Deck The Blogs

One of the few things better than a weekend is a long weekend, and the holiday calendar sets us up for two in a row this year.

So here's two of my favorite holiday tales conviently housed on YouTube - the first is a new one with a twist at the end, called The Little Christmas Tree, put together by my buddy Chandler in LA. The second has been around a while - Auggie Wren's Christmas Story by Paul Auster. I couldn't find Harvey Keitel's monolouge from the movie Smoke, only the closing credits. If you're not familiar with the story, listen to Paul Auster read it on NPR.

Spread some cheer and be kind to Christmas trees this weekend. Happy Friday.

She Crunk Cus She Won 5 Emmy's In A Row

Some weeks you gotta make your own luck - like lil' Bently Green rapping about Ellen. Hey, it got him on the show so I'm not knockin' it.

Hitch your wagon to a talented 6-year-old this weekend. Happy Friday.

Mirror, Mirror

This Marx Brother's skit from Duck Soup came up in convo a few days ago in reference to physical comedy. As far as applying it to the work week, I guess the lesson is sometimes you just have to fake it. (Side note: this clip seems to be begging for a music mash-up.)

Take a closer look at your mirrors this weekend. Happy Friday.

Hack Me In, Bro

All work takes skill. But Sepak Takraw takes a unique skill set that combines hacky sack with Kenny Loggins music. A-Rod is getting paid close to $300 million and I bet he can't bicycle kick a tennis ball over a volleyball net.

Practice your footwork this weekend. Happy Friday.

Our Work Is Never Over

Sometimes it feels like work is never over. But then the weekend comes and you can put your fingers to better use, like they do in this Daft Punk video for the song Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger. (Yes, I'm insanely late to the game on this, but I still like it.) Things don't get interesting until about a minute in and really take off around the two-minute mark.

Also, while I don't normally throw a second link in most posts, in honor of Norman Mailer here's his fist fight with Rip Torn on the set of Maidstone.

Let your fingers do the talking this weekend. Happy Friday.

My Goodness, My Guinness

Good things come to those who wait, says this Guinness ad. And for those of you that have waited for the weekend, I hope you have a good one.

Though I hope you don't have to spend 10 million pounds (or $21,103,992 USD) to have a good one this weekend. Happy Friday.

Me So Holy

(Note: Beginning is slow - fast forward about 50 seconds.)

Halloween was this past week. But did you know that between its Celtic beginnings and the adult playground it is today, Pope Gregory III turned Halloween into a Christian holiday in the 8th century and encouraged people to dress up as saints and give food to the poor?

Well, now you do. And in honor of papal co-opting, I give you this bible study remake of Sir Mix-a-Lot's Baby Got Back. (Thanks to Dow for the find.)

Get your King James on this weekend. Happy Friday.

Happy Halloweekend

Note: Audio is NSFW.




Some work weeks feel like a prank gone wrong. With Halloween - possibly the best prank holiday next to April Fool's Day - coming up next week, we're giving you a rare triple treat of tricks gone wrong. (Or right, depending on how you look at them.)

Note: The second clip has some NSFW audio because the guy nearly craps his pants.

Don't take candy - or full fist facials - from strangers this weekend. Happy Friday.

Solid Gold

There's a saying in the ad business, "fast, cheap or good - pick two." And every week, clients pick all three. But it wasn't until this week that I found the perfect example - Solid Gold.

You can have fast women dance on cheap sets, but that doesn't mean it's going to turn out good. (It actually takes a lot of time and money to pull off the "strippers dancing ballet to Top 40 music" idea the right way.) Thanks to Sweet Stacey for the link.

Whether your dream was to be a Solid Gold dancer, or just date one, I hope you find the next best thing this weekend. Happy Friday.

Conditions Are Perfect For Making Love

Work time and personal time. That's what we've got to balance every week.

But as The Flight of The Conchords reminds us, we also need some quality business time. (I know I'm late to the game on this clip, but it's funny - thanks to Super G for the link.)

Keep your business hours open late this weekend. Happy Friday.

You Mistook Glen Danzig For Trent Reznor Once, You Dipshit

Sometimes you gotta call people out during the week - clients... co-workers... that Starbucks barrista who hands you a venti mocha frap when you clearly asked for a grande with the frap on the side...

While a terse e-mail usually does the job, Watt White and his band, WWIII, took it to the next level by calling out people through song - namely those people who wear concert tees but don't even know the band on the shirt.

Think before you make any clothing purchases this weekend. Happy Friday.

Mash Appeal

I definitely felt mashed up this week. The calendar said fall but the thermometer said summer. My watch said quittin' time but my inbox said the work day was just getting started.

