Welcome Clay Travis to the World of Hot Take Idiots

As I stated yesterday, I watched my Wolverines lose yet another bowl game. I have come to realize that they are a mediocre, pretty much irrelevant college football team. Yes, they have a big name, a big name coach, a big stadium, are on TV all the time, but when it comes to play on the field, they are a 9 or 10 win team at best. I hope this changes, and I think it can, especially under Jim Harbaugh, but for now, they are a mid level Big Ten team. That's the honest truth.

But, I am not here to douse more gas on the fire that the media has been hitting Michigan with the moment that game ended yesterday. Quite the opposite in fact. I am hear to ask, why does Michigan and Jim Harbaugh bear so much of the brunt from media members who have never, ever coached a single game, at any level, of any importance, ever? I have gone on the record stating how much I think Paul Finebaum actually loves Harbaugh because he is ALWAYS talking about him. A weekend during the college football season doesn't go by where he doesn't have some flippant comment about Harbaugh or Michigan. All this coming from a guy who looks like he never played a sport his entire life. It's okay though, he gets owned constantly on ESPN now by many, many former players that they currently employ. Go look up the whole Cam Newton-Eli Manning debate when Ryan Harris absolutely trolled the shit out of him on live TV. It was tremendous.

Today I want to talk about Clay Travis, who I can almost guarantee is a racist, and never did anything of consequence in the sports world, comments he made on Twitter yesterday. He said something along the lines of Jim Harbaugh being the most overrated coach in the history of college football. Now, I do agree with most people that Harbaugh hasn't done what many, myself included, what we thought he could do at Michigan. But still, he has a solid, winning record at Michigan, he has gone to a bowl game ever year, had them on the cusp of the playoff twice and turned a program that was in the toilet under Rich Rod and Brady Hoke, into a viable Big Ten contender. So, I want to ask Clay Travis, who was against his alma mater Vanderbilt taking the word "confederate" off a hallway sign, why is he the most overrated coach? What has he done to you personally that makes you think he is the most overrated coach ever? Is it because you placed a bet on Michigan, because you are a degenerate gambler, and it didn't work out the way you hoped? Or is it because you are a hot take dipshit that works for Fox Sports, and you always want to say some stupid shit that your dumbass fans will rally behind? I have to think that is the case. You know what Clay Travis, I am shocked, absolutely shocked, that you don't work for that frat boy website Barstool Sports, because your takes are as hackey as the nonsense they put up daily. I'm fed up with people who have never played, or coached at any level saying stuff like this, and it gets hundreds of thousands retweets. That is all he is doing this for. He doesn't care about Michigan football or Jim Harbaugh, he just wants the clicks, retweets and likes. He doesn't know what he is talking about. He isn't out here doing the things that major division 1 college coaches do. He doesn't have it in him to do that. He isn't good enough to do that. I told my father today that, since he thinks he is so smart, I'd like to place him in the job as head coach at Michigan for one day, that's it, just a day, so he can see how hard it is when idiots like himself say this nonsense on Twitter. Clay Travis is no better than Paul Finebaum or Skip Bayless or Stephen A Smith or Jim Rome. He is a wannabe, a hack and a phony. He was never able to reach the heights that these coaches he chastises have, and he is jealous. This is the pathetic state of what some consider real journalism.

My point? Clay Travis is as awful a human being as his takes. He is a nobody with no real accomplishments, except acting like a typical bro. Take his mic, phone and computer away from him, and he is just another average nobody. And he is certainly no Jim Harbaugh. You can take that to the bank. I'd much, much, much rather have Jim Harbaugh as the Michigan football coach then read another dumbass tweet from a Fox Sports moron like Clay Travis. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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RIP David Stern

As I was watching my Wolverines getting waxed this afternoon, I say that too much lately, news flashed across my tv saying that David Stern had passed away. This was a shock. I know that recently, I believe December 12th, he was rushed to a hospital after having a brain hemorrhage. But, I assumed he was going to be okay because I hadn’t heard much since then. But, while watching the Citrus Bowl, the news scrolled.

I think this is so stunning to me because of how influential Stern was to the NBA, and to getting me back into the game big time while he was in charge. Stern took over as commissioner in 1984, I was only 2, but his time as the boss was unforgettable. He took over the league when guys like Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan were the stars of the league. I think his first year was Jordan’s first year. To take over the league with a player like Jordan at the forefront, you couldn’t ask for it any better. And from there on out, Stern pretty much nailed his job as commissioner.  Stern helped the NBA grow when he took over. He made the game accessible, and watched a ton, in Canada. He got the NBA to be on tv all the time because he knew the product was good enough to get people all over the world to watch. Stern also had a hand in getting the WNBA off the ground. Before Stern, we didn’t have teams move like the Clippers, Grizzlies and Hornets. He also was a part of the relocation of the Sonics, which I’m not a fan of, but the Thunder are a legitimate team. They have been to the Finals, drafted KD, Russell Westbrook and Harden. None of that happens without Stern. Stern was also the guy who vetoed the Chris Paul trade to the Lakers. That would have made them unbeatable, so Stern vetoed it, and then Paul ended up with the Clippers, and then “Lob City” happened. All thanks to Stern. Stern was also the commissioner during the “iced envelope” in the 1985 draft lottery that gave the Knicks the right to draft Patrick Ewing. I’ve always known the draft lottery was rigged, and who cares if that let the Knicks get Ewing. That made New York basketball exciting and relevant again. I’m sure he also had a hand in getting LeBron to Cleveland in his draft. Hometown kid to a hometown, moribund franchise, why not do that. I also loved that he took on morons like Jim Rome. Rome tried to get him to admit to fixing the draft lottery and Stern simply said he didn’t, and then shamed him for asking. I love that. Stern was also a big proponent of not doing load management. He hated it, and so do I. Stern fined players and coaches constantly for doing this, and I supported that. Stern was a very, very important NBA person. He ran the league super well, made it a worldwide phenomenon, dealt with the biggest of stars and never backed down. Stern is a legend and will be remembered rightfully as one.

Rest In Peace David Stern. You will be sorely missed.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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A Few Thoughts on the 2019 College Football Semi-Final Games

I want to take today to talk about the two college football playoff semifinal games. Both were the finals I expected, I picked each winning team, but I did not expect the games to play out as they did. I was actually kind of stunned by each outcome, and how we got there. Let’s break it down.

First off, I expected LSU to win, even picking them to win by double digits, but I didn't expect it to be a 63-28 beat down. I mean, it was 49-14 at halftime. Joe Burrow went for 350 plus passing yards and 7 TD's in the half. That is insane. I can't even put those numbers up in a video game, or if I do, it is time for the backups to come in. This game was close for one drive. LSU scored very early on a muffed punt. Then Oklahoma got the ball and immediately answered. After that, it was over. LSU went on to score, I think, 28 unanswered points, made it look super easy, and this game was done before halftime. I have never seen a beat down like this between two, supposedly, even matched teams. I thought Oklahoma would be able to stay in it for a half, maybe even until the third quarter. Well, I was wrong.

I am a big time Jalen Hurts guy. I love the way he transformed himself, I love his leadership, I love how humble he is and he is one of the few transfers who benefited from leaving Alabama. But, LSU was so far ahead that they turned him into only a passer, and that is how you beat Oklahoma. When Hurts cannot be fully utilized as the threatening dual threat QB he is, and has to become a pocket passer, it isn't the best formula to win. Hurts hung in there and did his best, but his defense let him down.

As for LSU, I mean is there any question they are the best team in college football anymore? What they did on Saturday night was one of the most impressive things I have ever watched. They looked like they were playing 7 on 7. It looked liked a practice for them. Their star running back, Edwards-Helaire, was able to rest his hamstring for the title game because they were so far ahead. Their receivers, especially the Biletnikoff winner, whose name I cannot remember, were always open, always scoring and making the game look so easy. And Burrow, he was outstanding. For a kid I knew very little about coming into the year, this kid is a star. He should be the first pick in the upcoming NFL draft. He looked poised and calm in the pocket. When he had to improvise, he always seemed to find an open guy for a big gain. And again, 7 passing TD's in a half! Wow, just wow. What a performance by this team. I didn't even mention the defense, but they did their job. Sure, Oklahoma had 28 points, but 21 of them were very hollow. I think 14 of them were against backups too. This was a dominant performance.

As for the other game, that gave us the drama and complaints and intrigue I think we all wanted from the semifinal. Look, I picked Clemson to win, thinking they would expose the University of Ohio State's defense. They did win, but it was ugly and riddled with questionable calls. Also, I will never, for the life of me, understand why Clemson decided to make Trevor Lawrence a runner in this game, but it did work. He went for 100 plus rush yards and a TD. He also threw for 250 plus yards and a few scores. He is every bit as good as the hype suggests, it was just weird that it took an odd targeting call to get him going. The University of Ohio State should have won the game, jumping out to a quick 16-0 lead, but there was some poor officiating. I am in no way saying this is why they lost, not at all, but still, there was some bad calls. I do need to say that as much as it pains me. Still, they were up 16-0 early in the second quarter, and they blew it. They had three opportunities inside the red zone in the first half, and they had to settle for field goals. They had too many dropped passes. They couldn't stop Lawrence after the first quarter. The stud defensive end they have was neutralized by Clemson's run game, and quick pass game. The running back, Dobbins got hurt, and they couldn't run much with him out. So no Buckeye fans it wasn't the refs, your team blew it. Believe me, I know. I have seen Michigan blow too many games, tried to blame it on refs and then realized that it was their fault, and no one else's. That fact that their coach is out here blaming it on refs is just sour grapes. Get over it. You have the majority of this juggernaut coming back, and hopefully your receiver and QB don't have a horrific miscommunication in the end zone next season to end your season. The university of Ohio State had a 16 point lead and blew it.

