Hot This Week: December 30

The last list of 2013 sees the sci-fi thriller Elysium and the road trip comedy We're the Millers jumping up to the top. Beyonce and Garth Brooks hold down music's top spots for a second consecutive week. The fiction and non-fiction lists are all made up of familiar titles.

Have a safe and happy New Year!

DVD

1. Elysium
2. We're the Millers
3. Man of Steel
4. 2 Guns
5. Red 2
6. The Heat
7. The Internship
8. Turbo
9. R.I.P.D.
10. White House Down 

CD

1. Beyonce, Beyonce
2. Garth Brooks, Blame It All on My Roots
3. One Direction, Midnight Memories
4. The Robertsons, Duck the Halls
5. Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped in Red 
6. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2
7. Katy Perry, Prism
8. Frozen Soundtrack
9. Luke Bryan, Crash My Party
10. Lorde, Pure Heroine 

Fiction

1. Sycamore Row, John Grisham
2. The First Phone Call from Heaven, Mitch Albom
3. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
4. Command Authority, Tom Clancy and Mark Greaney
5. Doctor Sleep, Stephen King
6. Cross My Heart, James Patterson
7. Takedown Twenty, Janet Evanovich
8. The Longest Ride, Nicholas Sparks
9. Inferno, Dan Brown
10. King and Maxwell, David Baldacci

Non-Fiction

1. Things That Matter, Charles Krauthammer
2. Killing Jesus, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
3. David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell
4. George Washington's Secret Six, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
5. The Bully Pulpit, Doris Kearns Goodwin
6. Miracles and Massacres, Glenn Beck
7. I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai
8. Si-Cology 1, Si Robertson and Mark Schlabach
9. One Summer, Bill Bryson 
10. Happy, Happy, Happy, Phil Robertson and Mark Schlabach

John Goodman, Coen Brothers Team Up Again

Written by Jon Williams

Inside Llewyn Davis, released theatrically earlier this month, follows the trials and tribulations of a young folk singer in 1961, flailing through a stalled career following the death of his partner.  It’s among the best films of 2013, garnering critical acclaim and a number of awards and nominations. The movie and the performances have been well regarded, as has its soundtrack, which, like 2000’s O Brother Where Art Thou? (also by the Coen Brothers), was overseen by producer T Bone Burnett.

Also like several other Coen Brothers productions, Inside Llewyn Davis features John Goodman in a prominent role, this time as a fellow musician who berates the title character on an ill-fated trip to Chicago. Goodman’s association with Joel and Ethan Coen dates back to 1987, when he was featured in Raising Arizona. Widely regarded as one of the funniest films of all time, it was one of the earliest efforts from the filmmaking team.

Since then, Goodman has gone on to act onscreen in four more of the Coens’ films: Barton Fink (1991), The Big Lebowski (1998), O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000), and Inside Llewyn Davis. In addition, he served as the narrator to their 1994 film The Hudsucker Proxy. Goodman considers his role in Lebowski to be one of his favorites, as his character, Walter Sobchak, is the one for which he’s recognized the most by fans.

Of course, Goodman has had quite a notable career outside of Coen Brothers films as well. He’s best known for his role as Dan Conner, Roseanne’s husband in the sitcom Roseanne, which ran from 1988 to 1997, and he voiced the monster James P. Sullivan in the Disney/Pixar hit Monsters, Inc. and the sequel Monsters University (as well as an appearance in Cars). He’s also played such characters as Santa Claus, Fred Flintstone, and Babe Ruth. Recently he starred as the villain in The Hangover Part III, and next will be seen alongside George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Bill Murray in the upcoming adaptation of The Monuments Men, scheduled to hit theaters in February.

This is just a small sampling of the titles available from Midwest Tape, both from John Goodman and from the Coen Brothers. For more, SmartBrowse ‘John Goodman,’ ‘Joel Coen,’ and ‘Ethan Coen’ on our website.

Hot This Week: December 23

The Superman reboot Man of Steel soars to the top of this week's DVD list. Beyonce's surprise album takes over music's top spot, while Garth Brooks stays strong at #2. John Grisham regains fiction's #1 ranking, with Dean Koontz's latest making the only debut at #9. Once again, the popular titles in non-fiction continue their strong performance.

