PCHH – David Evans' personal blog

In today’s lovely episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, the team discusses Appreciation Day some more.

Then they discuss Frank Bruni’s column on being on the outside of the Harry Potter craze and being a poseur, which reminds me of Pierre Bayard’s great book How to Talk about Books You Haven’t Read.

Obscure talents that should be more appreciated

Trey talks about DC Cowboys, a gay dance troupe
Glen describes the shirtless Pelegrini Brothers performing for the Pope
Trey recommends we all view this clip of Varla Jean Merman singing while eating Cheez Whiz
Stephen talks about flea circuses
Linda longs for better ventriloquists than Jeff Dunham, recalling creepy Twilight Zone episodes with ventriloquists, like this one. And they all laugh about this Mr. Show sketch about East Coast vs West Coast ventriloquism (note: some strong language).

What’s Making You Happy This Week?

Glen likes meta-commentary on snacks: Revolting Snacks of America: A Field Guide and Mike & Tom Eat Snacks (with two actors from Ed, a show I used to really love).
Stephen is still psyched about Appreciation Day…
Trey enjoyed Louis Virtel’s Verbal Vogueing (strong language)
Linda enjoyed this Trader Joe’s cartoon of Parks & Recreation’s Ron Swanson, selling bacon

Thanks, guys! See you next week!

I love NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, and I always wonder where I can find links to all the cool things they discuss. So I decided to post them myself!

So for last Friday’s episode, Super Happy Monkey Time, here is what I’ve got:

Stephen proposes Appreciation Day
Right Place at the Right Time

Trey does the mambo shuffle to a club re-mix of Madonna singing Don’t Cry for Me Argentina
Stephen praises The Simpsons and Mr. Show, and talks about his book, The Tenacity of the Cockroach
Linda sings I Sing the Body Electric from Fame at music camp and recommends Martha Wainwright’s Don’t Forget
Glen recommends Hank Stuever’s article critiquing Glee in the Stranger and Mark Merlis’s novel An Arrow’s Flight

Wish You Were Here

Glen recommends Thor: The Mighty Avenger (vol1 and vol2) and Gotham Central
Trey remembers Jerry Orbach voicing the candlestick in Beauty and the Beast (and much more)
Stephen remembers Calvin & Hobbes and Bloom County and Jim Henson
Linda remembers the great but short-lived show Sports Night
Trey remembers a great passage celebrating Jim Henson in the intro to Everything Was Possible and Linda recalls Being Elmo

What’s Making You Happy?

Glen talks about Wet Hot American Summer
Trey talks about tonic water…
Stephen sings the praises of Justin Vernon from Bon Iver covering I Can’t Make You Love Me and Clem Snide singing Your Favorite Music
Linda loves Matt Paxton from Hoarders

Category: PCHH

PCHH – Poseurs, Plate-Spinners, And Six Bucks In Pennies – the links

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Super Happy Monkey Time – the links