Mmm…Goodness Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2008 in 2008 Election, Dick Rice, entertainment, food, Fusion 205, Lost, music, Musical Martini Lounge, Paul Thorn, Politics, pop culture, Pop Music, Power-Pop, Smallville, The Bistro On Main, Tupelo

Everything everybody should be taking about on Thursday, February 14, 2008

Pop-Rock Candy Mountain: I Love You Like A Biscuit Loves Butter!

• Paul Thorn: Limited-edition copies of his new album will be on sale tonight during his show at the Lyric. Included in the CD will be a recording of his acoustic show at the Lyric in 2007. Y’all show Paul some love…Tickets were still available as of the publishing of this blog. Tickets can be purchased at the Lyric Theater.
• Reba/Kelly Clarkson: If it’s not sold-out yet, it probably will be by show time (7:30 PM). More information can be found at BancorpSouth Arena Online.
• Jumper/Definitely, Maybe/The Spiderwick Chronicles: If the concerts aren’t on your agenda for tonight, these three new movies opening today (well, SC opened yesterday)may make for the perfect date night. Jumper is playing at the Malco at 4:55 and 7:15. Romantic comedy Definitely, Maybe is playing at the Cinemark 8 at 4:50 and 7:30; The Spiderwick Chronicles is also playing at the Cinemark at 4:30 and 7:00. The Pop-Rock Candy Mountain best bet for Valentine’s Day Movie Night is Definitely, Maybe, which is also the name of one of my favorite albums by Oasis.
• Fusion 205: A limited Valentine’s Day menu will be offered tonight, including Tempura Shrimp or Blackened Steak Strips appetizers, Duck Salad or Fusion Chicken Tikka and entrees such as Surf and Turf, Be Mine Orange Roughy and Lady and The Tramp Spaghetti. Reservations are required (662-842-7205). The seating is fairly limited before seven, so the best bet may be for a later dinner.
• The Bistro on Main: Although the eatery is booked solid tonight, a three-course lobster and fondue dinner will be served. The special includes traditional gruyere cheese fondue, surf and turf fondue (fillet and lobster tail) and chocolate fondue. Diners can also feast on a seafood menage a trois, which includes salmon, scallops and shrimp. According to Fondue Recipes.com, “Cheese fondue was invented out of necessity. In the remote and isolated mountain villages in the Swiss Alps people had to rely upon locally made food. Over 100 varieties of cheese fondue exist, each with a unique name and different blend of cheeses, wine and seasoning.” A nifty fondue recipe can be found here.
• Fairpark Grill/Park Heights: Although the restaurants will not be offering Valentine’s specials, a spokesperson at both locations encouraged diners going to Paul Thorn or Reba to make plans to arrive early. Fairpark Grill anticipates the dinner rush to be in full swing by 4:30 p.m.
• Northeast Mississippi American Red Cross: The local chapter was hit hard financially after the recent tornadoes in and around Lafayette County. Please support them with your donations, including attending the benefit to be held by the Tupelo Young Professionals on February 26 at the Bistro on Main. Read more about the local chapter’s plight in an editorial in the Daily Journal.
• Obama vs Clinton: With a growing lead over Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barrack Obama could be coasting to a Democratic nominee victory. Of course, this is much, much much, much to the chagrin of Clinton.
• J.J. Abrams Star Trek Movie: As if Valentine’s Day wasn’t sad enough for me, the Abrams-directed Star Trek movie has been pushed back from Christmas to May 2009. Man, I wasn’t even planning on being a dork in 2009. Dang.
• LOST (ABC): In case you were wondering what I was doing for Valentine’s Day. I mean, just in case someone asked. I like to pretend that Kate is my girlfriend and that she is going to make me a Valentine’s card out of a coconut shell.
• Survivor: Micronesia (CBS): Yes, I will be doing this, as well.
• Smallville (CW): I’m starting to seem pathetic….But hey, it’s new tonight!
• SAG: Members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) have started labor talks. Awesome. Two days after the end of the WGA strike, the actors are having labor problems. Man, I wish reality stars would start having contract and labor problems.
• Jack Johnson: His new record is bringing smiles to the record industry and, also, to people playing hackey-sack everywhere.
• Uno: How can you not love Uno? He has made many a beagle across the nation very proud.