DVD

1. Man of Steel
2. The Heat
3. Red 2
4. The Internship
5. White House Down
6. R.I.P.D.
7. The Smurfs 2 
8. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
9. Grown Ups 2
10. Turbo 

CD

1. Beyonce, Beyonce
2. Garth Brooks, Blame It All on My Roots
3. Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped in Red 
4. R. Kelly, Black Panties
5. One Direction, Midnight Memories
6. The Robertsons, Duck the Halls 
7. Childish Gambino, Because the Internet
8. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2
9. Katy Perry, Prism
10. Frozen Soundtrack

Fiction

1. Sycamore Row, John Grisham
2. The First Phone Call from Heaven, Mitch Albom
3. Command Authority, Tom Clancy and Mark Greaney
4. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
5. Doctor Sleep, Stephen King
6. Cross My Heart, James Patterson
7. The Gods of Guilt, Michael Connelly
8. Takedown Twenty, Janet Evanovich
9. Innocence, Dean Koontz
10. King and Maxwell, David Baldacci

Non-Fiction

1. Things That Matter, Charles Krauthammer
2. Killing Jesus, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
3. George Washington's Secret Six, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
4. David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell
5. The Bully Pulpit, Doris Kearns Goodwin
6. Miracles and Massacres, Glenn Beck
7. I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai
8. Si-Cology 1, Si Robertson and Mark Schlabach
9. One Summer, Bill Bryson 
10. Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand

More Potter in the Works

Written by Kyle Slagley

The story of an orphaned English boy who, within the span of seven years, must grow up and realize that he is a famous wizard who saved the world once and must do so all over again is well known to millions around the world. Put another way, Harry Potter is one of the most famous people who never lived.

Fans of J.K. Rowling’s book series were given a big boost back in September when it was announced that Rowling had cut a deal with Warner Bros (who produced all eight of the Harry Potter films) to produce a film around Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, a supplemental book to the seven-novel series about Potter. Fantastic Beasts is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter line of novels and films; instead it begins 70 years prior to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in New York City. Rowling is hoping to turn the film into a series of its own.

Potter fans tend to be an insatiable bunch, so it’s a good thing Fantastic Beasts isn’t the only piece of news I have to tell. Just this morning I read that Rowling is also bringing Harry Potter to the stage. Unlike Fantastic Beasts, the stage play will reportedly be a prequel to Sorcerer’s Stone, and address Potter’s early days as an orphan and misfit.

Writing extensions to a series as beloved and established as Harry Potter is indeed a tricky business. I have to say, choosing a medium other than film was a wise choice on Rowling’s part. Fans grew used to a distinctive style of filmmaking by the time the eighth movie was released, so writing a prequel for the stage gives Rowling a chance to branch out a bit in style without risking as much rejection from die-hard fans of the film.

Moreover, writing the prequel as a stage play has its advantages for the actors – particularly the lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it) young men who will be cast as Harry. On film, audiences would expect and demand a younger version of Daniel Radcliffe. On the stage, audiences will likely give the actors more room to interpret the role.

These two projects will be Rowling’s first attempt at writing both a screenplay and a stage script. With no word on a release date for Fantastic Beasts or an opening night for the stage show, fans will have to get by re-reading the book series and re-watching the film series. We’ll keep you updated if we hear more.

New Titles Named to National Film Registry

Written by Jon Williams

This morning the Library of Congress announced this year’s additions to the National Film Registry. The Registry was established in 1988 to recognize and preserve “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant films” produced in the U.S.

One of the titles added this year is Disney’s Mary Poppins, which has just been rereleased on DVD and Blu-ray in a digitally restored 50th Anniversary Edition. This is particularly timely due to the upcoming theatrical release of Saving Mr. Banks, the film starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson that details Walt Disney’s efforts to bring Mary Poppins from the page to the screen. Other notable titles being added this year include Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, The Magnificent Seven, and The Right Stuff.

The first class of films was added to the Registry in 1989. This inaugural list included a number of what are widely considered to be the best films of all time. These classics include Casablanca, Citizen Kane, Gone with the Wind, Singin’ in the Rain, Snow White (currently in the Disney Vault), Some Like It Hot, the original Star Wars, and The Wizard of Oz, to name just a few.

With the 2013 list announced, there have now been 25 classes of films added to the National Film Registry, bringing the total number of films listed to 625. This is a fine collection of essential films that your patrons would love to experience for the first time or revisit over and over again. Make sure to have these movies on your shelves; SmartBrowse ‘National Film Registry’ on our homepage for a complete list of films available on DVD and Blu-ray.

Hot This Week: December 16

The action sequel Red 2 jumps to the top of this week's DVD list, with three newcomers scattered throughout. Garth Brooks's announced return to touring propels his covers compilation to the top of the CD chart, with Christmas albums filling in many of the remaining spots. A posthumous Tom Clancy novel debuts atop the fiction chart, while the non-fiction list sees mainly just a reshuffling of titles.

DVD

1. Red 2
2. The Heat
3. The Internship
4. White House Down
5. R.I.P.D.
6. Grown Ups 2
7. Pacific Rim
8. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
9. Planes
10. The Smurfs 2

CD

1. Garth Brooks, Blame It All on My Roots
2. One Direction, Midnight Memories
3. Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped in Red
4. Britney Spears, Britney Jean
5. The Robertsons, Duck the Halls
6. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2
7. Katy Perry, Prism
8. Mary J. Blige, A Mary Christmas
9. Frozen Soundtrack
10. NOW That's What I Call Music 48

Fiction

1. Command Authority, Tom Clancy and Mark Greaney
2. Sycamore Row, John Grisham
3. The Gods of Guilt, Michael Connelly
4. Doctor Sleep, Stephen King
5. Cross My Heart, James Patterson
6. The First Phone Call from Heaven, Mitch Albom
7. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
8. Takedown Twenty, Janet Evanovich
9. King and Maxwell, David Baldacci
10. Inferno, Dan Brown

Non-Fiction

1. Things That Matter, Charles Krauthammer
2. Killing Jesus, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
3. George Washington's Secret Six, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
4. David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell
5. Miracles and Massacres, Glenn Beck
6. The Bully Pulpit, Doris Kearns Goodwin
7. I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai
8. Si-Cology 1, Si Robertson and Mark Schlabach
9. One Summer, Bill Bryson 
10. Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg and Nell Scovell 

Artists Honored, Legends Return

Written by Jon Williams

It’s been a big week for news and events in country music.

First and foremost, the American Country Awards were held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. It was a star-studded affair, hosted by Trace Adkins and Danica Patrick and featuring performances by Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, and Kellie Pickler, among others. The awards, voted on by fans, recognize the best of the past year in a variety of categories. The big winners on the night were Florida Georgia Line (six awards) and Blake Shelton (four awards), as well as Luke Bryan, who was named artist of the year. For a complete list of the night’s winners, click here.

That same day, it was announced that a new Johnny Cash album will be released in March, featuring unheard music from the country legend. Out Among the Stars was recorded in the early ‘80s and then never released. The material was mostly forgotten and assumed lost, and has only recently been rediscovered. This will be the fourth album release since Cash’s passing in 2003, the first since American VI: Ain’t No Grave in 2010. Stay tuned for ordering information on the upcoming album.

Finally, Garth Brooks announced this week on Good Morning America that he will begin touring again in 2014. Brooks shocked the music world when he announced his retirement from touring and recording in 2000, at the height of his immense popularity, saying he wanted to spend time with his wife (country singer Trisha Yearwood) and children. Now, with his youngest daughter about to graduate from high school, Brooks is ready to get back to what he does best. In preparation, Brooks has released a 6-disc compilation, Blame It All on My Roots, which features his take on songs which have influenced him over the course of his life and career, a mixture of classic country, classic rock, and more. There’s no word yet on any upcoming releases of new original material, but you have to imagine that’ll be the next step.

"Hour of Code" Promotes Computer Knowledge

Written by Kyle Slagley

This week marks the first annual Computer Science Education Week, or CSEdWeek for short. Sponsored by Code.org, the week is intended to inspire K-12 students to learn the basics, and hopefully more, of computer science. The week also serves a double-purpose in that it recognizes the December 9th birthday of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, who is widely considered to be a pioneer in computing.

The big push during this year’s CSEdWeek is the “Hour of Code” initiative. Big names like Ashton Kutcher, President Obama, and (unsurprisingly) Mark Zuckerberg have been encouraging people to take part in hour-long seminars where participants are taught the basics of computer code.

Beginning Monday morning, I was very happy to see dozens of tweets by libraries in all corners of the U.S. and Canada advocating for “Hour of Code” and CSEdWeek. Loads of libraries are offering their own Hour of Code seminars this week, or at the very least are directing patrons to other local organizations who are hosting.

In case your patrons want some additional material regarding either code or computer science in general, I’ve pulled together a couple of titles you can order from Midwest Tape that might help.

Learn HTML - Explains what HTML is, web pages, scanners, servers, web page design issues, and more. Learn how to create a page or simply be up-to-date with today's technology. Everything viewers need to learn is at their fingertips.

Mastering Java Programming – Vol. 1 & Vol. 2: Learn how to program in Java with step-by-step video lessons. Presuming viewers know nothing about programming at all, viewers will be walked through each concept necessary to write Java programs quickly and effectively. Then continue the Mastering Java series with step-by-step video lessons and example code. The student will learn about keyboard input, for loop, if statements, while loops, math libraries, and much more.

If your patrons have questions regarding a specific type of computing, SmartBrowse “Information Technology” for a complete list of our available titles.

Hot This Week: December 9

With winter weather rearing its ugly head across so much of the U.S., it was a good weekend to stay inside and enjoy some movies, music, and audiobooks. Last week's DVD titles continued to do well, with Red 2 and Planes joining the list. One Direction takes the top spot on the music chart, with Eminem sliding down just one spot to #2. James Patterson sends his latest title to the top of this week's fiction list, while in non-fiction the only newcomer, Bill Bryson's One Summer, slips in at #10.

DVD

1. The Heat
2. The Internship
3. White House Down
4. Grown Ups 2
5. Red 2
6. Pacific Rim
7. The Conjuring
8. Planes
9. Monsters University
10. The Hangover Part III

CD

1. One Direction, Midnight Memories
2. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2
3. The Robertsons, Duck the Halls
4. Katy Perry, Prism
5. Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped in Red
6. Lady Gaga, ARTPOP
7. Luke Bryan, Crash My Party
8. Miley Cyrus, Bangerz
9. NOW That's What I Call Music 48
10. Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience - Part 2 of 2

Fiction

1. Cross My Heart, James Patterson
2. Sycamore Row, John Grisham
3. Takedown Twenty, Janet Evanovich
4. The First Phone Call from Heaven, Mitch Albom
5. King and Maxwell, David Baldacci
6. Doctor Sleep, Stephen King
7. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
8. The Longest Ride, Nicholas Sparks
9. The Supreme Macaroni Company, Adriana Trigiani
10. Dust, Patricia Cornwell

Non-Fiction

1. Things That Matter, Charles Krauthammer
2. David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell
3. Killing Jesus, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
4. George Washington's Secret Six, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
5. Miracles and Massacres, Glenn Beck
6. The Bully Pulpit, Doris Kearns Goodwin
7. I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai
8. Si-Cology 1, Si Robertson and Mark Schlabach
9. Five Days in November, Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin
10. One Summer, Bill Bryson 

World Mourns Loss of Nelson Mandela

Written by Kyle Slagley

Today, free men and women from all nations are forced to say goodbye to one of the most influential men in history. Nelson Mandela passed away peacefully yesterday at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa, amid his family and friends at the age of 95.

After spending his younger years as a political activist, Mandela was eventually arrested and would spend nearly 30 years in prison for his activities. Just four years after being released from prison, Mandela was elected President of South Africa and served one five-year term from 1994-1999 before voluntarily retiring.

As one of the most influential men of the 20th century, Mandela has fittingly been portrayed by some of Hollywood’s best actors over the years; among them are Morgan Freeman, Sidney Poitier, David Harewood, Dennis Haysbert, Terrence Howard, Clarke Peters, and Idris Elba. Mandela also gave the world a chance to know him through his writing; the most popular in recent years would be Long Walk to Freedom, thanks largely to the film version starring Elba.

Thanks to his tireless courage and commitment to ideals like freedom, education, and peace, many nations across the world feel as though they are saying goodbye to one of their own. Celebrities and heads of state across the world are sharing Mandela’s words today, and many national flags are flying at half-mast.

Because it is incredibly difficult to find words that truly do justice to a man as great as Mandela, I will instead leave you with the words that he himself used to find courage during his many years in prison.

Invictus

by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.

For titles by and about Nelson Mandela, visit our website here.

Hot This Week: December 2

The top titles from last week stay strong, with the Vince Vaughn-Owen Wilson comedy The Internship and the horror flick The Conjuring appearing for the first time. Eminem takes over music's top spot, with four new titles making the list behind him. New releases from Janet Evanovich and David Baldacci storm to the head of the fiction list, while Glenn Beck and a recollection of the JFK assassination debut in non-fiction.

DVD

1. The Heat
2. Grown Ups 2
3. White House Down
4. Pacific Rim
5. The Internship
6. The Hangover Part III
7. The Conjuring
8. Monsters University
9. The Croods
10. The Purge

CD

1. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2
2. Five Finger Death Punch, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell: Volume 2
3. NOW That's What I Call Music 48
4. The Robertsons, Duck the Halls
5. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Soundtrack
6. Daughty, Baptized
7. Yo Gotti, I Am
8. Lady Gaga, ARTPOP
9. Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped in Red 
10. Katy Perry, Prism

Fiction

1. Takedown Twenty, Janet Evanovich
2. King and Maxwell, David Baldacci
3. Sycamore Row, John Grisham
4. The First Phone Call from Heaven, Mitch Albom
5. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
6. Dust, Patricia Cornwell
7. Doctor Sleep, Stephen King
8. The Valley of Amazement, Amy Tan
9. The Longest Ride, Nicholas Sparks
10. White Fire, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Non-Fiction

1. Things That Matter, Charles Krauthammer
2. Killing Jesus, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
3. Miracles and Massacres, Glenn Beck
4. George Washington's Secret Six, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
5. The Bully Pulpit, Doris Kearns Goodwin
6. David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell
7. I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai
8. Si-Cology 1, Si Robertson and Mark Schlabach
9. Good Tidings and Great Joy, Sarah Palin
10. Five Days in November, Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin 

Family Guy Bids Adieu to…

Written by Jon Williams

Normally we’re not in the habit of discussing major plot points like character deaths in ongoing television shows—partially because we’d hate to give away spoilers, and partially because we’d have to dedicate this space to Game of Thrones on a regular basis. However, if you’ve been on the Internet at all this week, it’s been impossible to avoid the news that the animated series Family Guy has killed off one of its most beloved original characters: the Griffin family’s intelligent talking dog, Brian.

Brian was voiced by the show’s creator, Seth MacFarlane. MacFarlane voices several characters in the show, but Brian spoke with his actual speaking voice. The show debuted on Fox after the Super Bowl in 1999 and originally ran for three seasons before being cancelled by the network. However, a number of factors, including strong DVD sales and high ratings for reruns, led to the show being brought back for a fourth season in 2005. The show has been in production ever since and is currently in its twelfth season.

Family Guy has turned into quite a success in its own right, but it also served as a launching pad for the career of the multitalented MacFarlane. He has developed further animated shows with American Dad! and The Cleveland Show (a Family Guy spinoff which has recently been cancelled after four seasons). He currently serves as executive producer for the live-action sitcom Dads (starring Family Guy voice actor Seth Green), which is in its first season, and is co-producing an update of Carl Sagan’s groundbreaking 1980 science/astronomy series Cosmos. He has also made the jump from the small screen to the big screen, writing, directing, and starring (via voice, of course) in the comedy Ted, about a boy who wishes his teddy bear to life and grows into adulthood with the bear as his best friend. He is also an accomplished singer, and provided an opening number for another animated hit, the Futurama movie Into the Wild Green Yonder.

