CricketToes

Find The Promised Land On Teevee

Before we get to the the whoot worthy news contained in this post, let's get one thing out of the way: The world of children's entertainment is chockfull of mindless, mega-hyper tripe crafted to pander to every kid's uncontrollable attraction to anything that provides immediate emotional/physical satisfaction without regard to quality of content. Since it is the adult crowd that creates said tripe, it is certainly not the fault of the young ones because folks who have lived long enough to actually possess a matured brain in their pans should know better, right? Right.

Those facts being true, it is a wholly magnificent thing when a theater company continually presents works that actually convey deep human emotion and utilize history to give the knee-, elbow- and shoulder-biter audience members the invaluable gift theater is meant to give, which is the cathartic experience.

Just such a company is Milwaukee's First Stage. For 26 years, First Stage has been presenting and developing thoughtful, young-mind-growing and, yes, entertaining theater productions without pandering. And they have never shied away from topics deemed to be too sticky or uncomfortable, such as race, whether the audience be 8 or 80 years old. And here it comes--Whoot!

Other organizations have definitely taken notice of First Stage's great work and one, Milwaukee Public Television (MPTV), has smartly decided to help the company spread that greatness to a wider audience, including you.

On April 19 at 8PM, MPTV will air To The Promised Land on Channel 10. This play, originally presented by First Stage in January and February of this year, portrays the story of a young African-American girl named Ruth living in Civil Rights era Milwaukee. Through learning about the life of Golda Meir, the former Milwaukee resident who grew up to become Israel’s first female prime minister, Ruth discovers a way to deal with the loss of her brother and finds a path to her own promised land. Now that's what we call real theater for everybody!

Tune-in on April 19, you kids of all ages, and get your catharsis on.

(Thanks, Erica!)

Free Art Friday—And Dave Watkins—On The Culture Show BBC2

Miltown artist Dave Watkins has hit the big time! Well, kinda. Seems The Culture Show on BBC2—that's the second television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation 'cause one just ain't enough!—wanted to feature a couple of photos of Dave's free artwork that he's kindly left for the casual passerby in several cities. When they asked for his permission, he responded in the calm and collected manner well known to the Brits by saying, "Hell yeah!"

So, early last month the show aired:

 

Did you catch Dave's work? No? Then click on over here to see which ones they used and some other ones they didn't. To see his non-free and so-worth-the-dough abstract work, go here.

Free Art Friday is a global artist community on The Internets, specifically on Flickr. They also have a group and fan page on the Book o' Face.

Big, nerdy thumbs-up to you, Dave!

Related:
The Abstract Art/Mind Of Dave Watkins
Alderman Unwittingly Shows His Love For Graffiti Art

Hulu Exposes Wisconsin's Dirty Political Secret: We're All Bastards. Yippee!

News has come that Hulu—the fancy online I-wanna-watch-it-now video service—has announced its first original scripted series—that means it actually employs writers to write a story as opposed to a "story" à la vomit inducing reality TV—entitled Battleground.

First Question: Why would we care? Well it seems that the unquoted story of this little dramedy takes place in our fair, fair state of Wisconsin. Not only that, the first 13 episodes will reportedly be directed by one of the co-producers of the show, none other than J.D. Walsh, whose birth and early life was also based in Wisco.

Second Question: Why is a show set in the homey Dairyland State called Battleground? We're not warlike and mean. Those who've been paying attention for the past year or so should have figured out the answer to that already. But for the sake of others who've been filling their brainpans with frivolous viral videos, such as an innocent frog easily duped into playing a catch-the-bugs game who then justly delivers payback to his/her owner—This ain't a game! I'm starving, you jackass!—let's give 'em a clue: Politics.

Armed with that information, we can confidently say that the timing of Hulu's Battleground announcement on Sunday, just two days prior to the greatly anticipated and literal truck-load dump in Madison of over 1 million signatures in favor of recalling Governor Scott Walker, was simply a coincidence, right? Haha, Hollyweird wins again!

Anyhoo, the trailer is up. Take a looky:

 

Not bad, to tell ya the truth.

However, not everyone agrees with my mildly enthusiastic assessment. Cue bitter English major now payin' the bills by writing for Business Insider:

"Hulu just unveiled the trailer for an original series about a senatorial candidate's campaign staff. It's called 'Battleground,' and the trailer is cliched, poorly written and melodramatic. In other words, it looks terrible."

Sheesh, dude. Little harsh, don't ya think? The trailer's only 02:31 long and you're gonna hand 'em that? Also, J.D. Walsh was tortured mercilessly as an actor on—I cannot believe you're making me type this—Two and a Half Men for 9 excruciating episodes just to make a buck. Anyone who can come out of an experience like that and still have half of his/her creative sanity, not to mention a will to continue on in an industry that consistently churns out similar putrid drivel, deserves at least a smidgen of human compassion.