• My Favorite Love Songs: Hear them in the(username:poprockcandy; password:pinkmoon) Pop-Rock Candy Mountain Musical Martini Lounge. Or, read them right here:

Cold Hands, Warm Heart–Brendan Benson

Crimson and Clover–Tommy James and the Shondells

Thirteen–Big Star

Good Vibrations–Beach Boys

I Melt With You–Modern English

No Matter What–Badfinger

God Only Knows–Beach Boys

Sara Smile–Hall and Oates

Run to Me–Bee Gees

Shining Star–Manhattans

Kiss Me On The Bus–The Replacements

You Make My Dreams Come True–Hall and Oates

Just You and Me–Chicago

Lovedust–Luna

Just Like Starting Over–John Lennon

• Sabrina McLarty: Her documented search for true love will be featured on Pop-Rock Candy Mountain later today. Look for it!
• Dick Rice: No Dick Rice sightings today, but from all of us (uh, me) to all of you–Happy Valentine’s Day. Here’s another of my all-time favorite love songs:

Mmm…Goodness Wednesday

February 13, 2008 in Dick Rice, entertainment, Frank Portman, Julee Brown, Kay Bain, Kevin Waide Project, Lost, Mississippi Mudcats, Musical Martini Lounge, Paul Thorn, pop culture, Radiohead, Saturday Morning With Kay Bain, Smallville, Tupelo, Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, WTVA

Everything everybody should be taking about on Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Pop-Rock Candy Mountain: Because Life Doesn’t Write Itself

• New Indiana Jones Trailer: It should be on the web after nine AM. It will be shown during Good Morning America on ABC. But hey, I’m a Today kind of guy.
• New Star Wars: Ok, so, it’s animated, but it’s coming to theaters this summer and then, new episodes will appear on Cartoon Network. New Indie and Star Wars? (my head just exploded.) Take a sneak peek at the Official Star Wars Site.
• Steven Spielberg: Keeping on with my Indie/Star Wars obsession, Steven Spielberg has backed out of participating in the Beijing Olympics as an artistic director due to China’s policy on Darfur.
• Spectacular Spider-Man: I promise–it’s not Fanboy day here at PRCM. However, the CW will begin airing Spectacular Spider-Man in March as part of its Saturday morning line-up. It follows the adventures of a 16 year old Peter Parker/Spider-Man. No word yet if Spidey will battle such teen issues as puberty, peer pressure or teenage depression.
• King Dork: Frank Portman’s brilliant novel of teen angst and alienation is now available in paperback. Get one here. This is one of the best and most hilarious books I have ever read. I mean, for real.
• Big Brother 9: Man, I tried to watch this nonsense, but I just couldn’t get down with it. Anyway, host Julie Chen welcomes back the same gang of sex-starved nihilists and narcicists that you would expect from this show. I think they all live in the same house and the last one to catch the VD gets a prize.
• Radiohead: Tickets for the Atlanta show go on sale tomorrow. Great. Like I don’t have enough things to be stressed-out and depressed over on Valentine’s Day. Now, I have to try (or not) to get tickets for a concert that’s not until like May or something. Dang. I already feel like a loser on Valentine’s Day–I don’t need the added pressure.
• The Hobbit: After all of the ruckus between Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema, it looks like The Hobbit could be in danger of being halted. The family of JRR Tolkien and his original publisher, HarperCollins, have engaged in a lawsuit against New Line Cinema, which could stop The Hobbit from being completed. (Fanboys across the world just died a little bit on the inside)
• Steve Gerber: The creator of Howard The Duck died at age 60 on Tuesday. Gerber wrote some of my favorite comics growing up, including the 1970s KISS series for Marvel that was written with KISS blood in the ink. (Fanboys continue to die inside across the globe)
• NASCAR: Drivers Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart were suspended for six races for alleged poor sportsmanship. And this was just a PRACTICE or qualifying race. Dang.
• Cosby Show Reunion: It happened Tuesday on Oprah–without Lisa Bonet….of course. Why y’all still hating on her? Angel Heart was like 100 years ago.
• Pat Benatar: My sister says she’s appearing on the Young And The Restless on Thursday and Friday. And my sister knows her Young And The Restless. (I checked. It’s happening)
• Jericho: It came back for its second season last night, and it was good. But it was different…
• Kevin Waide Project: They will be appearing on Saturday Morning With Kay Bain. Check them out–Kevin’s a great guitar player and Skip Oliver is an awesome harmonica player. Plus, he’s just a great guy–love me some Skip Oliver.
• Julee Brown: While we’re on the subject of WTVA, which I love (obviously), I was a bit upset about the demise of the Mornin’ Show–but I’m over it. I heart Julee Brown on AM Live. She is just super awesome. No one (well, not me) likes to be up that early in the morning, but she makes it seem like the day is going to be ok. According to her bio, she is a motivational speaker, so that makes sense.
• Tupelo-Lee Humane Society Valentine’s Day Special: The big day is tomorrow. Get your special friend a pet today.
• Sabrina McLarty: The 22 year old film maker from Saltillo will be the subject of a Valentine’s Day interview with PRCM. Look for it tomorrow.
• Mississippi Mudcats: William Stewart and Antonio Peoples have been resigned for the upcoming season, which rocks. The Mudcats also have a great promotion to help the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society. More Mudcat information can be found here.
• The WGA Strike: The good news is: It’s over and new episodes of The Office, 30 Rock, My Name Is Earl, Lost and Smallville will be airing in April/May. The bad news? 24 is out until January 2009. Dang. Check out your favorite show’s expected return here.
• Dick Rice: Tuesday was a severe weather day, so there were no Dick Rice sightings. But, today’s a new day.