Still, even with all these other projects, MacFarlane is still most closely associated with Family Guy, which now must go forward without Brian Griffin. While this may not quite rank with the death of Colonel Blake on M*A*S*H, it still has some longtime fans up in arms. Hopes are high that the series will find a way to bring him back at some point, but only time will tell.

SmartBrowse Family Guy on our homepage for the complete collection of episodes on DVD (plus the hilarious Star Wars spoofs), and SmartBrowse Seth MacFarlane for a wide variety of titles from this multifaceted entertainer.

Hot This Week: November 25

This week's DVD list sees just two new entries: the buddy cop comedy The Heat and the giant robot film Pacific Rim. Lady Gaga's new release tops the music chart, and the Fab Four also make the list with a release made up of performances from the BBC. The latest inspirational novel from Mitch Albom takes John Grisham's top spot in fiction. Likewise, in non-fiction, a collection of essays from Charles Krauthammer takes over #1 from Bill O'Reilly.

DVD

1. White House Down
2. Grown Ups 2
3. The Heat
4. Pacific Rim
5. The Hangover Part III
6. Monsters University
7. The Croods
8. The Purge
9. After Earth
10. This Is the End

CD

1. Lady Gaga, ARTPOP
2. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2
3. NOW That's What I Call Music 48
4. The Robertsons, Duck the Halls
5. Katy Perry, Prism
6. Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped in Red
7. The Beatles, On Air: Live at the BBC Volume 2
8. Jhene Aiko, Sail Out (EP)
9. Drake, Nothing Was the Same
10. Lorde, Pure Heroine

Fiction

1. The First Phone Call from Heaven, Mitch Albom
2. Sycamore Row, John Grisham
3. Dust, Patricia Cornwell
4. White Fire, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
5. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
6. Doctor Sleep, Stephen King
7. The Valley of Amazement, Amy Tan
8. The Longest Ride, Nicholas Sparks
9. Mirage, Clive Cussler and Jack Du Drul
10. The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion, Fannie Flagg

Non-Fiction

1. Things That Matter, Charles Krauthammer
2. Killing Jesus, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
3. The Bully Pulpit, Doris Kearns Goodwin
4. David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell
5. I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai
6. Double Down, Mark Halperin and John Heilemann
7. Si-Cology 1, Si Robertson and Mark Schlabach
8. George Washington's Secret Six, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
9. Good Tidings and Great Joy, Sarah Palin
10. The Death of Santini, Pat Conroy

Monty Python Not Dead Yet

Written by Kyle Slagley

I was rather an unusual child. While my peers were referencing shows like Beavis & Butthead, I was prattling on about dead parrots, African v. European Swallows, lumberjacks, and knights who say “Ni!” For folks out there that understand all (or any) of those references, the following announcement will be very welcome news. *Nudge nudge wink wink* Know what I mean?

On Wednesday, the five surviving members of British comedy troupe Monty Python announced that they are indeed reuniting in the summer of 2014 for one night only. The show will take place at the London O2 Arena on July 1^st of next year, and according to Eric Idle will include “comedy, pathos, music and a tiny piece of ancient sex.”

Sounds about right from the group who achieved legendary status on a mixture of dry wit, absurd slapstick, and sexual innuendo. The July 2014 performance is a monumental event for the five members, who haven’t performed together since 1980.

The members of Monty Python (John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Graham Chapman [1941-1989]) all worked on various British TV shows during the 1960s prior to the kickoff of their breakthrough series Monty Python’s Flying Circus in October 1969. Between 1964 and 1969, the six men collaborated in various combinations and eventually ITV offered Gilliam, Idle, Jones, and Palin a series together, while at the same time BBC offered Chapman and Cleese a show. Cleese would then invite Palin to join the BBC show, the other three would follow, and Flying Circus would be the hilarious result.

Flying Circus ran on BBC from 1969 through 1974. The series was introduced in Canada in 1970 on CBC, but was pulled after Christmas that year. It would be another four years before the show made its way to U.S. audiences on PBS in 1974, after the series had finished for good on BBC.

Between seasons three and four, the group filmed their first fully original movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Having left Flying Circus following the third season, Cleese returned to film the movie. As I’m sure you know, the film is a farce on the Arthurian legend and is full of bits that are still staples in pop-culture. Holy Grail was the group’s second feature film, their first being And Now For Something Completely Different, which was composed of reshot footage from the first two season of Flying Circus.

Though Holy Grail is probably more widely known in the U.S., it was the group’s third film, Monty Python’s Life of Brian that is often considered the best of the troupe’s work, and also one of the best comedy films of all time. Funded by former Beatles band member George Harrison, the film was released in 1979 and follows a man whose life parallels that of Jesus Christ.

The troupe’s last film, Monty Python’s Meaning of Life, was made with a structure similar to that of their original Flying Circus days. A series of sketches loosely follows the timeline of man from birth through death. Some of the best musical numbers in the troupe’s repertoire came out of this film, most of which are available on their album Monty Python Sings. The group freely admits that by the time the project rolled around, their aim was to offend “absolutely everyone.”

In recent years, the musical Spamalot has been the most visible Monty Python work. Based on Holy Grail, Eric Idle wrote the book for the hit that would star some of the biggest names in Broadway theatre and ultimately be nominated for 14 Tony Awards, winning three.

There is no word yet on whether the troupe’s one-off show in July will be recorded, but I would be shocked if it weren’t. There have been quite a few specials and shows over the years billed as “Monty Python Reunion” events, but none of them involved every surviving member as this one will. If and when Monty Python Live (mostly) is released on video, you can be sure we’ll let you know.

For a complete listing of all our available Monty Python titles and documentaries, click here.

Catching Fire Comes to Theaters on Friday

Written by Jon Williams

The biggest buzz in the worlds of entertainment and pop culture this week surrounds Catching Fire, the second film in the Hunger Games series. The first film was one of the biggest blockbusters of 2012, a year that was full of them, grossing over $400 million in the U.S. The second film is expected to bring in similar numbers at the box office.

If there’s still anyone out there who’s unfamiliar, the films are based on a trilogy of dystopian young adult novels by Suzanne Collins dealing with a futuristic society that keeps its citizens in line, in part, by requiring each District to submit two teenage contestants to an annual reality show-type competition in which the winner is the only survivor. The first novel and film follow protagonist Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers for the Hunger Games in place of her young sister, who is selected to participate. In Catching Fire, Katniss is thrust into competition once again when the Games draw contestants from past champions.

The films are complemented by soundtracks featuring an all-star lineup of names from popular music performing tracks that set a thrilling and atmospheric vibe that perfectly capture the mood. The soundtrack to the first film, Songs from District 12 and Beyond, was produced by T Bone Burnett (known for other soundtracks like O Brother Where Art Thou, Walk the Line, and Crazy Heart) and featured two tracks from Taylor Swift, along with notable names like Maroon 5, Miranda Lambert, and Arcade Fire, to name just a few.

The Catching Fire soundtrack (available in a standard version and a deluxe edition which includes three extra tracks), which came out on Tuesday this week, is just as impressive. The lead single “Atlas” comes from platinum-selling rock band Coldplay, accompanied by a song (“We Remain”) from pop songstress and The Voice judge Christina Aguilera. It also contains tracks from two recent favorites of mine: the National (who I discovered when they performed “The Rains of Castamere” for Game of Thrones and whose work I’ve been greedily consuming ever since) and teen sensation Lorde, who provides a haunting and propulsive cover of the Tears for Fears hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.”

Interest in all things Hunger Games is sure to be at a fever pitch throughout Catching Fire’s theatrical run. Be sure to have the first film, the music, and the audiobooks on your shelves for patrons to enjoy, and visit our website to find more music from the outstanding artists featured on the soundtracks.

Hot This Week: November 18

Four new titles make this week's DVD list, headlined by the action film White House Down and the Adam Sandler-led comedy Grown Ups 2. The music chart is topped by the return of Eminem and also welcomes new releases from favorites Celine Dion and Avril Lavigne. In fiction, John Grisham withstands a challenge from the latest Clive Cussler thriller to remain on top. Finally, in non-fiction, three new titles deal with presidential and American history, while Bill O'Reilly remains at #1 once again.

