The Time Warner on-screen guide simply said "Tila Tequila" on MTV when the clock struck midnight last Monday, leading a casual observer to assume they were blowing through a marathon of her depressing reality show. But oh no! The oddly shaped, elfish face of the network apparently gets sole, top billing over the biggest night of the year as the host of MTV's annual New Years Eve party. She was mostly responsible for stumbling through some lines on her way to introducing the lineup of bands on tap, including the likes of Good Charlotte, Kid Rock and a somehow still relevant Wyclef. While those in attendance seemed to be having a fine time, it may pain music fans to see the network has no sign of changing their tune in the new year, rolling out the same rehashed schlock they've been shoveling for most of the decade. Cobra Starship summed it up best in their post-balldrop interview: "A lot of bands are trying to be credible...we wanna be in-credible in '08!" No word yet what role Gabe Saporta will play in "Shot of Love, Season 2." (pic via MTV)
Gothamist's Week in Rock: New Year's Hangover Edition
Pencil This In
THEATER: Temporary Distortion’s Welcome to Nowhere (bullet hole road) juxtaposes lushly photographed cinema with hypnotic live performance. Positioned within a small but elaborately designed boxlike installation, the actors draw the audience into their blood-stained world with a stillness that approaches meditation. When fused with the rich film projection above their heads – which furthers the abstract plot of the road movie/love story – the show draws you into an intimate embrace, as if the characters are whispering in your ear while you watch their dreams. (Read a feature article about Temporary Distortion in the current Brooklyn Rail.) – John Del Signore
Elsewhere in the ist-a-verse
The nicer the weather gets, the busier we get across the Ist-A-Verse. But we like being busy. Here's a peek at what we've been up to since last week!
We Know Who Danielle Melnick Is...But Does Time Out?
Have you taken Time Out New York's Essential New Yorker? It's a mammoth, challenging exercise that tests people's knowledge of the city and its people. Naturally, there was a Law & Order question (page 5 of the quiz) that challenged whether you could sift through, oh, about 100 names or so to find the needle in the haystack: "Which one of the following actors has never appeared on New York’s quintessential cop show?"
A Song for New York
From the musical stylings of the composer who brought us Dracula and Jekyll & Hyde, New York City now has a theme song. The city's tourism arm, NYC & Company, commissioned Frank Wildhorn to write a song about how wonderful New York City is, and now we have "New York: For the Time of Your Life." The NY Post says the song is a "splashy, big-band-style number belted out in a brassy, Sinatra-esque voice," and the song is supposed to be sung at a presentation to European tour operators and to promote various parts of New York City that are lesser promoted, like Shea Stadium and the Bronx Zoo.
"The Gates" Eve
New York is in a tizzy because it's the day before The Gates in Central Park officially open. Gothamist must say, we love how there's so much excitement about public art. Honestly, there hasn't been this much excitement and anticipation from photobloggers in New York since...the Republican National Convention last summer. Wow, Mayor Bloomberg, you really know how to push New Yorkers' buttons! The finishing touches won't be put on The Gates until tomorrow at 8AM. Christo and Jeanne-Claude were beaming on the Today Show, alongside Mayor Bloomberg; Katie Couric showered all three with hosannas over the project, and Jeanne-Claude is Gothamist's new hero, as she smacked Katie a little bit. Seriously, whether or not people love or hate The Gates, it's pretty thrilling there's so much passion around public art. Even Newsday's Ellis Henican agrees!
Seeking Chef For City School Kids; No Salisbury Steak, Please
The rumor at Smith College was that Class of '34's Julia Child had influenced the menu. Gothamist believed it, as most of the food was heavy and buttery. Hello, first year fifteen.
Fire at Per Se Unrelated to Angry Customers Unable to Get Reservations
The Post calls it "the curse of the Time Warner Building." Nice work, News Corp.
Jenny, You'll Still Have That Number
Requisite Michael Jackson Mugshot Post
Just when you thought you were tired of Michael Jackson, he becomes interesting again. Admit it – there could not be a more insane mugshot picture; he sort of looks like a comic book villain, like the Joker [as suggested by friend JW]. He's Bad! He's Dangerous! This is a Thriller! He's Off the Wall! And as Gawker notes, all the Michael Jackson jokes were written 10 years ago ("Do You Remember The Time [insert bizarre MJ incident here]?"
In NY, Kidnappings Over Real Estate Can Happen
As suspected, the TriBeCa kidnapping yesterday was over real estate. The Time spins it as an Edgar Allan Poe tale, detailing the the ordeal of the alleged victim, Lawrence Schlosser, 63 year old real estate investor. It was a real estate meeting gone sour, with the alleged kidnapper, Lawrence Omansky, forcing Schlosser to sign over buildings after punching and threatening him with a knife for a few hours. Then he tied Schlosser up and hid him in the crawlspace of his building. Schlosser got out 18 hours laters, after prying open the trapdoor with a pipe. Omansky's lawyer is Benjamin Brafman, who defended P. Diddy during the club shooting case.
Oscar Commentary
Oscar Commentary
Oscar is celebrating its 75th anniversary, I'm celebrating my 25th anniversary of watching Oscar.
And the Oscar goes to
The evening is over, while Gothamist will be following up with extensive commentary about the actual Oscar telecast, here are the winners and some post-game analysis:
For some reason, I
, with characters who wonder if this is what life is. Granted, that question is one that is generally asked a number of times in a book, but you know what I mean.
send a tip
tips@gothamist.comsubscribe
Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.