Mmm..Goodness Thursday Edition

February 7, 2008 in Dick Rice, Eli Manning, entertainment, Kay Bain, Lost, Politics, pop culture, Senate Election, Smallville, Tupelo, WTVA

All the chit-chat you need for the office or when talking to a carny

Pop-Rock Candy Mountain: I Love You More Than Yo Mama!

• Eli Manning: The Superbowl MVP chatted it up with David Letterman last night and he did a great job. He made the transition from Ole Miss quarterback to the Prince of New York, as the audience, and Letterman, gave him a standing ovation. Letterman actually seemed awe-struck by Manning, who didn’t mumble his way through the interview.
• Moment Of Truth (FOX): The game show where contestants are hooked up to a Lie Detector Test and are asked questions such as “Have you ever stuck your finger in the punchbowl?” and “Does this dress make me look fat?” It is truly a new low in American culture.
• Project Runway (BRAVO): Last night the designers had to design clothes for female wrestlers. Wait, I thought female wrestlers wore pretty much spandex and thongs. OK, whew….they still do. But they look so much better with the snarkiness of Tim Gunn.
• Gov. Haley Barbour VS Jim Hood (The State of Mississippi): And the Supreme Court say: Leonard’s Losers: Jimmy Hood. The Senate election will be held in November.
• Paul Thorn: The Tupelo native returns to the Lyric Theater on Valentine’s Day for another intimate show. (Note to guys: You have a much better chance of nude pillow fighting with your date after a Paul Thorn show as opposed to Reba or Kelly Clarkson). Kay Bain will be debuting Paul’s new video on Saturday Morning With Kay Bain on WTVA.
• LOST (ABC): I love Thursday nights. And in case you missed it, ABC will be reshowing the Season Four premiere tonight at seven. The only person you are hurting by not watching this show is yourself. Do you really not want to join in on the LOST talk at the snack machine at work, punk? Well, do you?
• Smallville (CW): Yes, it’s all-new tonight, and I’m about to explode. The Black Canary makes an appearance tonight and so does Green Arrow!! Awesome!! And yes, I’m perfectly fine with being a dork and being single and crying myself to sleep at night and…
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo: If you are a fan of Paul Simon’s Graceland or world music, check out Ladysmith Black Mambazo on February 12 at the Hump at MSU.
• Lipstick Jungle (NBC): Sex In The City Author Candace Bushnell’s “other book” debuts tonight on NBC. The pilot, goes like this: Movie Exec Wendy Healy, Editor-in-Chief Nico Reilly, and Fashion Designer Victory Ford are modern New York career women supporting each other through triumphs and tears that are all part of making it in the Big Apple. And, it stars Brooke Shields and Jack Bauer’s ex girlfriend. Some call them cougars, I call them women in their 30s and 40s.
• Oxford Film Festival: It’s tonight through Sunday. I’m particularly interested in seeing The Business of Being Born from Executive Producer Ricki Lake.
• Shine A Light: The Martin Scorsese-helmed Rolling Stones documentary kicked-off the 58th Berlinale Film Festival last night in Berlin. This is great news, as it means that someone has actually seen this movie and it’s not just an urban myth.
• Survivor: Micronesia (CBS): The old-school reality show returns tonight with a new season as fans go head-to-dirty-toes with former contestants. Of course there is really only one reason to watch the show an that’s to see host Jeff Probst berate former contestant and eternal weasel, Johnny Fairplay.
• Oprah’s Big Give Away (ABC): Oprah’s new reality show finds the daytime queen giving people money to help others with, and the winner gets a big ol’ prize. “People from across the country are challenged to help total strangers so that they can feel the high of giving. Over eight weeks, we follow their every move…” And to think, I always thought the reason to help others was to help others..
• Dick Rice: No Dick Rice sightings to report today. But I’m still looking…

Mmm…Goodness Friday Edition

February 1, 2008 in Cloverfield, entertainment, lists, Lost, music, Musical Martini Lounge, pop culture, Smallville, Tupelo, WTVA

It’s Friday, and it’s time to enjoy happy hour in the Pop-Rock Candy Mountain Musical Martini Lounge! (Username: poprockcandy Password: pinkmoon)

Pop-Rock Candy Mountain: I Love You More Than Yo Mama!