So, based on this one knee-jerk review from a reporter I've never heard of until today, I shall watch the Battleground premiere on Hulu on February 14, 2012. Who's with me?

Link (via @artsbeat)

Related:
Critics Agree On The Art Of Reality TV--Sort Of
Reality TV's Latest Teachable Moment: Artists Can Be Stupid Whores Too!

Philosophers & Anthropologists Get Field Work In The Parking Lot

So last night Kev and I had the serendipitous pleasure of stumbling upon and watching The Parking Lot Movie, presented on PBS' Independent Lens. It's a supremely HIlarious and brainy look at the existential and anthropological ponderings of parking attendants in Charlesville, Virginia, and absotootly essential viewing for anyone out there who has never had to work in the service industry.

Here's the trailer to get ya pumped up for the full feature:

 

You don't have to wait 'til it comes on teevee--watch it right now on PBS Video!

UPDATE: PBS Video has taken the full version of The Parking Lot Movie down--Boo!--but you can buy it at the official website and, of course, get it on iTunes.

Related:
Review: People Who Do Noise Is/Are Fun to Watch!

Alderman Unwittingly Shows His Love For Graffiti Art

By now y'all have got to be thoroughly sick of hearing about Milwaukee Alderman Bob "Never Saw A Camera/Mic I Didn't Want To Shove My Mug Into" Donovan's hysteric meltdown in front of local news media by shouting at a brilliantly calm, cool and collected Sarah Patterson--executive director of TRUE Skool--on the street, claiming that a temporary mural created by the organization's youth members is "garbage" and "crap" and et al. If you're not completely burned-out on the story or ya just wanna relive the magic again--and who doesn't, huh?--go to CBS 58's video of the scene and read/reread Mary Louise Schumacher's post at Art City--don't forget the comments!

Though we could go on and on about the fact that graffiti art--or aerosol art, if you prefer--is indeed a legitimate art form, which does not include lame, unimaginative tagging, and that folks are free to disagree on the merit, message, overall execution, color palette, whatever until their faces and/or brains turn a pretty blue, we'd like to focus on the brighter side of this old-school government official vs new-school art org tiff.

And what might that be? Well, it seems that the "honorable" alderman's knee-jerk tirade and borderline if not actual defamatory remarks about TRUE Skool--I'll leave that up to the legal eagles--has brought more attention and support to the nonprofit and its positive programming then it could've garnered over several years on its own. Haha and Whoot!

To quote TS' recent press release, entitled The REAL Truth about TRUE Skool, Inc.:

"Since this incident unfolded TRUE Skool has received an overwhelming amount of support from partner agencies, parents, educators, business owners, and youth from throughout the country. True Skool has received an unprecedented amount of requests for murals, and program-related partnerships."

Thank you, Ald. Donovan! We of the artsy community haven't had such effective, albeit unwitting, free publicity since AM talk radio darlin'-of-the-right host Mark Belling decided to hand the My Vote Performs project a publicity boost by reading its press release on-air in October of 2008.

Anyone else wanna step-up and prove they can't tell the difference between sloppy, lazy scribbles on a wall and full-on expressive murals that can spark thoughtful debate? Bring it on, and thank you in advance. Love, The Arts.

UPDATE: Mary Louise Schumacher has bravely stepped into the fray with not one but two more posts on this contentious topic and--boy, howdy!--has it gotten ugly over there. Nothing brings citizens together like the opportunity to anonymously cut each other off at the knees, eh?

Related:
Help The Kids Earn Some Cash/Make Art
Performance Art's New Promotional Director: Mark Belling!

Critics Agree On The Art Of Reality TV--Sort Of

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Mary Louise Schumacher posted a review on Tuesday, June 8, of the premier episode of Bravo's new reality series Work of Art: The Next Great Artist. Seeing as her piece appeared a day before the show was scheduled to air, it's clear that she's got a helluva lot more pull with fancy teevee folks than we ever imagined. Work it, girl!

By and large, Schumacher casts an unflinchingly critical eye on the show, offering up a few well-placed zingers. To wit:

"All of the well-worn conventions of reality TV are here – the crazy assignments, the snooty judges and the contestants who play their respective roles. There’s the diva that thinks she’s all that, the unworldly underdog, the curvy sex kitten and the sage-if-snippy elder of the group, for instance.

But pair the predictability of that template with cringe-worthy art-world clichés about the 'essence' of art and 'living to create' and you’ve got a Dogs Playing Poker-level disaster in the making."

Haha, right on!

Although, after unwisely watching the first episode myself this morning on The Interwebs™, I'd honestly rather stare at those static card playin' pooches for some 44 minutes than waste another second on this art-n-inflatable bunny show. Yep, the ridiculously hallowed name of Jeff Koons was dropped twice in the first ten minutes, so Yippee!

Anyhoo, it is exactly at that point where the venerable Ms. Schumacher and I part ways. She's decided to keep tuning in to the series--that is, until it's inevitable and merciful cancellation--and I've decided to pave over that area of my gray matter's memory and get on with my life.

So, where do you come down? Watch the show yourself here and chime in with your thoughts, criticisms and one-liners. A word of warning, however: If you value your current state of intelligence, don't watch it alone.

Related:

Reality TV's Latest Teachable Moment: Artists Can Be Stupid Whores Too!

Review Of Local Arts On TeeVee

So, did ya happen to catch the new Milwaukee Public Television (MPTV) produced offering Arts Digest? It premiered on May 17 and, yes, they did very generously if briefly advertise that fact on this here blog--that's what's called "full disclosure" in the fancy media biz. Well we did watch it, and after scouring The Mighty Internets™ and finding no evidence that anybody else has seen fit to pen a review--save for this cheerleadery post by artisan Gary John Gresl on MARN--we've decided to grab it by the scruff and run, Cricky, run!

Hosted by Jon Anne Willow and Tom Strini, both of ThirdCoast Digest, Arts Digest is a monthly, half-hour TV magazine highlighting the creative goings on in the Milwaukee area. Joining the team is MPTV fav John McGivern, humorist and one-man show, who's billed as "a contributing personality" on the series' website. This is indeed an interesting choice of phraseology since Willow and Strini seemed to have a bit o' trouble bringing their own personalities to the opening performance. Loosen up, people! It's art, not economics. Sheesh.

Now, to be fair, McGivern has had, what? Like a few thousand opportunities to hone his act, both live and prerecorded, so time and practice may be just the oil these co-hosts need to shake out the stiffness and liven it up. A dash of vinegar wouldn't hurt either as we all know the best dishes are served with an infusion of complex flavor.

The show itself demonstrated good production values, veering completely and mercifully away from the overused, ultra-hip, earthquake-simulating shaky camera shots so in vogue these days. May this program continue to resist the shallow-breathed siren call of that nauseating trend.

The premier covered a range of mediums, from visual art and animation to music to spoken word to dance, including Danceworks awesome Mad Hot Ballroom and Tap Program for youngins--Whoot! However the pacing felt rushed, no doubt the result of cramming too much into the time allotted. I would suggest the producers either scale back their ambition, focusing on three main subjects per program, or think about begging for the resources to turn it into a full hour. I mean, if it's only gonna run once a month, there's more than enough worthy projects, programs and active artists 'round these parts to fill a 60 minute time slot for years to come.

Interspersed throughout the show were short spoken word pieces featuring performers from Theatre Gigante. Each artist was shot against a black backdrop, looking out at the audience but acting as if he/she was gazing in a mirror, while reacting to a recording of themselves reflecting on their physical appearance and how it has changed over time. The choice to stagger the pieces was extremely effective and I encourage Arts Digest to maintain this kind of formatting so that very short films/videos--such as MATC student Keith Kamikawa's lovely animation clip which was also featured--and other works can be included.

Though I'm not privy to the content of future episodes, I do hope that the series will take on the challenge of presenting a broader scope than what is traditionally defined as The Arts. There are a ton of super talented writers, experimental musicians, sound and multimedia artists working hard in this burg and they deserve some attention, too.

By their very nature, premiers are the awkward, nerdish adolescents that the older, wiser, cooler shows would most like to wipe from their archives. For informational, time sensitive productions such as Arts Digest this is particularly true. But the process of work includes the process of learning. It is always admirable when folks are brave enough to give it go and that must be respected.

Given that, it is this arts writer/teevee viewers' opinion that Arts Digest has created a solid foundation on which to build. To all involved, I say, "Onward and upward!" Oh, and when you've got a moment, can ya upload the show in its entirety for those of us who would like to watch it straight through? I knew you would.

For peeps who get MPTV on their old-fashioned boob tubes and wanna witness the program's first effort that way, two more rebroadcasts are scheduled to air on May 28, one at 9:30PM on Channel 36.1 and the other at 10PM on Channel 10HD.

Link

Reality TV's Latest Teachable Moment: Artists Can Be Stupid Whores Too!

Haha, yeah, so the Artforum International newsletter landed in our in-box this morning and what was the first article to catch our eye? Why it was Michael Wilson's piece detailing his experience at the media preview of Bravo's new reality series Work of Art: The Next Great Artist set to premier in June. I know, I know, I thought it was April Fool's Day again, too.

As one of the last untapped demographics, we artists can now take heart in the knowledge that, yes, TV does see us as a valuable group of pathetic tools and pawns just like everybody else. We finally made it, kids!

The official website states, "Work of Art: The Next Great Artist will bring together fourteen aspiring artists to compete for a solo show at a nationally recognized museum and a generous cash prize." Okay, that sounds just like a traditional art competition.

This video clip, however, gives us a taste of what the show's really all about, which is--surprise!--bitchin' and moanin' and backstabbin'. Nothin' says classy artist like willingly signing up for televised cat fights and epic diva breakdowns.

Regular readers of this here bloggity blog are well aware that we're all for making the art world less uppity and doing more to connect with the larger society, and everybody knows that just because you're an artist doesn't mean that you're any less susceptible to the tug of the moronic trashy gene. But if you're gonna bother to aim for artistic recognition, shouldn't it be a tad higher than being tagged as the next flavor of the month? Just askin'.

Link

Theatre Editor Turns Prophet Of The Coming Apocalypse

David Cote, theatre editor for Time Out New York and well known critic, posted a nearly hysterical item at the Guardian yesterday, bemoaning the slash-n-burn techniques US publishers are employing to hand out pink slips to longtime, established critics. And when I say hysterical, I mean both in his delivery and in my own response of uncontrollable laughter.

Citing Variety's decision to cut loose chief film critic Todd McCarthy and chief theatre critic David Rooney on Monday--which is indeed sad--Cote's piece quickly spirals out of the realm of logic and into a diatribe of civilization-ending consequences should this trend continue.

He actually compares it with Alan Weisman's book The World without Us, stating, "You've seen the books speculating on what our cities would look like if humans vanished and nature were allowed to spread unchecked. Let's imagine a world without critics (please indulge my paranoid prognostication)." Well, yes, by all means, let's indulge him, shall we? Ha!

Combine that with his own less than stellar use of the English language--example: "... a parade of jobbing freelancers with little experience and even littler clout." Littler? Are you serious? Yes, it's a word, but that doesn't mean you have to use it. Sheesh!--and his analogy that "critics, reviewers, consumer reporters – call us what you will – are the dung beetles of culture. We consume excrement, enriching the soil and protecting livestock from bacterial infection in the process," and you've got the makings for a very public display of the crazies.

Now, don't get me wrong, kids, I do believe that critics play an important, if sometimes irritating, role in the health of the artistic community, but let's have a bit of perspective here. And for Pete's sake, whatever it is you're ingesting that makes you think it's an awesome idea to call the work that artists do "excrement"--the sole reason you have a job, btw--I suggest you put it down and phone a medical professional immediately. Be sure to ask for a lollipop on your way out.

Link (via Thomas Cott's "You've Cott Mail")

Coco vs The Chin? No Contest.

No doubt you've probably heard and read way too much about the battle between comedians/talk show hosts Conan "Coco" O'Brien and Jay "The Chin" Leno spurred by haven't-got-a-clue NBC execs screaming, "Undo! Undo!" while attempting to fix their HIlariously ridiculous epic fail of scheduling The Chin five nights a week in prime-time.

Coco very rightly and eloquently said, "Later, suckas!" last week when NBC informed him that, after seven measly months on the job, it would be moving The Tonight Show to 12:05 AM EST to accommodate a predictably unfunny half-hour Jay Leno Show--I feel icky linking to it, but fair is fair. As proof of the seriousness of his decision, Coco's posted an offer to sell the show on Craigslist--4 SALE: BARELY-USED LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW – MAKE ME AN OFFER!!! (Universal Studios)--and is auctioning off a Collector's Edition Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien Carry-On Bag on ebay. Those who dare to mess with The Jester are themselves made fools.

Rumor has it that Coco will likely round out his gig as host this Friday, January 22. It may also mark the end of The Tonight Show of itself, dealing a fatal blow to the 60 year old pitch-your-project weeknight chat-n-bull session.

Because no fight is of any worth if it ain't got powerful images and slogans, artist Mike Mitchell created this iconic, Faireyesque poster so the peeps can show the world just whose side they're on.

While anyone with a working brain can astutely claim that there are far more important issues deserving of one's limited attention and energy, the folks at Comix, a New York comedy nightclub, are holding The "I'm with CoCo" Benefit For Haiti on January 28, so those able to attend can proudly say they care about entertainment fluff and people in need.

UPDATE: Word has come over The Internets™ that NBC will pay Coco $33 million to pack up his jokes and get the eff out after hosting his last Tonight show this Friday. His loyal staff will split $12 million to live on until a new home can be found. And The Chin? Well, he'll return to run the show into the ground at 11:35 PM EST, beginning March 1, as NBC execs have decided he's the perfect poison to deliver a slow and painfully uncomfortable death to its late-night schedule, joining the rest of the network in Broadcasting Without An Audience Land.

Terrific job, guys! ABC, CBS and Fox will be sending you an overpriced gift basket shortly. Even PBS wants to show its appreciation--it's got a tote bag with your name on it!

(via NPR's two-way news blog)