So in honor of that - as well as the opening of Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited - here's a quirky, amusing mash-up of a Godard movie with an indie dance band single.

Dance with someone from France this weekend. Happy Friday.

All's Well That Ends Well

Some weeks wake up on the wrong side of the bed, but end up all sunshine and rainbows - even before the weekend rolls around.

Kind of like the time-lapse drawings in this video - which start off NSFW and then quickly become more G-rated than a Disney movie. (Props to Sam at YouVert for the link.)

Draw yourself something nice this weekend. Happy Friday.

The Man Who Sold The World Meets The Sell Out

Some weeks, after you shut down your computer at work, you might catch a glimpse of your reflection in the darkness of the monitor and think, "I've sold out."

Well, if it's any consolation, I don't think you're a sell out. I just think you need a weekend. David Bowie, however, might have other ideas. (Thanks to Z-Man for the link.)

Stay out of piano bars this weekend (and rent Ricky Gervais' Extras if you haven't seen it). Happy Friday.

Stay In School

Everyone's been workin' for the long weekend - but Labor Day is a bittersweet holiday. It honors the fact we work our tails off...and unofficially brings summer (and summer Fridays) to a close and sends us back to work.

But don't feel bad. Labor Day also means millions of children have to go back to school as well. Which is something Miss Teen South Carolina should strongly consider. (Props to DC and DanTek for the link.)

Get yourself a map this weekend. Happy Friday.

Unless We Get It Framed

Some weeks you rock so hard, you need to pause before the weekend and think back to how you got there. Like young Mikey Cera. He didn't wake up one morning and find himself in the country's #1 movie - he had to work at it. (OK, so I just saw Superbad and I'm trying to think how to weave this clip into the blog.)

Anyway, in honor of Superbad (which was a lot dirtier than I thought it'd be) here's a clip of Cera's early work as George Michael from that great TV show, Arrested Development.

Give someone you love a wedding ring... tone... this weekend. Happy Friday.

Holy Cow!

Was on vacation last week and came back to a Scooterless world. Phil Rizzuto was many things to many people (including the face of The Money Store). But maybe more amazingly in this day and age, he worked for the same company - the New York Yankees - as a player or broadcaster for almost 60 years. That's a lot of weeks spent workin' for the weekend.

Have a cannoli this weekend. Happy Friday.

Just Let Yourself Go

Weekends weren't just made for errands, laundry, brunch, binge drinking and (if you're married) runs to BB&B. They were also made for dancing.

Don't forget that, or Gil Gerard might have to come back from the 25th century to open a can of disco on you. (Thanks to DD for the link.)

Just remember - dancing by yourself is bad for your health this weekend. Happy Friday.

D'oh

This work week felt longer than the time we've been waiting for The Simpson's movie to come out. Well, the weekend and the movie are here today. Woo-hoo!

Find your magical animal this weekend. Happy Friday.

You've Got The Touch

Maybe this week at work didn't tap into your true potential. Your true gift. Your true calling.

Well, that's what the weekend is for. Boogie Nights was on cable a few nights ago and it reminded me that if you have a dream, follow it. You might just have The Touch.

Don't let the bass take away from your vocals this weekend. Happy Friday.

And I've Been Waiting For So Long

(Audio Prank! from streeter seidell and Vimeo.)

This week was hot in NYC. And heat makes you mean. Mean enough to pull a prank that might disturb your co-worker enough to force him into a month or two of therapy? I'm not sure. But I'm glad this guy did just that. (The audio is NSFW - you have been warned.)

Tons of suggestion for this week's post, but thanks to Slavin for the winner.

Beware who's playlist you listen to this weekend. Happy Friday.

Oh, Say Can You See...

Hey, if July 4th week doesn't make you patriotic, I dunno what will. And what's more patriotic than somebody hacking Guitar Hero to play Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner? (If you're a purist, here's the link to Jimi playing it.)

Don't let your colors run this weekend. Happy Friday.

Come On Down!

I know I should've posted this a few weeks ago - it would've been timelier - but like this video, sometimes a week gets you mashed up and you're not thinking clearly.

Props to my buddy Dow, one of the brainchilds (brainchildren?) behind this week's post and other mash-up hits like 10 Things I Hate About Commandments and Must Love Jaws.

Party like you won the Showcase Showdown this weekend. Happy Friday.

It's Probably Already Saturday in Japan...

...but they get the nod this Friday for two reasons. 1) Sometimes a work week makes you feel like you're in a giant Tetris game, trying to fit into one crazy situation after another; and 2) because Japanese TV shows make every day feel like it's the weekend.

Props to my lovely lady, Sweet Stacey, for finding this weeks linkage.

Domo arigato this weekend, Mr. Roboto. Happy Friday.

Guys, We Were Freakin' Electric

Last Sunday we said goodbye to The Sopranos with the soulful sounds of Journey. This Friday we say hello to the weekend with them as well...as covered by the Family Guy.

Maybe this weekend - like the movie mentioned in Don't Stop Believing - will never end. It'll go on and on and on and on. At least until Monday.

Don't stop believing this weekend - taking a midnight train going anywhere is up to you. Happy Friday.

Make Me Fries...

You can't define what a Friday means after a long week at work. It's just a feeling. Like Pearl Jam's Yellow Ledbetter. Sure, Eddie Vedder is undecipherable, but the song feels good - and that's all that matters. Like a Friday.

Here's to leaving Bennigan's this weekend. Happy Friday.

I Got A Better Jump Shot Than Rick Bar-Ree

With the NBA Finals close to being set this weekend, my memories drift to the city's true summer game - street ball. I'm hoping David Stern checks this out because I'd love to see the Spurs and either the Cavs or Pistons lining up like this before the Game 1 tip-off.

Fantastic 5 or Cold Crush Brothers? Keep your style wild and choose wisely this weekend. Happy Friday.

Are You Ready For The Summer?

With this weekend being Memorial Day Weekend and the unofficial start of summer (I'm a solstice man, myself), I have to ask:

Are you ready for the summer? Are you ready for the sunshine? Are you ready for the birds and bees, the apple trees...and a whole lot of foolin' around?

Have a Camp North Star weekend, everybody - and have a great ol' big b-day, TT. Happy Friday.

Aquarius (18th May 1969)

Sorry this is a day late, but I wasn't around the innernets yesterday.

That said, this is the only link that made sense for Friday, May 18th - the 5th Dimension's Aquarius (18th May 1969).

Obviously, the cast of the 40 Year Old Virgin did a great cover and Hair spoof, but there's something special about the 5th Dimension's version that I can't put my finger on. Maybe it's because they're flying through space on a plate, like Cookie Puss in a Carvel commercial. Or maybe it's because they're having so much damn fun.

Whatever it is, I hold this video up as proof that drugs were stronger in the 60's.

Let the sun shine in this weekend. Happy (belated) Friday.

Bringing a Guitar to a Gun Fight

Some Fridays you just need the Nuge. Even supergroup/hair-band Nuge using his guitar to battle an entire police force.

Here's to taking it high enough this weekend. Happy Friday.

Hey You Guys

If you're not all about Spider-Man 3 this weekend, maybe you'll be all about this - the original live action Spidey, thanks to The Electric Company.

Two clips this week - the first is the opening credits to the EC, the second is the Spider-Man short. Not only did Spider-Man teach me how to read as a kid, but The Electric Company also exposed me to the high-caliber acting of Morgan Freeman. (He plays Dracula in this one.)

So don't forget to turn it on this weekend and bring in the power. Happy Friday.

WengWeng: Clockin' More Thongs Than Sisqo

This week got you feeling small? Well, get ready to stand up tall on Happy Friday. Because if WengWeng could fight crime at 2'9" you can step it up this weekend.

Props to Sam at YouVert.com for finding this.

Now go start the weekend off with a bangbang. Happy Friday.

Ain't Nothin' Going On But The Rent

I know this has been burning through the innerweb the past week, but I still think it's funny. And considering it's the rare Friday without a Will Ferrell movie opening, I thought it would fill the void.

I also think it's funny that Funny or Die wants to be a YouTube rival, but everyone is posting this video on YouTube. But who am I to be a downer? It's Friday!

Finally, the video reminded me of my younger days in the BX when I'd ask my friend's dad what was going on - "Ain't nothin' going on but the rent," he'd say.

Well, this weekend I hope you all have a lil' sumpn-sumpn more than the rent going on. Happy Friday.

Giant Fowl Who Love Kids

Was this a week that made you want to spread your wings and fly like an eagle? Well, then this will truly be a happy Friday for you.

Big up to DC for sending this my way. It has given me a new appreciation for eagles, microphone malfunctions, songwriters, eagle mustaches and eagle snow.

From the YouTube description (link):
"The IYI crew visited Alton Illinois to interview Brett Stawar, executive director of the Alton Regional Convention and Tourism Bureau. Alejandro Cruz, the videographer, had technical difficulties with his wireless mic set, and couldn't capture any of Aileesha Breedlove's interview questions. This is what we did to salvage the segment. Ryan Wiggins wrote approximately 90% of the lyrics based on rough edits, and performed the resulting vocal arrangement...The entire project took about 4 hours from conception to completion."

Soar this weekend. Happy Friday.