As for Clemson, again, I don't understand their plan heading into this game, but it eventually worked. They ran, ran and ran some more until it worked. They played the check down pass game, until they decided to throw screens against an attacking defense, which of course worked. Their defense constantly blitzed, even though they were giving up chunks of yards, until it worked. They played this game like they were playing an ACC opponent, and you know what, it worked just like it had for the previous 28 games. Clemson hasn't lost in nearly 2 years. Trevor Lawrence hasn't lost since taking over as the starter, and in fact, this game was the first time he had taken snaps trialing in a game since high school. I guess I shouldn't be questioning what they do because it obviously continues to work for them. I was glad that this game was close to the end though. For someone with zero rooting interest in this game, it kept my attention. I watched the whole thing with bated breath. I was taken aback by the interception to end the game. I was impressed by both teams final offensive drives, until the interception. It was a very, very good game. The play was a little sloppy, but I have come to expect that from college football. That doesn't make the game any less exciting.

So, while we get the title game that I, and many others, predicted, it was an odd way to get there. I am sticking with LSU to win, but who knows. Clemson is the dynasty. Will LSU be the team to dethrone them? We will have to wait until January 13th to find out.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Uncut Gems"

Hello all. I am back from my week off, and I do have some very solid ideas for pieces I will be writing this week, and today I want to start off with something I have wanted to write since my birthday. I couldn't write it then because the movie wasn't released in Saint Louis yet. But, the movie came out here on Xmas eve, and I finally went to see "Uncut Gems" yesterday.

I tried to wait to write all of my "Best Of" because I wanted to see this movie because I assumed it would be on my list. Had I waited a bit longer, it would have been either number 1 or 2. I loved every single second of this movie. I read some audience reviews the day before seeing it because I was interested, and the people who gave it bad reviews were upset by the "vulgarity", "people talking over one another" and how "violent" the movie was. I guess the people who saw this movie expected a typical Adam Sandler movie. Well, it is nothing like a typical Sandler movie.

First off, this is an A24 movie. This movie was not from Happy Madison, so he had no producing credit, and pretty much no say as to how the movie was made. Also, the movie is rated R, they state that it is due to violence, language and sexual situations. So, seeing that, the people that may not have expected that, or liked it, should have known better. Finally, the "talking over everyone", a big part of the movie takes place in a busy jewelry shop in downtown NYC. The talking loudly over one another is exactly what I think it is in downtown NYC.

So, I am glad that I pushed those reviews out of mind, and went anyway. "Uncut Gems" was also, probably, my most anticipated movie of the year. I am a big time Adam Sandler fan, and when he does stuff like this, dramatic and sinister stuff, I am all in for it. I like it when actors try something out of their comfort zones, and Sandler absolutely crushes in this movie. He is exactly what I think a degenerate, cheating, scummy and down on his luck compulsive gambler is really like. He has zero redeeming qualities, and I think that is the point. I don't feel like we are supposed to root for him, or anyone for that matter, in this movie. There is no hero, no bad guys, just scummy people. And Sandler was king of them all. He was so good in this movie. I cannot overstate that enough. I hope he gets awards recognition, because he 100 percent deserves it. He should get all the accolades. I would love to see him get an Oscar nomination of this role. He is that good.

And he wasn't the only person that was great. Everyone did a splendid job. Kevin Garnett, in his acting debut, was incredible. He is such a charismatic dude, and that comes across tenfold. Julia Fox, who is relatively new, at least to me, was great. She is Sandler's girlfriend, on the side, and she is just as slimy as him. Lakeith Stanfield is quickly turning into one of my favorite actors. His scenes with Sandler in this movie are perfection. Also, his orange hooded sweatshirt at The Weekend's show, that is a beautifully shot scene. Idina Menzel, Sandler's wife in the movie, is so good as the woman who is fed up with her husband. The scene where she tells him off at his folks house during Passover is amazing. Judd Hirsch is solid in his minor role. The Weekend is one hell of a singer. The guys that play Sandler's brother's bodyguards are perfectly cast as the type of dudes that would do that job for a living. The kids in the movie were good. The acting was great across the board.

I also really dug the way the Safdie Brothers directed the movie, and had the movie scored. The while thing is frantic and fast paced and doesn't let you take a breath. I feel like they want you to be pushed to the brink with this movie, and they nail it. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and that ending, no spoilers, took me by complete surprise. All the stuff leading up to that, it was perfectly directed. I heard some say the score was odd, I disagree. I truly enjoyed it, and felt it added another cool feel to the movie. It was different and pushed my anxiety to the brink just like the scenes in the movie did.

I was predisposed to enjoy this movie. I really like what the Safdie Brothers do, "Good Time" is great, I am a big time Sandler fan, I like movies like this and was highly anticipating it. It met my expectations and then some. I took my dad to the movie with me, and was curious how he felt. He said it started a little slow for him, but once it picked up, he was fully on board. That is high praise coming from my father. So, the fact that "Uncut Gems" won him over as well, that is another feather in its cap. I think this movie will find a huge audience when it hits streaming, but I will say, I went to a 9:40 am showing on a Sunday morning, and the theater was about 60 percent full. That also made me happy.

Go see "Uncut Gems", in the theaters if you can. This is a very good movie, it proves that the Safdie's are legit filmmakers and that Adam Sandler is more than just a Netflix, goofy movie making actor. Given solid direction, and the right material, he can be a very, very good actor. He was awesome.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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The Sin of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"

Oh great, another hot Rise of Skywalker take

This Article Contains Spoilers for “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

What is the point?

That is the question I asked once the credits started to roll on “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”.

That is not the question I wanted to ask.

I love Star Wars and would never let any group of critics dissuade me from enjoying a few hours in a galaxy far far away. I have defended “The Phantom Menace” for over twenty years now. I have watched all of “The Clone Wars”, even the awful feature film, I watched “Rebels”, I have started “Resistance”, and I am currently loving “The Mandalorian”. At 44 years old I am just a bit older than the Star Wars franchise, and my love has never wavered. These are my Star Wars fan credentials.

I stay with Star Wars because it tells new and interesting stories, stories I want to see. I like the characters, and I like to watch them fail and grow. Luke, Han, and Leia learned through failure and triumph. Obi Wan and the rest of the Jedi failed Anakin because of their absolute belief in their views being the only correct way. Ahsoka Tano became the most interesting Star Wars creation ever due to her questioning of what was the core of the Jedi and the Sith. Kanan, Ezra, and the rest of the Ghost crew found a family and challenged an empire. What did Rey, Poe, Finn, and Ben Solo do that was new and interesting?

That is The Rise of Skywalker’s greatest failure, it did nothing new. The Force Awakens was a retread, but there was hope for some new stories with these new characters. They were defined by the past but could forge their own futures. The Last Jedi started the trio on their path to individuality. Rey could be the balance that Anakin and Luke could never achieve. Poe could be the selfless hero by learning to fail. Finn could be the spark that allows those in the Empire, I mean First Order, to see the folly of the militaristic organization, and create a rebellion from within. 

None of that happened.

Rey was Luke but better. She defeated the Emperor on her own. Poe was Han Solo but better. His smuggling days were in the past, he was already the hero when The Force Awakens begins. And Finn, well Finn grew and understood the Rebellion, I mean Resistance, in The Last Jedi, he learned from Rose that they defeat the Empire, I mean First Order, together, and then he became a background character in The Rise of Skywalker. No growth, no forward storytelling, just a rehash of what we saw in Return of the Jedi. Pointless.

What is particularly frustrating about “The Rise of Skywalker” is that the movie had some great character moments surrounding Ben Solo/Kylo Ren. All of the actors do a great job, but this new trio of films belong to Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley. Unfortunately for Daisy, Adam was given the most nuanced material. The moment Kylo Ren becomes Ben Solo is touching and meaningful. His lost boy who regains his humanity through the parents who abbondoned him is great story telling. His rush to save Rey is inspired. I just wish a better, more original, movie was built around the Ben Solo story.

That is how this new sequel trilogy should have played out, make Ben Solo your main character. George Lucas tried to show the fall of Anakin in the prequels, and it did not quite work until the very end. “The Clone Wars” cartoon told the story of Anakin’s fall much better than the prequels. JJ Abrams and Disney could have taken a new stab on showing a good persons fall to the dark side, and his redemption, instead of retelling Star Wars 4 and 6. The only original film in the new trilogy was The Last Jedi because it focused on new ideas, mainly Ben Solo’s fall. That is why The Last Jedi will be remembered more fondly than The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker. 

The fact is that any new Star Wars is going to be worth my time. I have already seen the movie two times because I am that guy, i.e. Comic Book Guy. The issue I have with the Rise of Skywalker, and to a lesser extent The Force Awakens, is how pointless the storytelling was. I saw this story in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. I enjoyed the hell out of the story. I celebrated for decades the victory of Luke, Han, and Leia. I went all in on the problematic prequel movies because I loved experience new parts of a galaxy far far away. I walked into each of the sequel trilogy films with a smile on my face and high anticipation. I walked out of The Rise of Skywalker feeling like the story was pointless and a waste of time. That is the biggest sin of The Rise of Skywalker.

At least I have The Mandalorian to feed the appetite for new and exciting stories in the Star Wars world I love so much.

RD

RD Kulik is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Best of 2019: Best of Everything Else

Super writer/critic extraordinaire Ty has already covered the best albums, the best movies, the best television shows, the best podcasts, and the best sports moments of 2019. Today I am going to give the rest of the stuff of 2019 some love. We will cover books, tech, video games, and a few other corners of society not given the top five/ten treatment by our publications. Let’s get started.

Best Video Game of 2019

Untitled Goose Game is the game we needed in our lives at this very moment in history. It appeals to young and old alike, and for very different reasons. I talked with a nine year old about the game, and then spun the game as an allegory for President Trump.

As for the game itself? You are a goose, and you are here to terrify a small village. You get from place to place by solving puzzles that involve your goose stealing things, scaring kids, and causing general mayhem.

It is awesome.

Best Movie Trailer for a Movie Released in 2019

This should have been the first trailer for Joker, but then Cats came along. A movie trailer needs to be memorable, and oh boy was the Cats trailer memorable for all the wrong reasons. The movie looked horrifying and stupid at the same time. I spent most of my time watching and rewatching the trailer asking myslef why would such an such actor be in this thing. My answers never came. Cats shows us that the best of us need to be told every now and then. The trailer was our first warning.

Best Movie trailer for a Movie Released after 2019

In 2019, the DC movie Universe started to catch up with Marvel. Aquaman came out in late 2018, but was the top movie in the early months of 2019. Shazam was a modest hit, and well like by the critics and the audience. Joker was a megahit and the most talked about movie of the year. Then around Thanksgiving we were given our first look at Wonder Woman 1984. The setting was spot on, the music was incredible, and the movie itself looks amazing. June 5th, 2020 cannot get here soon enough.

Best Book of 2019

Great new books come out every year. What is truly the best is usually left up to a person’s personal preference. Many times the best book we read in a given year came out in a previous year. The best book for 2019, or the most important to read book, is George Orwell’s 1948 novel 1984.

In 1948, George Orwell understood the dangers of screaming fake news and blind loyalty to a government that has an agenda counter to the benefit of the people they serve. In 2019 we live in 1984’s world, and we do not care. It could never happen to us is what we said when we first read Orwell’s dystopic story. In 2019 we need to read 1984 to acknowledge the fact we live in this society.

Best Tech of 2019

It is hard to judge new technology until we have seen it in action for a year or more. All the big tech sites with praise anything Apple, and then quietly say how bad the tech was years later, see the Apple Pencil and Macbook keyboard.

Apple is not alone in the blind praises bestowed by the tech media on the companies and personalities the writers so desperately want to have access to. That is why the Tesla Cybertruck is the best tech of the year.

The cybertruck look stupid, it will be grotesquely overpriced, and it will be bested by a real car company in the not so distant future, but the Cybertruck will be considered the first heavy duty pickup to normalize the idea of an all electric truck for the masses. In the not so distant future when Tesla is gone, the tech media will continue to remind us that the Cybertruck was “first”. They will not be totally wrong.

Best Written Thing on the Internet

In 2019 the website Deadspin.com entered a death spiral. The owners decided to lay down the law on the creators, and the creators revolted. The end of one of the most important internet sites had dawned. Before the true endgame, former editor Megan Greenwell wrote an insightful and scathing piece about the current state of internet journalism. We live in a world where traditional journalism, i.e. newspapers, radio, and televsion, has been sacrificed on the alter of capitalism. The internet was where real journalism was still breathing it’s survival breaths. Then the corporate raiders came for the internet. Clicks, likes, and trash were valued more than the talents of creators. Megan Greenwell saw this, was fired, and then left the last parting shot. Forget about all the “traditional” media think pieces on the world around us. Megan Greenwell gave us a true look into the future we are moving towards. Read her words and be wary.

Best Visual Thing on the Internet

The Peloton is stupid. Exercise is good, but the cult like, false view of wealth, that the Peloton sells is poisonous. The company/cult’s newest ad reflects the toxic image the overpriced spin bike is selling.

Enter a hero. Ryan Reynold’s owns a gin called Aviator and he sought out the woman in the Peloton ad. Together they made the greatest ad of the year. Who knew that gin was more progressive, and respectful, than an exercise device. Now we know.

These are just a few of the things I saw in 2019 that made an impact. While companies like Peloton and any trust fund idiot that owns a website tried to push society backwards, we had heroes like Megan Greenwell, Ryan Reynolds, and an untitled goose to give us the catharsis we need. In 2019 we were also gifted with the reminder of what was warned in 1948, and we were able to observe pop culture’s hubris with Cats. All in all there were scares and hope in the year 2019 of the common era.

Bring on the 20’s.

RD

RD Kulik is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Happy Holidays

We here at SeedSing want to send out our warmest wish of Happy Holidays to all of our readers and listeners.

Does the term Happy Holidays bother you? Well then we wish the most Happy of Holidays of all time. The season fills our hearts with love for our triggered friends as much as our reasonable friends.

The Writers of SeedSing

SeedSing Classic: Advent Calendar of Awesome Holiday Music: Day 24 - Snoopy's Christmas

ed note: This article was first published on December 24th, 2015

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy

Day 24: Snoopy's Christmas by The Royal Guardsman

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten,

 Eleven Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen,Sixteen,Seventeen,Eighteen,

Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty One, Twenty Two, Twenty Three

The Christmas season can feel like a battle. There are large crowds and everyone seems to have their own agenda. People are constantly fighting each other for parking, space in line, and the hot holiday gift. We move through the malls and hardly acknowledge one another. On Christmas Eve, the holiday season reaches its peak while everyone rushes past one another to complete their individual goals. Christmas Eve is the final struggle we face on the battlefield of the holiday season.

"Snoopy's Christmas" is the 1967 follow up to The Royal Guardsman hit "Snoopy vs The Red Baron". The band made their name by incorporating in their songs the Peanuts character of Snoopy, and his exploits of aerial dog fighting against The Red Baron. "Snoopy's Christmas" reads like a classic tale from Charles Schultz's Peanuts comic strips. The Red Baron is terrorizing the skies, and Snoopy with his trusty Sopwith Camel (his doghouse) must engage in  battle high in the sky. While Snoopy valiantly tries to defeat the German ace, disaster strikes. The Red Baron shoots down the pup in German territory. Snoopy lands and believes that the end is here, then suddenly the bells ring out over the countryside marking the beginning of Christmas. Being inspired by the spirit of the season, the Red Baron offers Snoopy a drink and wishes him a Merry Christmas. The brotherhood of Christmas Day causes the foes to befriend, and they then go on their separate ways. Christmas Eve saw bloodshed, Christmas Day is about peace.

The exciting tale being told in "Snoopy's Christmas" is based on a true event, the 1914 Christmas Truce of World War I. British and German troops were shelling each other on December 24th, suddenly the firing stopped when both sides heard the bells from the countryside ring out for the beginning of Christmas Day. The Germans invited the British troops to cross no man's land and have a peaceful celebration. The enemies shared food and drink, showed pictures of their families, and even played games together. The magic of Christmas stopped sworn enemies from killing each other. The feeling of brotherhood trumps the anger of war. It is a magnificent piece of human history.

Christmas Eve can be a tough day. Many people are frantically trying to get that last must have gift. We have no time to be kind and courteous to our fellow man. If you are not relentless, you will lose the battle of the Christmas Season. Once midnight hits and the bells of the village rings out for Christmas Day, a new feeling takes hold. Our disagreements on religion, geopolitics, and philosophy take a day off. Christmas makes us one family. Enjoy your holiday, and thank you for your eyes this Advent Season. As the Red Baron would say, "Merry Christmas my Friend".

RD Kulik

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man podcast. No matter who you are, or what you believe, the bells at midnight will make you the editor's new friend. Join our circle of joy by liking SeedSing on Facebook.  

SeedSing Classic: Advent Calendar of Holiday Television Programs: Day 23 - "Seinfeld - The Strike"

ed note: This article was first published on December 18th, 2016

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy

Day 23 "Seinfeld - The Strike"

Original air date - December, 18th 1997 

Opened Doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,  Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-One, Twenty-Two

For SeedSing's Advent Calendar of great holiday television shows, today, I'm going to write about the "Festivus" episode of "Seinfeld". I know the episode is called "The Strike", but lets be honest, I think we all know this as the Festivus episode. The Festivus episode of "Seinfeld" ranks right up there with any "Simpsons", "The Office" or any other TV show we have written about for the Advent calendar. In fact, I'm going to say that the Festivus episode of "Seinfeld" is the best holiday television show ever. I may quote "The Simpsons" more, or laugh at "The Office" more, but this particular episode of "Seinfeld" has literally changed the way I view the holiday. Today marks Festivus, and I will be airing grievances, showing feats of strength and getting the big pole out for this wonderful pre holiday holiday. 

The episode starts off funny. We all learn that Kramer was/is a worker in a bagel shop, and the strike that he has been seemingly on for years, has ended. Funny right off the bat. The whole thing with the bagel shop, and Kramer's past, and now present, are all classic "Seinfeld". We also get another story involving Elaine giving some creeps a phony phone number and there is some wackiness that happens with this plot line throughout. But, the true gem of the episode is when George's dad tells the world of the joyous day of Festivus.

We learn that when George was a kid, his dad was in line waiting to get him a toy, a doll in fact, and someone else got the last one. He pleaded and prodded the person to give him the doll, but they just would not budge. This caused Frank to lose his mind. He got very, very upset, as he almost always does.  This was when and where he Frank decided he needed to have a "holiday for the rest of us", and thus, Festivus was born. He decided that everyone needs to do many things to make themselves feel a bit better during this holiday season.

Let's be honest, this time of year brings out the anxiety and anger in the best of us. The holiday season can be pretty rough. So, the fact that Frank came up with a holiday where everyone can air their grievances, I love it. I wish this was a real thing and people would not get upset at the outcome. Imagine how nice it would be to tell everyone how you feel, but with the caveat that they cannot get mad at you, and they are allowed to do the same. This would be terrific. To let it all out, that would feel great from both sides. I love that the Costanza's do this every year, because who has more grievances than the Costanza's? No one, that's who. Imagine Frank, Estelle and George sitting around airing their grievances, it must be magically hilarious.

Then, the feats of strength. This would be my absolute favorite. This gives you the chance to prove who is the strongest in your family. I would crush this part of Festivus (ed note: no he would not), and I think my whole family, while they might disagree at first, knows that I would dominate. Now, imagine once again, the Costanza's doing this. I can almost guarantee that Estelle would be the strongest in the family. She may not look it, but I think she would absolutely dominate George and Frank in a feats of strength competition. I bet George is also the weakest, even at everyone's advanced age. He is so meek and mean, but that is just his attitude, I'm sure that does not translate into actual strength.

Then, we have the Festivus pole, which is the alternative to the tree and menorah used during this time of year. It is just an unadorned pole that sits in your living room on December 23rd. It does nothing, but it adds so much to this episode. The fact that Frank just wanted an alternative to all the glitz and glamour of the holiday's is a perfect representation of Frank and the Costanza's. They do not conform to social norms at any times, and I love that.

What makes this episode even more wonderful is the fact that people have made Festivus a real holiday. This has become a real thing. At the time of its airing, it was just an idea that Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David and the "Seinfeld" writing crew came up with, but now, it is real. The computer hasn't proclaimed that I have spelled the word wrong once, there is actual written facts on the internet and most people actually celebrate the day. This has become a world wide, nationally celebrated holiday. I know for a fact that when I go see my family later today, we will celebrate some of the best parts of Festivus, and I cannot wait (ed note: also the fact that Ty will once again lose the feats of strength).

The fact that Festivus is a nationally recognized thing should be more than enough to get this episode on our list, but there are so many more reasons. It is a funny, goofy, Costanza heavy episode, which are usually the best that "Seinfeld" has to offer. While I love "The Simpsons", and it will always be my favorite show, this episode of "Seinfeld" is one of the best episodes of just general television, but it is also the best representation of this holiday that TV has ever put out. It is magnificent.

Go out and have a wonderful Festivus everyone. After all, it is a holiday for the rest of us.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Did we mention that Ty always loses the feats of strength. He does always lose. Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Time to Air a Few Festivus Grievances

Today is the only day I’ll be writing this week. We have the holidays coming up, and I am going to be super, super busy. My kids are on break from school, my wife is off work and we have what seems like a million places to go for the rest of the week starting at 11am tomorrow morning. Also, if I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times, bloggers deserve vacation as well. So, with it being Festivus today, I figure I will leave you all with my airing of grievances. I said on a recent pod that I’m usually pretty upbeat around the holidays, and this year is no different. But there is always something to complain about. I think we prove that on the pod pretty frequently.

My first grievance should be obvious to all, it’s the “government”. Yes, I’m stoked that incompetent asshole got impeached, but that’s not enough. He needs to be removed from office. The powers that be need to realize this. He is incapable of performing his job, he’s a hothead, a crook, a phony, a narcissist, a racist, a homophobic and xenophobic ghoul. He’s a monster. He is the worst person I can think of. He attacks people of color, women and children on a daily basis. He is a scourge on society, and we need ourselves rid of him and his cohorts. He is an awful, ill fit person. He is a criminal, without intelligence. He makes the US a joke. We are laughed at on a daily basis by other countries.

Second, the “presidents” followers are beyond moronic at this point. What else does he have to do, or not do, for you dumb dumbs to realize how truly terrible he is? For people to still defend him, I just don’t get it. He’s a monster, like I said, and anyway who still supports him, don’t talk to me, don’t try to be my friend, don’t explain why, I’m done with you all. I simply cannot deal with his supporters anymore.

Third, on some lighter notes, I am disappointed, yet again, in Michigan football. I think I’ve said pretty much all I can about that team this past season, and yet I still need to say, one more time, I’m so very disappointed in how they performed all year. I’m bummed that I haven’t gotten to see Zion Williamson play a real NBA game yet. He has the potential to be great, but he may end up being more Sam Bowie than Charles Barkley. College basketball has been a mess due to injury, top prospects going overseas to play professionally, which is very smart, players leaving after a few games to focus on the draft and all the number one ranked teams going down immediately after getting that number one ranking. The NFL is becoming harder and harder to enjoy because of the things they prioritize. There are far too many women and children abusers allowed to play. I’m sick of these abusers only missing a game here and there, then instantly being reinstated. This is a league that has blackballed a guy for peacefully protesting police violence. He never hit anyone, yelled at anyone, threatened anyone, but he isn’t allowed in the league and Richie Incognito is. It’s not fair. Roger Goodell is a sellout and a shill. Screw him and all his cronies.

Finally, I’m sick and tired of the weather here in Saint Louis constantly changing. A week ago we got 8 inches of snow. The day I write this, it’s 60 degrees outside. In fact, it’s going to 66 degrees on Xmas day. Oof magoof. Please, morons, tell me why you think climate change is a myth. It should never, ever be this warm in the Midwest this time of year. It’s not normal.

Okay, I feel much better now that I’ve aired my grievances. If only RD was at my house right now, I could own him in some feats of strength. Maybe it’s time my son and I do feats of strength together. Okay, I’ll be back in a week with a good amount of fresh topics. Enjoy whichever holiday you all celebrate, and be safe.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: Advent Calendar of Awesome Holiday Music: Day 22 - Patton Oswalt talks about The Christmas Shoes

ed note: This article was originally published on December 22nd, 2015

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy.Day 22: Patton Oswalt talks about The Christmas Shoes (language NSFW)

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten,

 Eleven Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen,Sixteen,Seventeen,Eighteen,

Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty One

I really love Christmas music. This entire Advent Calendar project is a way to show the people who hate Christmas music that there are great tunes available to the uninitiated. My love for holiday music is directly related to the fact that while I was growing up my parents would regularly take me and my brothers to church. I was never super psyched to go to our little suburban catholic cathedral, except for one time of the year. The Christmas season was the only times of the year I was happy to go to mass, and it was the songs that created my excitement. Many of the best holiday songs come from the religious tunes the congregation would sing. Hope, light, the betterment of mankind. That is the true religious meaning of Christmas, and it sounds beautiful.

A couple of years back I heard the song "The Christmas Shoes" and I was left dumbfounded. I first thought that this "christian" song was some kind of SNL parody. It was atrocious. The basic plot centered on the story of a poor kid who wants to buy shoes for his mom on Christmas. These shoes are very important because the kid's mom is dying, and he wants her to look pretty if she meets Jesus. That plot is dumb enough, but what puts "The Christmas Shoes" into the stratosphere of appalling is that the song is from the point of view of some grumpy dude in line behind the kid. The narrator thinks that "God" sent this kid, and his dying mom, to be in this man's life so he will feel the Christmas spirit. It is a truly disgusting message.

In 2009 comedian Patton Oswalt dedicated part of his stand up set discussing "The Christmas Shoes" Everything he says is spot on. Oswalt talks about how manipulative and downright sinister the message behind "The Christmas Shoes" is. He also imagines a world with a God being pissed about people being grumpy on Christmas and a Jesus who is bitchy about a person's fashion sense. What Patton Oswalt does in the YouTube video attached to this article is take one of the worst Christmas songs ever, and give it a new hilarious life. You can skip the song and get a dose of the Christmas spirit by hearing Patton Oswalt tear this piece of trash apart. His thoughts on "The Christmas Shoes" makes the song listenable, because I hear Patton Oswalt's words behind every horrid verse.

A few weeks back my son was being rude to the checkout person at a store. When we were heading home, my wife and I were scolding him about his behavior. At one point I told him that Christmas is about being nice to your fellow person. My son was not listening and being quite defiant. As I was getting more angry and frustrated I heard the opening notes of "The Christmas Shoes". My wife and I stared at each other and smiled. My son was forgiven. The rest of the car ride was filled with joy and laughter. Patton Oswalt has made "The Christmas Shoes" a holiday tradition. Not the song, it is awful, but his thoughts about the tune's idiotic message is what Christmas means to me. Mr. Oswalt, I owe you a pair of some great Christmas shoes.

RD Kulik

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the host of The X Millennial Man podcast. Every year he tries to buy his wife some ugly shoes for Christmas, but he never has quite enough pennies. Help him buy those shoes by supporting SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: Advent Calendar of Awesome Holiday Television Programs: Day 21 - "Saturday Night Live - TV Funhouse December 17th, 2005

ed note: This article was originally published on December 21st, 2016

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy.

Day 21 "Saturday Night Live - TV Funhouse December 17th, 2005"

Original air date - Read the title 

Opened Doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,  Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty

We all need that special time where we rule the world. I can do no justice to the master work of Darlene Love and the people at TV Funhouse. 

Enjoy

RD 

RD Kulik is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He also did not wait in line for King Kong on Christmas Day. He wish he had.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: Advent Calendar of Awesome Holiday Music: Day 20 - Alone on Christmas Day

ed note: This article was originally published on December 20th, 2015

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy.

Day 20: Alone on Christmas Day by Phoenix and Special Guest Bill Murray

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen,Sixteen,Seventeen,Eighteen, Nineteen

I have spent many Christmas nights all by my lonesome. I was not alone for the whole day. My Christmas mornings have always been about waking up way earlier than normal and opening tons of presents with my family around. Once the intense excitement of Christmas morning was finished, I would pack up my bounty and head back to my 15th floor studio apartment in downtown St. Louis. Most of these Christmas nights I would stare out at the Gateway Arch on the usually cold evening and decided I would get a drink, at the fancy hotel a few buildings down. I would put on my Christmas sweater, wrap a scarf around my neck, and head to the hotel bar. Once inside I would find a seat in a corner booth and observe all the travelers who were truly spending Christmas alone. I would sip my Manhattan, listen to the piano being played, and was thankful I was not alone on Christmas Day. 

Earlier this December, Netflix premiered the Sofia Coppola directed Bill Murray holiday special A Very Murray Christmas. During the course of the program a lonely Bill Murray asks the catering staff at the hotel to play him a song. The staff happens to be french indie rock band Phoenix. The band, with help from Paul Shaffer on piano, Jason Schwartzman on drums, David Johanson (as Buster Poindexter) on martini shaker, and Mr. Bill Murray himself on featured vocals, cover the Beach Boy's rarity "Alone On Christmas Day".

Phoenix and gang take an unknown and discarded Beach Boys tune with "Alone on Christmas Day" and create a new holiday standard. The Beach Boys tune was originally unreleased in 1979, and after Phoenix requested to cover the tune, Mike Love changed some of the lyrics and released his own version. The Phoenix cover is light years better. The tune alludes to the sadness of being by oneself on Christmas, but "Alone on Christmas Day" encourages us to think of the gladness, and to keep moving on. Plus if you listen to the tune, no one is truly alone on Christmas Day. You will still have the bar patrons and employees to sing you a joyful tune.

I was never truly alone on Christmas Day. In the morning I had my family and in the evening I had the travelers and  employees at the hotel bar. We all came to the bar as individuals, but on Christmas evening we were together. The piano played on in the background, our drinks warmed our spirits, and we all got ready to move on, together.

RD Kulik

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the host of the X Millennial Man podcast. He has given up the Christmas Night bar scene and traded it for his family sitting around the fireplace. He did not give up on his yuletide Manhattan. Celebrate the togetherness of Christmas by liking SeedSing on Facebook.

Best of 2019: Top Five Sports Moments

Finishing up my best of 2019 lists, today I come to you with sports. I love sports, I love watching and playing and flat out enjoying it all. This is a big time in sports for me too. We have bowl games, the NBA starting to ramp up, the NFL playoffs coming, it is all good. And as usual, I do not have stuff like horse racing, golf, soccer, hockey or baseball on my lists. Those sports mean little to nothing to me. Anyway, to the list.

At number 5 I have Giannis Antentekoumpo's MVP award season, but more importantly, his speech he gave at the awards show. This kid is an amazing basketball player, and an even better person. To hear him talk about his struggle growing up, to being picked much later in the first round than most thought, to being mocked at that draft for the videos they sent in, to being humbled as a rookie, to learning how to be more aggressive, working on his game and lifting the Bucks franchise, he has been through it all, and he explained that so gracefully and eloquently during his acceptance speech. I don't know any NBA fan out there that doesn't like Giannis. He is a good dude that works tirelessly on his game, wants to be the best and doesn't seem to be in the game for the fame or money. He wants rings and respect. Giannis is wonderful.

At number 4 I have Kawhi Leonard's playoff run last year. When Kawhi was traded to Toronto most of us knew it was a one year rental. And what he did, carrying the Raptors to a title, it was more than worth it. Kawhi has always been a good, but quiet player. He was still pretty quiet during that playoff run, but after the previous season, where he only played 9 games, he was out to prove how great he can be, and he did that throughout Toronto's playoff run last season. He, after they blew game one, helped the Raptors easily dispose of the Magic. He then, playing hurt, did everything for the Raptors against the 76ers, including that incredible buzzer beating shot in game 7 to get his team to East Finals. Then, after losing the first 2 games to Milwaukee, Kawhi became the dominant force we thought he could be. He was the catalyst to the Raptors winning the next 4 games and shutting down Giannis. He became his primary defender, and he did enough to slow him down. Then, he led the Raptors into the Finals against the Warriors juggernaut. People may discount this title because KD didn't play, but I don't. The Warriors won without KD, and they were mostly healthy this whole series. Kawhi was just better than everyone on the floor. His offensive game exploded, he was as good as ever on defense, and he was the reason they ended the Warriors dynasty in Golden State in game 6. He has now shut down two dynasties, and watching him do it, I can't help but respect the hell out of him. Kawhi is, somehow, still underrated, but he showed that he is the real deal in the playoffs last year. It was a thing of beauty.

At number 3 I have the rise of Lamar Jackson. He is the MVP. He is the most fun player to watch in the NFL. He is proving all of his critics wrong. He has made Baltimore's front office, and head coach, look like geniuses for building around his skill set. He is Mike Vick 2.0, and I am all in for it. I am not a Ravens fan, but I adore watching Jackson play football. He has so much fun, seems like a great teammate and is one of the few players that has kept my attention for a professional league I am losing hope in. Lamar Jackson has become must watch TV. He is the best player in the NFL and it is not even close. He has shown up and shown out all year, and if the Ravens play anyone else other than the Packers in the Super Bowl, I will be fully rooting for them. Lamar Jackson is the new generation of QB, and I love it.

At number 2 I have Michigan men's basketball hiring Juwan Howard. After John Beilein left, I didn't know what to think or who they would hire. Some established coaches names popped up here and there, but none of them moved the needle for me. None of them got me excited for the future. Then I heard Howard's name starting to get mentioned, and after reading about his post NBA career, how well respected he was as an assistant coach in the NBA, I started to buy in. I became one of the many people hoping and wishing they would hire him. Eventually, actually pretty quickly after the rumors started, Howard was officially hired, and I was stoked. Beilein didn't leave the cupboard bare for him either, but I also was stoked about his relationships, and potential ability to recruit. The Wolverines basketball team has started much stronger than I would have thought, and Howard has already reeled in two top recruits for 2020. After looking at things possibly being bleak, I have totally flipped and am totally stoked for the future with Howard at the helm. He is returning this team to the fun, and don't get me wrong, the team was super successful and very, very good under Beilein, they are just more fun to watch with Howard as the head coach. It was  great choice.

Finally, my number one sports moment of 2019 is two Michigan football games. I have been very critical, and think that the 2019 Wolverines were one of the most underachieving teams of the year. But, they had two games that were great to watch, and had me thinking, if they played like that all year, they would have been a playoff team. The first was their night game against Notre Dame. They were not picked by many to win, they looked kind of confused on offense and the defense gave up too many big plays. They then came out on a slippery, wet and rainy night and ran the ball down Notre Dame's throats. They went for 300 plus yards. Hassan Haskins and Zach Charbonnet were the offense. Shea only threw the ball about 10 times, and that was all that was needed. As far as the defense, they were all over the field, hitting hard, stopping the run, pressuring and sacking the QB and covering receivers. If not for one atrocious pass interference call, this game would have been a shutout. Michigan stomped on their throats at the jump, and never let up. They won that game 45-14. Then they had another home game about a month later against Michigan State. I loathe Michigan State, and I was nervous about this game, as I always am. And it started rough. MSU went right up the field and scored an easy TD to take an early lead. I thought I was in for a long day. Well, MSU only scored three more points the whole game, while Shea Patterson threw for nearly 400 yards and 4 TD's. He looked as good as I had seen him in his 2 years at Michigan. I also loved that, while up 27 late in the fourth, Josh Gattis called a read option play that was actually a pass and Patterson hit a wide open receiver for another TD to go up 44-10. This was the beat down of MSU I had been waiting for since Harbaugh took the Michigan job. It was nice to see the offense humming, the defense playing fast and mean and the team not letting up an inch after a slow start. It was fun.

As for disappointments, lets continue with Michigan football. The end of the season was an absolute train wreck yet again. Michigan got destroyed by the University of Ohio State, but this year it was in Ann Arbor. They looked under-prepared, slow and not up to task. They got out coached, out played and out classed after their first drive. When Quinn Nordin missed the extra point, I had that sinking feeling that is was a bad omen, and boy oh boy was it ever. They are not at the level of these elite college football teams, and that game showed it once again. Things are better for Michigan than they have been in awhile, but they still have a lot of catching up to do if they want to be a real contender. It has been a frustrating past seven years. Some other disappointments, I am bummed that the OKC Thunder are a shell of the perennial playoff and title contender they were, with Russ and PG leaving this past offseason. They are just not the same team that I once loved and rooted like hell for. They are an average at best team, who does look to have a very bright future, but this was a team that was a true contender. Now, it is Chris Paul and a bunch of young guys, or guys that are looking for a trade. It's a bummer. I also am not a huge fan of the Lakers getting their way yet again. Anthony Davis let LeBron and Rich Paul convince him that he needed to go to LA, and of course they got what they wanted after Davis acted all disgruntled last season. He went to LA after a big time trade, and the Lakers look great. This all proves how much more a the GOAT Jordan is because he never orchestrated a super team like LeBron does. LeBron is great, but only when he has other great players surrounding him. And before you throw Scottie Pippen in my face, AD is a better modern day player than Pippen was back in the 90's. The Lakers always seem to get what they want, and they don't care what franchises they have to potentially blow up to do it. They think they are the glamour franchise, but lately, they are more like the Dallas Cowboys. They may have a big name, but they haven't won anything of importance in nearly a decade. Finally, the most recent Super Bowl, where the Patriots beat the Rams 13-3, might be the most boring, and poorly played Super Bowl I have watched. The game was pointless, easy to see what was going to happen and the cheating Patriots won yet again. I guess this is what I get for rooting for the Rams, even though they were stolen from Saint Louis by a money hungry douche bag. This game was rotten, the teams played awfully and fan boys for the Patriots got more ammo to talk about how great they are. What a waste.

Okay that does it for my best of 2019 lists. I hope you all enjoyed them.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. I know Ty does not care for hockey, but how could he miss his hometown St. Louis Blues winning the Stanley Cup. How soon we all forget. Like I can not tell you who won the previous ten cups before the Blues.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: Advent Calendar of Holiday Television Programs: Day 19 "The Office - Christmas Party"

ed note: This article was first published on December 19th, 2016

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy

Day 19: "The Office - Christmas Party"

Original air date - December 6th, 2005 

Opened Doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,  Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen

For SeedSing's Advent Calendar of great holiday TV shows, today I'm going to write about one of my all-time favorite episodes of the American version of "The Office". The episode is simply titled, "Christmas Party", and it takes place in what most everybody believes is their best season, the second.

The episode starts like most, with one on one interviews, and we can see that Dunder Mifflin is decorated for the season. They have a big tree, lots of wreaths, holly, all the things you'd expect when walking into any office during the holiday's. We get an early interview with Jim(John Krasinski), talking about how he finally got Pam(Jenna Fischer) for secret Santa. They have always done a secret Santa at Dunder Mifflin, and Jim, apparently, has never gotten his true love, Pam before. This was well before they were married and had kids and everything, so I think it was great for the writers to have this as one of the main stories in this episode. Later, while speaking with Jim, Michael Scott(Steve Carrell) reveals to him that he got his favorite person in the office, Ryan(BJ Novak), for secret Santa. He proclaims that he spent a lot of dough and went all out because he wanted this party to be extra special. Jim says he thought there was a 20 dollar limit, but we all know Michael to be a bit of a spender and a pest.

When all the workers gather around the tree to do secret Santa, that is when this episode goes from good to great. At first, all is well.  Oscar(Oscar Nunez) gets the shower radio he wanted from his secret Santa, Kelly(Mindy Kaling). Jim gets his gift from Creed(Creed Bratton), which is just one of his old shirts, because Creed is never prepared for anything. Oscar has a gift for Creed, but he doesn't know anything about him, assumes he is Irish, and gets him a four-leaved clover keychain. Then, it is Pam's turn, and she opens her gift, which is a teapot that she has pointed out to Jim many, many times. He not only remembers to get her this teapot, but he also stuffs it with some inside jokes and a note telling her how he truly feels about her. She is very happy, and Jim is pleased with the great job he has done. Then we get to Ryan. He opens his present, and it is a video iPod. For those of you that are even younger than me, back then, in the early to mid-2000's, a video iPod was a big deal, and pretty expensive. It is so expensive in fact, they say that it cost 400 dollars for Michael to buy it, because of course he left the price tag on. After all the initial shock, it is now Michael's turn to open his present from Phyllis(Phyllis Smith). He opens the paper to reveal a homemade oven mitt. It is a very thoughtful and very nice gift, and just what secret Santa should be all about, but Michael is unhappy. He is so upset that Phyllis did not spend a single penny on his gift. He throws his Santa hat off and madly storms into the hallway to let the camera crew knows how he feels about Phyllis' gift. After a minute or so, the other workers ask if they should just continue to open gifts, and Dwight(Rainn Wilson), says no one does anything until Michael says so.

Michael comes back after about 5 minutes and declares that they are going to play a game called "Yankee Swap". The game consists of people deciding if they want to steal a present, open a new present or just keep what they have. We all know this game. Others call it "White Elephant" or "Nasty Christmas". The game is brutal, and shows people's true feelings. This is exactly what Michael wants, because it means everyone will want the iPod he bought. The game starts, and of course the iPod is the hot item. Everyone is trading for it, even Pam. When Pam takes it the first time, Jim is noticeably upset, but Pam says to him, "I mean, it's an iPod". Brutal and to the point. After awhile, Phyllis leaves the room after Michael bad mouths her gift and convinces Meredith(Kate Flannery) to take it. Michel tries to "explain" reverse psychology to the audience before this happens, and it is hilarious. Go watch it now. After Phyllis leaves, Michael asks what is wrong with her, and the rest of the workers tell him it is because he bought a very expensive gift, then bad mouthed all the other gifts.

Michael feels bad, and tries to make up for his mistake, but he makes it worse by telling everyone that he got a big bonus for firing someone, and this just makes everyone even madder. They all leave the circle around the tree, and Michael is despondent. Michael leaves to go get alcohol for the party because he thinks this will make everything better.

While he is at the liquor store, we get shots of everyone trying to get the gifts they truly want. Everyone wants the iPod, but Pam has it, and she loves it. She is smitten. Jim is trying everything he can to get the teapot back, Dwight has it now, but he just cannot convince him. Dwight claims he will use it for sinus infections, and that makes Jim even more upset. At one point, we see Dwight looking through the teapot, and he fins all the inside jokes. Pam sees this from a distance, and she starts to realize that Jim went through a whole lot to get this gift specifically for her.

Michael returns, with 15 bottles of vodka, and now the Christmas party truly begins. They aren't supposed to have alcohol, but no one truly cares, as I expect most real life offices would do the same. The vodka does help. People start to have fun, no one is mad at Michael anymore. At one point, Michael proclaims that Ryan is the "king of the party planning committee", because he found some shot glasses. Even Todd Packer(David Koechner) shows up, with mistletoe on his groin. During the party, Jim walks over to Pam, who looks like she is working, to tell her she doesn't have to answer phones at a party, but we come to realize that she has traded gifts with Dwight. Jim is thrilled and tells her that there is more to the gift than just the tea pot. He and Pam talk about all the inside jokes in the tea pot, but Jim slyly takes the note away and puts it in his pocket before Pam can get to it. We even get to meet Phyllis' boyfriend for the first time, Bob Vance, and his interaction with 3 of the workers is great. After the party they all decide that they are going to go to a bar for an after party, and they even invite Michael, who never gets invited to anything. Before they leave though, Meredith approaches Michael and takes off her shirt. Michael does not reciprocate the feelings, but it is pretty funny. I put this part in because it is the first true time we see how drunk Meredith acts. This becomes a running gag throughout the show.

This particular episode of "The Office" is great. They always brought their A game to the holiday episodes, but this was the first, and, in my opinion, the best. It is a classic.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He did not have any drinks at the SeedSing holiday party, but he did clean his sinuses with a teapot. Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Best of 2019: Top Five Podcasts

Today for my best of 2019 I have my top 5 podcast, or podcast episodes. Now, it would be unfair for me to put the X Millennial Man podcast on this list because, one, I am the co host, two, it is already the best podcast on the internet. So, unfortunately, I could not put it on the list. But, there are plenty of podcasts, for everyone, in seemingly every genre. Podcasts are much like TV, wherein they are having a big time boon right now. Everyone seems to have one, and some are good, some are not so good, some are great, and some are Hall of Fame worthy, like The X Millennial Man podcast. Anyway, lets get to the list.

At number 5 I have one of my favorite podcasts, Heavyweight, and their episode titled Scott. Heavyweight is a great pod with one of the best hosts, Johnathan Goldstein, in the business. He tells great stories are sometimes moving, sometimes heartfelt, sometimes sad, but always great, and well told. This episode, featuring Scott, moved me like none of their previous episodes have yet. And that is not to say the other ones aren't moving, they very much are, this one was just one a whole other level. Scott tells us his story of getting involved so heavily into drugs, mainly heroin, that he pawned all of his father's stuff. Things got so bad that his dad kicked him out, Scott hit rock bottom and went to rehab. He got clean, got his life together, and was finally able to get back into his dad's good graces. But, his father always brought up how he was still so upset that he sold all his precious stuff. From here on out, Scott made it his mission to get his dad's stuff back. He was successful in all of this, except a pistol that his dad, Scott's grandfather, gave him after the war. From here on out, Goldstein makes it his personal mission to help Scott find the pistol. They eventually do, but the dad didn't truly care about that. Yes, he was happy, but he was more happy that his son got his life together. It was great to hear as someone who is very close to his dad, and hopes my son will be as close to me. This was heart wrenching, but it had a very happy ending. It is heavy, but the ending is totally worth it.

At number 4 I have The ten hour, two part tenth anniversary of "Comedy Bang! Bang!". This was so great because it took one of my favorite, and earliest to discover, pods, and got all the best characters and guests that have ever appeared on the show. It was like a hall of fame of comedy podcast guests. I was struck by the running time, but it was totally worth it, and needed. When I say everyone that people love appeared on these two episodes, I mean EVERYONE. And the fact that Scott Aukermann just kind of let them do their thing, it made me like him even more. Aukermann is a podcast pioneer, and this tenth anniversary episode is a perfect encapsulation of how important, funny and well liked his podcast is. I cannot wait for the 20th anniversary episode now.

At number 3 I have my introduction to Ear Hustle. I was listening to another podcast that had the host of Ear Hustle on as the guest. I was so intrigued by what he was talking about, I immediately went and subscribed to Ear Hustle, and have now already gone through 2 of the 4 seasons. For those that don't know, Ear Hustle is a podcast that takes place in a prison, and the interviewees are prisoners. It is a real in depth, real life look into what prison life is like. Sometimes it can be dull, sometimes it can be wild, sometimes I find myself asking what this person did to get into jail because they seem like a good dude. The host, Earlonne Woods, is so great as a host, and since he was a prisoner, he has so much more insight than I, or his co host, sould ever have. I have read that since this show started, Earlonne has been released, but he is still doing the show. That rules. I cannot wait to listen to the next 2 seasons, and see what they have coming after that. Ear Hustle is wonderful, dark and personal on a level that not many other podcasts can do.

At number 2 I have the 30 for 30 podcast series, The Sterling Affairs. This was so well done, and Ramona Shellburne did he homework, and then some. Donald Sterling is a monster, and that came through in droves during this 5 episode mini series. To hear former players talk about him was eye opening. He truly looked at his players as property, not people. The way he treated Magic Johnson was appalling. The way he treated his wife was upsetting. She’s also a not so good person either. She has stuck around simply for money. Sterling’s mistress is a game hungry loner, but she was the one who blew this whole story out. Who knows if she did it for spite, fame or some unknown reason, but at least she got people to see the monster Sterling is. I always knew he was scummy, but due to Shellburne’s reporting, it was confirmed. This story was humongous in basketball fans world, and blew up in mainstream media. This was a story where the bad guy did lose, and deserved so. I cannot recommend these five episodes more for NBA buffs, and person who like juicy celebrity stories. It tells tales for both groups. This is one of the best 30 for 30’s that exists, and that’s an achievement.

At number one I have the “Drop Dead Fred” episode of How Did This Get Made. HDTGM is one of the best pods ever, and this episode is triumphant. It was done live, and to hear the “fight” that went on between the 4 people on stage made for great radio. Paul Scheer and the guest, don’t remember who it was, said this movie was bad. Jason a Mantzoukas and June Diane Raphael disagreed, and loved it. I tend to lean on the side of disliking it. I thought it was great when I was a kid, then I saw it with adult eyes, and the movie is very problematic. But to hear these actors and podcasters debate it, it was a great 90 minutes. It was epic. They got the crowd involved, which they barely ever do unless it’s the Q&A, and that just added to the madness. HDTGM is always good, always funny and is always worth listening to, but this episode is one of the greats. I have even considered watching the movie again, listening to the episode again, and then seeing how I feel. Not many podcasts make me consider using my time like that.

As for the stuff I didn’t like so much, it all starts with Kevin O’Connor. I think he’s a hack, I think his takes are garbage, I think he’s a phony and a poser and I don’t think he gets that. He’s a crummy writer too, but he’s an even worse podcaster. When he gets called out on stuff, he never admits he’s wrong, it’s always the other person. O’Connor is too in on the new world of “analytic” basketball, and it’s mind numbingly frustrating. He’s the problem with younger basketball writers. He’s too emotional and never willing to take blame. Other than that, I was bummed that we got no new Womp It Up this year. I know they’re taking their time off, and both Lennon Parham and Jessica St Clair are busy acting, but I was hoping they’d pop up here and there. In fact, the only time I heard from their characters on Womp It Up was during the CBB ten year anniversary episodes. I want more Womp It Up. Finally, as I said I adore CBB, but I was bummed there was no Halloween episode. I look forward to these because of all the guests, but it never came this year. Maybe Aukermann and crew are tired of it, but I still enjoy listening to them. I’m not a big Halloween guy, but I do love a good Halloween episode of CBB, if only for the fact that I get to hear Leo Carpatze(Nick Wiger) sing is version of “The Monster Mash”.

That does it for podcasts for 2019. Come back tomorrow for my final best of 2019, sports.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Today their is a podcast for almost everything. The Head Editor listens to one just for fans of the 80’s GI Joe cartoon. When is Ty going to get his podcast featuring the flavor profile of the Ecto-Cooler?

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: Advent Calendar of Awesome Holiday Music: Day 18 - Tree of Life

ed note: This article was first published on December 18th, 2015

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy

Day 18: Tree of Life as performed by Princess Leia

Opened doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen,Sixteen, Seventeen

I am the father of a young son. One of my primary duties as a father is to teach my boy about being an intelligent, kind, and curious person. During the winter holiday season I have tried my best to introduce my son to the variety of holidays celebrated be different peoples. We put up lights for Diwali, we lit the Menorah for Hanukkah and will light the Kinara for Kwanzaa. I have also made a point of showing the boy all the great holiday entertainment of my youth. Because today is the opening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I have been trying get my son excited for some new December entertainment. Yet there is one piece of holiday nostalgia that my kid will not get to celebrate this year. This will be another year without the infamous "Star Wars Holiday Special".