• Lost: Season Four starts with a Hurley story, which are always awesome. However, it’s a flash-forward, not a flashback. Say What?!
• Eli Stone: Is he crazy or is he a prophet? It was so bad, even with George Michael, that I doubt I will be sticking around to find out . There was an Oceanic Air “commercial,” but you can see it online here.
• Cloverfield: It’s getting a sequel and Cloverfield may be part of the Dharma Initiative on Lost.
• Smallville: Marc McClure, Jimmy Olsen from the Christopher Reeves Superman series, kept the Superman Universe going with an appearance as Dax-Ur.
• Friday Night Lights: Yep. It’s all new again tonight.
• There Will Be Blood: Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic finally opens in Tupelo this weekend at the Malco.
• Superbowl XLII: Will Tom Brady and the New England Patriots finish with a perfect season or will Eli Manning and the New York Giants triumph? Man, I hate when two of my favorite teams play against each other. I just hope there’s a new Where’s the Beef commercial.
• Amazon’s Kindle Reader: A wireless reader that downloads books. It costs $400—man, do you get the Kindle or a 160GB iPod? Decisions, decisions. Read what Stephen King (thanks, Sheena!) thinks about the reader here.
• The Writer’s Strike: Is it almost over?
• Tupelo Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball: Friday, Feb. 8 at the Bancorpsouth Center. Makes plans to attend because all of the money raised is used in the area. For more information, go to WTVA’s Community Events.
• Reba and Kelly Clarkson: Don’t miss their Valentine’s Day appearance in Tupelo. Get your tickets now before it’s too late.
• I’m LA Mike and I play it cool….Have a Great Weekend!

Mmm..Goodness Late Thursday Edition

January 31, 2008 in 2008 Election, American Idol, Band Of Horses, entertainment, lists, Lost, Mitt Romney, MP3s, music, pop culture, Pop Music, Power-Pop, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Smallville, The Carpenters

Again, I apologize for the tardiness, but here it goes. As always, there are some pretty strong drinks being served in the Pop-Rock Candy Mountain Musical Martini Lounge (Username: poprockcandymontain Password: pinkmoon), so be sure and order a cocktail.

Pop-Rock Candy Mountain: I Love You More Than Yo Mama!

• Band Of Horses: I attend their singing at the Hi-Tone in Memphis last night. If you like melodic, pretty and loud, then you will love Band Of Horses—plus they did an amazing cover of Chicago’s Feeling Stronger. Check them out here.
  
• Lost: It’s back! First up, an hour-long recap of Season Three. Then, the season premiere on ABC. It’s the Islanders vs. The Others! Or in classical terms, it’s man versus man versus nature versus “What in the hell is going on here?”. For a great recap of the Season Three finale, go here.
• The GOP California Debate: Once again, Mitt Romney emits cool confidence. However, the media seems to have decided it will be Clinton vs McCain, which is lose-lose for everyone. John McCain?! Really?!
• Smallville: New episode tonight on the CW at seven. James Marsters, formally known as Spike on Buffy, returns as Braniac. My inner-geek says whoo-hoo!
• Writer’s Strike: Rumor has it that it could be ending soon. As long as we get new episodes of The Office.…
• Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings: Wow! Pow! Bam! Hear Janet Jackson’s What Have You Done For Me Lately like it was recorded in 1965 by a Memphis house band.
• SAD: Yep, got that seasonal affective disorder something bad this year. I like to call it the Gray Skies Blues.
• The Carpenters: I love AM Radio music more than just about anything and nothing makes me smile and keeps the SAD in check like The Carpenters.
• American Idol (Wednesday): Although I missed it for reasons already explained, my sister told me that all I really missed was what she referred to as a “Singing Skunk.”
• Pop-Rock Candy Mountain Readers: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the Blog over the 1,000 readers mark. It truly means a great deal to me. Thank you for letting me be me. I do love you more than yo mama. And with that in mind, here’s Sly and the Family Stone: