Practice Makes Perfect

In eighth grade, I thought I was the only one who watched Freaks and Geeks. I would come to school the next day after a new episode had aired, and my excitement would fall on deaf ears. At least now I know that I wasn't the only one living vicariously through these kids. I mean sure, I was in a band, but I wasn't lucky enough to have gone to high school with James Franco. Only in my dreams...

Puppy Love

There's something about Mr. Schwartzman. At age 15 I saw Rushmore at a local movie theater, and I was completely confused and perplexed about the film's lead. He was dorky yet confrontational, repulsive yet endearing - I couldn't put my finger on it but I was intrigued. Two years later when he made an appearance on Freaks & Geeks I decided that Schwartzman wasn't just a one trick pony and I wanted more. Thankfully he's taken on roles in both mainstream and independent films, in addition to creating some great music (Coconut Records). He's become one of those celebrities that dudes want to chill with and ladies want to get with. The roles he's taken on range from creepy stalker and power hungry aristocrat, to lovable detective. He's even dabbled in some modeling for Band of Outsiders (pictured above). Good things come in small packages... sometimes they even brandish incredibly shiny luxurious hair. Sigh.

#1 Dad

The past couple of weeks at my new job I've finally started to realize why people love Pandora so much. Pandora let's you create your own "radio station" by choosing one artist to mold an entire playlist after. What I've really enjoyed is finally hearing the artists that I've always heard about, but never got around to listening to. Case in point Loudon Wainwright III, singer/songwriter, thespian, and father of Montréaler Rufus Wainwright. I've been a fan of Loudon since he played the classic "divorced dad going through a midlife crisis" character Hal in Judd Apatow's Undeclared, but until today I had never heard his music. I've really been missing out. My knowledge of folk music is limited at best, so when listening to a Pandora playlist inspired by Nick Drake I was pleased to discover that the man who had made me laugh years ago, is also one hell of a musician. Check out this video of Loudon playing a track from the Knocked Up soundtrack, and if you're a fan of Freaks & Geeks I suggest you give Undeclared a whirl.