DVD

1. White House Down
2. Grown Ups 2
3. Monsters University
4. The Hangover Part III
5. The Croods
6. The Purge
7. After Earth
8. This Is the End 
9. World War Z
10. Iron Man 3

CD

1. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2
2. Celine Dion, Loved Me Back to Life
3. The Robertsons, Duck the Halls
4. Katy Perry, Prism
5. Avril Lavigne, Avril Lavigne
6. Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped in Red
7. Drake, Nothing Was the Same
8. Lorde, Pure Heroine
9. Arcade Fire, Reflektor
10. Luke Bryan, Crash My Party

Fiction

1. Sycamore Row, John Grisham
2. Mirage, Clive Cussler and Jack Du Drul
3. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
4. The Valley of Amazement, Amy Tan
5. The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion, Fannie Flagg
6. Doctor Sleep, Stephen King
7. The Longest Ride, Nicholas Sparks
8. Winners, Danielle Steel
9. We Are Water, Wally Lamb
10. Identical, Scott Turow

Non-Fiction

1. Killing Jesus, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
2. Double Down, Mark Halperin and John Heilemann
3. The Bully Pulpit, Doris Kearns Goodwin
4. David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell
5. I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai
6. The Death of Santini, Pat Conroy
7. George Washington's Secret Six, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
8. Si-Cology 1, Si Robertson and Mark Schlabach
9. Johnny Carson, Henry Bushkin
10. Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg and Nell Scovell

Tales from the Darkside Reboot on Tap

Written by Jon Williams

Fans of horror TV, rejoice! Although it’s too late for Halloween, word came down last night that a team has been assembled to reboot the classic macabre 1980s series Tales from the Darkside. The update will air on the CW network as a half-hour series beginning in the summer of 2014.

The original series was created by horror legend George A. Romero, who directed and co-wrote the seminal zombie film Night of the Living Dead in 1968. In 1982 he teamed up with Stephen King  for the film Creepshow, which was an anthology film made up of several horror stories. The success of that film led to the idea of a horror-themed TV series, which became Tales from the Darkside.

The show debuted in 1984 and ran for four seasons, with each episode telling a new story. With new characters each week, the show had quite a large cast, featuring such stars as Phyllis Diller, John Heard, Carol Kane, Darren McGavin, Jerry Stiller, Abe Vigoda, Seth Green, Marcia Cross, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Christian Slater, to name just a few. After its four-season run on television, the show spawned a feature film of its own in 1990, which starred Slater along with Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, and Debbie Harry.

Tales from the Darkside certainly wasn’t the first or only show of its type. It owed a debt of gratitude to The Twilight Zone, the pioneering show of strange tales which originally ran from 1959 to 1964. The format became quite popular in the ‘80s, with Tales from the Darkside being joined by Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories and a Twilight Zone revival in 1985, and then followed by HBO’s Tales from the Crypt in 1989.

Set to write the scripts for the new series is acclaimed author Joe Hill—son of Romero collaborator and original Darkside contributor Stephen King (who had his own horror anthology show with 2006’s Nightmares & Dreamscapes). This isn’t the only film work Hill has on tap—his novel Horns has been adapted into a movie starring Daniel Radcliffe and Juno Temple (which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and will release theatrically in 2014), and his comic series Locke & Key is being adapted into a film as well.

Hot This Week: November 11

A pair of animated features make their debuts atop this week's DVD list, with The Croods taking the top spot over Monsters University. Arcade Fire's new album tops the music chart on a week that sees the first holiday albums of the season, from Kelly Clarkson and the Duck Dynasty clan. John Grisham holds onto the top fiction spot, with debuts from Danielle Steel and Lisa Scottoline making the grade as well. Noted novelist Pat Conroy finds his way onto the non-fiction list this week with The Death of Santini.

DVD

1. The Croods
2. Monsters University
3. After Earth
4. This Is the End 
5. World War Z
6. