop. The public didn’t get it, and they tore her apart. She then performed on Letterman, but she failed to redeem herself in the public’s eyes. And rumors are now circulating that she’s working on her stage presence.

But there’s something very important that the public is missing amidst this debacle. She’s fucking good. The SNL performance was terrible — that is for certain. And it’s unfortunate that she got really bad clothing and hair advice in addition to what was presumably a stage-fright-meltdown. That being said — I have absolutely no idea why every blogger and news outlet wants to take an artist with talent and throw rocks at her. If the public feels the need to attack her, then don’t complain that the radio is filled with musical garbage, because the only people meant to succeed in our unforgiving country are over-produced robots that spend more time on their image than their music. Watch her performance on Saturday Night Live and Letterman below, along with SNL’s very funny Kristen Wiig sketch, which comes to Lana Del Rey’s defense.

Brandi Glanville v. Taylor Armstrong — Real Housewives Reunion

You’d think that when a woman was physically abused for most of her marriage, her friends would have a little sympathy. Sure Taylor Armstrong is doing a press tour about it, but as I said before, if her late husband spent most of her marriage beating her up, then she’s entitled to make a little money off of it. And if it helps victims of abuse in the process, then so be it. Apparently, Brandi Glanville not only disagrees, she takes his side. Some people have no shame.

Quote of the Day — Eddie Vedder on Performing With Bruce Springsteen

“When you’re playing music with Bruce or Neil, it’s all about being in the moment. You don’t have a chance to think that, ‘this is really cool.’ There’ll be time for that later. You gotta make the play. If Bruce throws you the ball, you gotta catch it, because Bruce is gonna hit ya in the numbers.” Eddie Vedder on performing with Bruce Springsteen, who he’ll be joining on tour this summer at the Isle of Wright festival.

Taylor Armstrong Continues Press Tour About Husband’s Death on The Today Show– Inappropriate?

It used to bother me that the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Taylor Armstrong did a press tour following her husband’s suicide. But after further consideration, I’m in favor of it. Even if her motivation is fame-driven and not “to help others who suffer from abuse” as she often suggests, so be it. If the woman was physically abused for most of her marriage, then she’s entitled to anything positive that could come from it.

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Oasis’ Noel Gallagher Demands Concertgoers Stand — High Maintenance?

Whenever I think my brother and I are dysfunctional I remind myself of the Oasis brothers, who make my brother and I look like members of The Partridge Family. All this time I blamed Liam for their issues, but ever since Oasis split up amidst their kin-infighting, I realized they both might be to blame. During a recent concert, Noel Gallagher demanded that his concertgoers stand, saying they looked as if they were “at the cinema,” and he then called out, “Do you have to sit down?!” I absolutely hate when people stand at a concert when it’s unnecessary. In fact, I’m always tempted to throw M&Ms at people who are swaying back-and-forth during lower tempo songs while getting drunker. Sure I’ll dance for Britney Spears, but Noel Gallagher?

Howard Stern’s America’s Got Talent Super Bowl Commercial — YAY!

If you’re familiar with my site, then you could probably predict my favorite Super Bowl commercial. And no — I don’t care about David Beckham. In fact — he does nothing for me sexually. But that’s neither here nor there. It’s Howard Stern of course! Watch below to see the King of all Media in action!

Adam Lambert Joins Queen — Good Decision!

When Adam Lambert finished American Idol, rumors circulated that Queen asked him to join their band. But he chose a solo career instead, presumably because he wanted an independent career, which he thought would give him more industry longevity. But years later, he might have changed his mind. According to reports, he’s joining the band on their summer tour. Personally, I think this is something he should have done a long time ago, but better late than never. After all, when one of the world’s greatest bands in history asks you to be their lead singer, you accept. Watch him perform Bohemian Rhaphsody during his American Idol audition. He sure has come a long way.

Rachel Maddow Talks Mitt Romney on Meet the Press — Kicks Ass!

I’m not a lesbian, but I’d change teams for Rachel Maddow in a second. She appeared on Meet The Press to discuss Mitt Romney’s recent Nevada victory, and she kicked some serious ass. During the debate, New York Times columnist David Brooks suggested that Romney won because Obama “assaulted religious freedom” by mandating that Catholic churches provide contraception as part of their employee’s health insurance. Maddow gave him a verbal smackdown, saying, “Roughly 80 percent of people say that anybody providing health insurance should be required to cover contraception. And so there is a way you can try to make this into a religious freedom issue but…campaigning against the availability of birth control in America is going to run into a 21st century ceiling,” When Republican strategist Alex Castellanos countered by saying, “When the government gets into something you lose your religious freedom,” Maddow said, “The idea that the Catholic church is being forced to do what it does not want to do is a misnomer . . . . The question is — when you want to become a health insurance provider, you must follow the rules of providing health insurance.” Oh Rachel, allow me to count the ways I love you.

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Jean Paul Gaultier’s Amy Winehouse Fashion Show — Tribute or Exploitation?

When Jean Paul Gaultier paid “tribute” to Amy Winehouse during Paris Fashion Week, Winehouse’s family was not pleased. Her father said, “It portrays a view of Amy when she was not at her best, and glamorizes some of the more upsetting times in her life.” Though I love Jean Paul Gaultier and I thought the fashion show was extraordinary, I agree that it bordered on bad taste. Most people remember Amy Winehouse’s fashion choices during her least stable time period. And in hopes of remembering her when she was at her best, I’ve posted a vintage interview below. And as an aside — Amy Winehouse was fucking brilliant. To see pictures from the fashion show, click here.

Common & Maya Angelou Discuss the N-Word — So Does Chris Rock

When I saw the video of Common & Maya Angelou in a serious sit-down about using the N-Word, I found myself uncomfortable. That’s more about me than about them, considering I don’t deal well with emotional topics. So in an effort to address the same message with a sense of humor I’ve posted a vintage clip of Chris Rock discussing the same subject. Enjoy!