In 1978 Star Wars was a national obsession. People were enthralled by the film, kids were excited to be getting empty figurine boxes as Christmas presents, and CBS aired the only official showing of "The Star Wars Holiday Special". The public was not impressed. The comedy stylings of Bea Arthur, Art Carney, and Harvey Korman were made permanent members of the Star Wars mythos due to their involvement in the special. Disco legend Diahann Carrol gets to be Chewbacca's father's (Itchy) fantasy girl. A certain bounty hunter, who was fond of disintegration, was introduced through an animated short. In fact, the Boba Fett cartoon is the only part of "The Star Wars Holiday Special" that gives anyone fond memories. The only celebration was to be for a paid killer, not our heroes.

Then there was the music. The aforementioned Caroll sings, Jefferson Starship started their downward slide into 80s kitsch with a tune. Bea Arthur gets to sing with the Cantina Band (Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes). But the topping on this disaster cake was Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher)singing the song "Tree of Life" to the original Star Wars theme. 

Life Day was a Wookie holiday similar to Thanksgiving or Christmas. Like any great holiday, Life Day had it's own kind of carol. "Tree of Life", or also known as "A Day to Celebrate", hits all the important notes of any species celebratory season. Peace, harmony, togetherness, and many more themes are sung off key by an extremely sincere Princess Leia. "Tree of Life" and it's seasonal message has become more famous for being a "what the hell" type of song than one that makes people, or wookies, celebrate. Princess Leia did not ruin "The Star Wars Holiday Special" with the awful song, but she made sure the crash was as explosive as possible.

Today is a great day. We get a new Star Wars movie as an early Christmas present. I am very excited to infect my son's mind with all things Skywalker, Jedi, Solo, and more. I will not infect his mind with Star Wars lore that should be crushed in a trash compactor. "The Star Wars Holiday Special" may be spectacularly bad, and "Tree of Life" may be the rotten cherry on the trash dump, but we still have new Star Wars for the holidays. Today is a day to celebrate, to laugh, to dream, to grow, to trust, to love, to be.

RD Kulik

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the host of the X Millennial Man podcast. He wonders what happened to Chewie's wife Malla, and their kids, between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. Did the Midichlorians get them? Make this a day for SeedSing to celebrate by liking us on Facebook.  

Best of 2019: Top Five Television Shows

My best of 2019 week continues today with my top 5 tv shows of the year. This was probably the most difficult one for me to pair down to just five shows. There are so many streaming services and new shows and just flat out solid tv being made right now. I legit feel like we are in a golden age of tv shows. I left out a ton of shows that I watch every week, and it was hard for me to do that. There is no "Good Place", "The Other Two", "The Mandalorian", "Game of Thrones", which I really liked, "Big Mouth" or 'Veep". And as I said, I really, really liked these shows a lot. But, I guess that is a good thing that we have so many different options now. At times it can be overwhelming, but as my kids have gotten older, I have found it nice to be able to catch up on stuff and find something new. With that being said, lets get to the list.

At number 5 I have "The Righteous Gemstones". I am a big time Danny McBride fan, and when he, Jody Hill and David Gordon Green get together for a tv show, it usually works. "Gemstones" might be their best show to date. The way they send up the whole televangelist world was perfect. It was so funny, and I bet, pretty close to reality. You then get McBride's comedic, and dark lean on it, and it adds a whole other level. The show is hilarious, but some of the stuff was pretty damn dark. But, it worked out so well. The fact that McBride's character is caught on video doing cocaine, and that a hit is put out on him, isn't the craziest thing speaks volumes to the depths this show goes, and I was in for every second of it. John Goodman and Adam Devine were wonderful, as was Walton Goggins. But the star of the first season, for me, was Edi Patterson. She was so foul mouthed and dirty and childish, and it all worked. She is on her way to stardom with this show and this role. I love this show. I cannot wait for season 2.

At number 4 I have the most recent season of "Black Mirror". Sure, there were only three episodes, but they were all poignant and well made and acted and told a tragic and not too distant futuristic story that was completely believable. The first episode, "Striking Vipers" was a wild story about infidelity in a video game setting between 2 men, one single, one married with a child. It seemed simple enough at the beginning, but then it takes a whole turn with the video game, and I was there for the story. I bought in. The episode with Miley Cyrus was a bit on the nose, but I thought she did a great job, and the robot toy that saved the day, how is that not supposed to be Alexa or Siri? Those robots are just as real as the one in Cyrus' "Black Mirror" episode. But, the cream of the crop was "Smithereens". That episode has stuck with me for such a long time. The story, how we are so addicted to screens, was too perfect for this time in history. The acting was also top notch. Topher Grace was awesome. So was the dude from "Snowfall". But the main guy, from "Fleabag", he was prefect. He was so angry and sad and frustrated and just wanted out and wanted people off their screens. Ending the episode with people staring at their phones as they walk and not interact with one another, and the song "You're Just Too Good to be True" playing over the credits was amazing. Simply perfect.

At number 3 I have "What We Do in the Shadows". I loved, loved, loved the movie, and when Jermaine Clement and Taika Waititi gave their blessing for the show, I was in. I love the premise, vampires living in modern days sharing an apartment. It shows all the little things that bother roommates. We all have had crummy roommates, and to make them vampires, it is just so god damn funny. The actors were wonderful, especially Matthew Berry. He was simply amazing. Also, the "energy vampire" was a thing of comedic genius. To see him just suck out the energy from humans was one of the funniest things I have seen on TV in quite some time. I also loved the episode where they go out on the town with the head vampire, and he gets so wasted that he gets left out in the sun and dies. I also loved the episode with the town hall meeting, and the one with all the high ranking vampires, including Wesley Snipes calling in via Skype. This show might not have worked had Clement and Waititi not be involved, but since they were, it goes off like gangbusters. I am so very excited for season 2. It cannot come soon enough. FX is really doing some cool and inventive things with modern TV. Props to them.

At number 2 I have "I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson". This is the best sketch show on TV. It is so much better than "SNL" or anything that the late night talk shows try and do with sketch. Sketch comedy is real hit or miss, and "ITYSL"  hits every time. Be it the sketch with the wiener mobile guy, the guy that eats the receipt, the focus group, the extended spine relief commercial, the "honk if you're horny" sticker, the job interview, the baby pageant, just all of them, they are all home runs. I find myself going back to the show time and time again, and it gets funnier every single time. Tim Robinson never really got a fair shot on "SNL", and then his show he co created with Sam Richardson, who is awesome, "Detroiters", also got wrongfully canceled, but now, he is shining. He is getting to do what he wants, he controls the sketches and he makes every last one of them a winner. I do not think I have laughed this hard at a show since I was a kid. This show brings me back to a time where absurdity made me laugh harder than anything else and Robinson is currently the best at it. I adore this show, and it seems like a lot of other people do as well. Robinson is finally getting is due as a comedy actor and writer.

And coming in at number 1, I have "Watchmen". RD was right. He said that if people wanted to do this story right, they would make it a television series. Well, Damon Lindelof must have heard him and he went out and did it, and he crushed it. The show is so creative. I love that they still have some of the original heroes from the graphic novel, but they added new heroes, and the show takes place in modern times. It was the best way to do the show. It makes it so the movie that Zack Snyder did is all but washed away, and that you haven't had to read the book to get into these characters. Regina King is amazing, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has one of the coolest, and most unexpected surprises of the season. Jeremy Irons and Louis Gossett Jr are perfect in their roles. Tim Blake Nelson is the greatest character actor of all time. And Jean Smart, she is a master. They are finally doing the graphic novel justice with this show, and I couldn't be happier. I just watched the season one finale, and I hope there is more, but if they decide to stop, this season of "Watchmen" could go down in history as one of the greatest season's of tv of all time. It was a masterpiece.

As far as disappointments for 2019 in tv, I don’t really have any. Like I said at the top, it has been a great year, and even a great decade for tv. If I had any gripe, I would say that there is almost too much. But that isn't really a problem. People will watch what they want to, and make time for what they want to watch. TV is having a moment right now.

Okay, that does it for TV in 2019. Come back tomorrow for my top 5 podcast/podcast episodes of 2019.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Get ready for next year when Ty has the Saved by the Bell reboot/continuation on his best of 2020 tv year end review.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: Advent Calendar of Awesome Television Programs: Day 17 - "A Very Sunny Christmas"

ed note: This article was originally published on December 17th, 2016

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy

Day 17: "A Very Sunny Christmas"

Original air date - December 16th, 2010, released on DVD and Blu-ray November 17th, 2009 

Opened Doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,  Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen

The memories of our childhood Christmases tend to be filled with joy and excitement. Of course we do have a few friends who hated Christmas because their parents were not into the holiday spirit, but most of us have great memories. We got awesome toys, people came over to visit, and the day ended with some fun activities. As we get older, we start to learn all the things our parents did to make these great, or unpleasant, holiday memories. Sometimes these truths from our Christmas past will ruin our Christmas present, and make Christmas yet to come look even worse. Sometimes we are only left with a simple activity to take our minds off of the ugly lie that is Christmas.

In November of 2009, the long-running FX comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia released an extra long episode on DVD and Blu-ray titled A Very Sunny Christmas. The episode had some harsher than normal language, and some animated nudity. FX was not ready to air the very special episode of the Always Sunny gang. With a few edits for television, A Very Sunny Christmas made it's television debut on December 16th, 2010 as the sixth season finale.

The supersized holiday special has Mac and Charlie excited for Christmas, but Dee and Dennis are not feeling the joy. Mac and Charlie love Christmas because as kids their parents made the holidays awesome. Dee and Dennis hate Christmas because their dad Frank used the joyous day to promise his kids great gifts and just end up faking them out with empty packages. 

