Studio 360 is a great radio program about film, literature, music, the arts that’s normally hosted by Kurt Anderson but this episode is hosted by Alec Baldwin and it’s awesome.

Please listen.

Once again I have KCRW to thank for their insight.

First, you need to check out THIS AMERICAN LIFE. Maybe you’ve seen the cable show but you should really listen to the radio program or podcast them like I do.

Second, you need to listen to this story (it runs about 14 minutes).

Now check out the shirt I bought by clicking on the TAL logo below.  Don’t cheat.  Listen to the whole story first before clicking below.

Jealous?

Lastly, this is public radio so they operate off the generosity of your donations and this year it’s easier than ever to support THIS AMERICAN LIFE.  You can now text the word LIFE to the number 25383 and you’ll make a one-time donation of $5; it’ll show up on your mobile phone bill.  After you send the text, you’ll need to reply YES to the confirmation and you’re done.  If that story and shirt made you smile, why not do the right thing and show this great radio program a little Christmas love.

Happy Fun Friday!

Okay, I know most of are asking yourself, “Cover-what?” Allow me to explain. First, a bit of back story. I jumped on the podcasting bandwagon the second I got my first iPod. One of my first subscriptions was Coverville, a music podcast by Brian Ibbott that celebrates the art of the cover. When I started listening, it was well before the show hit triple digits; as of this writing they’ve just posted episode #633, the one referenced above.

I could go into a long explanation about the Coverville Countdown or the Coverville Hall of Fame but let me just say that episode #633 is wall-to-wall awesome and these songs might never be played on Coverville again. Want a preview? Here’s one track you’ll find in episode #633. Warning: this song is not safe for work.

If that doesn’t get you to subscribe, I don’t know what’s wrong with you.

Also, let me make a little pitch for Coverville. This is a free podcast, as in it doesn’t cost you anything. There’s only one or two commercials in the show and a list of sponsors at the end. Brian is a stand-up guy so he licenses all the music on his show and that’s a heavy financial burden. To ease that burden, he started the Coverville Citizenship program. Donate $40 and you’ll get a t-shirt, a DVD with the previous 100 episodes either as MP3 or AAC (which let’s you skip the commercials) and access to a bonus podcast.

Did I also mention that Brian put together a cover tribute to Spinal Tap? Did I also mention that it’s free, too?

So here’s your mission. First, subscribe to the podcast. Coverville is about to start their annual countdown so you’re guaranteed the cream of the crop. Second, download the Spinal Tap cover album. Third, if the first two things put a smile on your face do the right thing and become a Coverville Citizen. I’m a citizen and look at how happy Brian and I are…

(we’re also at the GABF but that’s another story)

Have a great Friday!

(Oh-my-God, my fingers are so tired from embedding all those links!)

I’m gonna assume you’ve seen THE BOONDOCK SAINTS. Have you seen the documentary OVERNIGHT? If not, do that next.

That Troy Duffy gets held up as a 2.0 filmmaking hero and that it’s suggested that others should try to emulate his resolve, well, I know what they mean but that also kinda makes me sick.

So why this particular episode? Allow me an indulgence. Growing up, I had a best friend that was a genius. I don’t use that as hyperbole; he was studying to become a doctor (both PhD and MD) at the same time. Therefore he studied, researched, trained and worked like a mad man (did I ever mention the sumer he and I drove strippers around town at night? No? Well, that’s for another post).

My buddy couldn’t afford to sleep more than 3-4 hours a night but after a while the body starts to buckle. This was when a medical school friend of his turned him on to Ritalin. “Once in a while” turned into “once a week” which turned into a crystal meth addiction that led to his heart exploding one night.

And I can say with certainty that he isn’t the only MD I knew that (ab)used Ritalin (also knew a few more MDs that partook in the crystal meth).

So to answer Dr. Michael Wilkes, I don’t think we need jacked up doctors that can see more patients. I think we need well rested doctors that don’t need the crutch.

If you’ve ever wanted someone to explain the financial meltdown to you in human terms, I don’t think anyone does it better.

Edward has got to be one of the most forthright commentators on the station. And fie on LACMA for ending their film series. At a time when Hollywood is packing more theaters with the same tent pole fare, Los Angeles needs to preserve every possible alternative theater space imaginable. That means we can’t lose The Egyptian, The New Beverly or The Bing at LACMA.

Also, if you haven’t been to the summer screening series at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, you’re missing out on one of the truly awesome Los Angeles experiences. Need a better reason? August 22 they’re showing SINGING IN THE RAIN.

‘Nuff said.

PS, if I had the stones I’d come dressed up as Alex DeLarge and bring a few of my droogies for a bit of the ol’… whoa, pardon, that was Dark Tony popping up out of nowhere. Ignore that.

Think of it as Entertainment Tonight for the Whole Foods crowd. No, I don’t like that, it sounds too pertentious. How about ET for the Trader Joe’s patron? Yes, I’m happier with that (but who approved that “headshot“?).

And I’m sorry if I upset some of you with the following but I have a message for Matt Holzman.

“Bring Claude back!  Or you host the show.”

Since then, I’ve come to love quite a few podcasts and this is one of them.

Why Martini Shot? Not only am I amused by Rob Long‘s industry insider observations but as of late I’ve found some strange synchronicity between his musings and my life. Take the above episode for example. Just this week I’ve had a surge in unsolicited “you know what you should do?” advice. I know, it’s like a horoscope or fortune cookies (you’ll find the connections you want to make) but I’m not about to start pitching a reality rom-com with “wedding” in the title. Thank you, but no.

(Yes, that happened to me this week while quietly sitting in my seat waiting for a work [non-industry] function to begin.)