This year Frank goes too far. He buys Dennis dream car, a Lamborghini Countach, and Franks intends to keep it for himself. He also carries around a designer bag, Dee's dream gift, and fills the bag with cheese snacks and chocolate. The Reynold's kids have been pushed to the breaking point and decide to pull a Christmas Carol scheme on Frank to make him change. 

Meanwhile, Mac and Charlie are getting more excited for Christmas. On a visit to Mac's home, the two lifelong friends find a videotape of a young Mac at Christmas. Here we learn that Mac's criminal father used to take his family from house to house on Christmas morning to steal other families presents. It was presented to Mac as a South Philly tradition where you would go to other people's houses and take their presents while they went to your house and got presents for themselves. Once Charlie helps Mac see the truth, their Christmas spirit starts to dim. They decide to head over to see Charlie's mom, she is always filled with holiday joy.

At Charlie's house, Mac learns about the Christmases of the past in the Kelly household. Every year a Santa. or elf, would come to the door. The gentleman would give little Charlie a present, then head upstairs with mom Kelly. Many Santas, and elves, would come to the Kelly house on Christmas day. Being confronted with the fact that his beloved mother is an actual prostitue starts to completely break Charlie's fragile mind.

The Christmas Carol scheme of Dennis and Dee does not go well. Frank's old business partner Eugene, a man that Frank swindled millions of dollars from, is a born again Christian who just wants to talk about Jesus. Their attempt to show Frank how much people hate him just ends with the nude elder Reynolds bursting from a couch he demanded to be sown into. Their attempt to show him a future gravesite also fails spectacularly. The lesson of Christmas was not appearing before the Scrooge-like Frank.

With their terrible realizations, Mac and Charlie are still trying to make Christmas merry. On a trip to a mall to buy an old friend a new shirt, and a cool toy, poor Charlie spots the mall Santa and starts to approach the jolly fellow. Once on Santa's lap Charlie has one question, did Santa visit his mom (the real dialogue was too hot for FX, hence the early DVD release). With Santa quite confused, Charlie lunges at the man and red and starts to bite old St Nick's ear off. The scene ends with a little girl in hysterics.

The whole gang gets back together on Christmas Eve night and decide that the whole Christmas thing is garbage. They vow to forget their troubles by getting drunk and forgetting about all the awfulness. While they poor the first few drinks, Charlie receives a phone call and tells everyone that Frank died in a car accident.

Once the gang reaches the hospital, they see Frank very alive. He was in an accident, but just hurt his leg. He tells the crew that he had a vision, one that looks a lot like the Rudolph animated special. Through the vision he wants to be a better man. The gang doesn't buy it and heads back to the bar. The truth is that Frank does want to be better and has decorated the whole bar, with his old partner Eugene, for the holidays. Frank is giving Dennis the Lamborghini, Dee gets the designer bag, Mac and Charlie get the new hot toy, everyone is about to have a great Christmas.

Then Eugene enacts his own fake out and pulls a gun on the crew. He demands all the gifts and blows everyone down with an industrial snow machine. Christmas sucks once again. The only thing that everyone can do to make this Christmas worthwhile is to throw rocks at trains. Why wouldn't you throw rocks at trains?

The idea of a perfect Christmas is a myth. The truth of how people pull off a Christmas miracle is filled with some dark actions. Most people do not have criminal fathers, or prostitutes for mothers, but we all have parents who have gone to extremes to make the holidays memorable. When confronted with the truth, we have a choice to make. We can try to make the holidays joyous in our own way, or we can bite Santa's ear off. No matter what we choose, the day should definately end with anice group activity.

RD

RD Kulik is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He one time had an Omni Bot. That thing was the stuff.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Best of 2019: Top Five Movies

Continuing my Best of 2019 lists, today I come to you with my top 5 movies of the year. Now, I do not get out to see as many movies as I would like, more on that when I get to my disappointments of the year, but I still see more than enough to put together a best of. The rare occasion I do get to go to the theater, I usually pick a movie that I am nearly certain I will like. I don't want to waste money. I have started to take advantage of On Demand and renting movies on Amazon, which has become a big help. Anyway, lets get to the list.

At number 5 I have "Between Two Ferns: The Movie". I had the most fun watching this movie over any other movie I saw this year. It was funny, goofy, well improvised, well acted and an all around good time. The fact that it was on Netflix was an added bonus. I have watched the movie several times because of that fact. Also, I like that they took this awkward concept and turned it into a feature length movie. "Between Two Ferns" was funny enough on its own, and then making it a movie made it that much better. Sure, the story was weird and pointless, but I don't come to this for the story. I want to see the awkward interviews, and they are a plenty in the movie, and they are great. Every person that was interviewed was game, and it showed. I laughed harder at this movie than any other comedy I have seen in quite some time. And Zach Galifinakis is truly awesome. His interview style is so funny. I love this movie.

At number 4 I have "Avengers: Endgame". This movie could have been a real problem, could have felt overstuffed and was already on thin ice with me because I am growing weary of the MCU. But, they did everything absolutely right in this movie, and they closed a chapter better than any big budget, multi universe movie has done in probably forever. "Endgame" was filled with action and drama and made me ugly cry a few times. When, spoiler alert, Ironman dies and has a funeral, I was sobbing so hard that the teen sitting next to me asked if I was going to be okay. I also teared up when Captain America told the Avengers to assemble when they all came back. "Endgame" is the way a super filled cast superhero movie should be done. The movie was over 3 hours long, well over it, but it never felt that long. The movie flowed to perfection. "Endgame" made me appreciate "Infinity War" more, and that in and of itself is an achievement. I am once again excited to see where Marvel goes from here, and that is because "Endgame" was so well done.

At number 3 I have "John Wick Chapter 3; Parabellum". I am a humongous John Wick fan. I was all in on the franchise from the start. I love the action and how nonstop and relentless it is. And "Parabellum" is that for nearly 2 hours. This one picks up right where chapter 2 left off, with Wick now on the run and all the assassins ready to take him out. It is nonstop fro there. The opening scene, where he beats up and kills pro basketball player Boban Marajonivic with a book was unexpected and it ruled. When he fights a group of bad guys with a horse that he whips to kick them in the face, amazing. Being on the run constantly kept me on the edge of my seat. The fight he has with the host of "Iron Chef America", in a smallish room with a ton of stairs, was brilliantly choreographed and a thing of beauty to watch. This movie starts fast, gets faster in the middle and ends on an unnerving note that this may not be the end of the franchise, and that is great news. I hope they continue to make these movies because I will keep giving it my money. John Wick is one of the quintessential characters of the past decade.

At number 2 I have "Yesterday". Look, I was predisposed to like this movie, and I ended up loving it. The movie is filled with the music of The Beatles, who I have called the greatest band of all time, and was directed by Danny Boyle, who doesn't make bad movies. The premise, a guy gets hit by a bus during a worldwide power outage, wakes up in the hospital, and is only one of three people left that remembers The Beatles music, that hooked me in the first preview. The fact that they were able to make a cohesive, beautiful and fun movie out of it, that is icing on the cake. The cast is great as well, led by Himesh Patel, who is simply wonderful in this movie. His version of Beatles songs is reminiscent of the sound from "The Royal Tenebaums" soundtrack, and I thought that was a great choice. I know some called it too sweet, or didn't like his version of Beatles songs, or trashed the premise. I couldn't disagree more. I adore this movie. I will fight for this movie. I legitimately think Patel should be talked about more during awards season. "Yesterday" is a sweet love story to the importance of the music of The Beatles. How could one not like that?

At number 1 I have "Us". Jordan Peele is the best modern day horror director. I don't usually go for horror movies, but "Get Out", and now "Us", has me totally rethinking that stance. He has made two perfect movies that are not only scary, but have solid messages, crazy twists and his sense of humor sprinkled in. The story of "Us", how there is a whole society of doppelgangers that live beneath us on Earth is trippy and it works. I fully bought in from the jump. Oh, and the acting in this movie is top notch. Going back to Patel and awards season, how in the hell is Lupita Nyong’o not up for any awards?! The two characters she plays in "Us" were totally different, yet she absolutely nailed them both. She is amazing in this movie. So is Winston Duke, Tim Heidecker and Elisabeth Moss. Oh, and the kids, they are just as good. But Nyong’o stands taller than all of them. She is astounding. Also, the way Peele puts scares in his movies, not jump scares, more of the psychological kind, it stays with you so much longer. I find myself just sitting around on a random Tuesday and asking myself, what would I do if I ran into my "tethered"? That is the sign of a great movie to me. "Us" is going to go down as one of the best horror movies of all time. I guarantee it.

As far as disappointments for me in 2019, one is "Joker". I had such high expectations of this movie, and after seeing the first trailer, they only got higher. I took my father to see it on its second weekend, and I walked out of that movie more frustrated than anything else. I don't like when movies are complicated just to be complicated. I know this is my problem, and how I consume movies, but "Joker" is one of the more frustrating movies I can remember seeing in a long time. The same thing can be said for "Midsommar". I begged my wife to see this in the theaters, and when we couldn't find a time that worked for both of us, we finally had a weekend open where we could rent it On Demand. We sat down, watched the whole two and a half hours in silence and, when it was done, both said, "what the hell was that?". Now, the movie was beautifully shot, looked tremendous and had some solid acting in it. But, there was so much silence, some of the wildest shit I have seen on screen and the ending was one of the most bizarre things I have ever seen. This movie stayed with me for a few days afterward, but not in a good way. Again, I was confused and frustrated by what I saw. I don't know if taking psychedelics would have helped, I have seen people online say that it does, but I don't do drugs or drink. I know that "Midsommar" has a fan base, and I so wanted to be part of it, but the movie just didn't work for me. Finally, and this is more of a time thing, I am upset that I have seen "Parasite", "The Lighthouse" or "Uncut Gems" yet. I want to see these movies in the theaters really bad, especially "Uncut Gems", but I just have the time. I have a full time job as an at home dad, my wife works 40 plus hours a week and we do things with our kids on the weekends. I will see all three of them eventually, and I am sure I will like, maybe even love, them all, but they will have to wait for now. I will try my best over my kids winter breaks from school to see all three of them in the theater, but that may be wishful thinking.

Okay, that does it for movies in 2019. Come back tomorrow for my TV picks of 2019.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Ty wrote his list before the biggest movie of the year has been released. What oh what will Ty think of “Cats”?

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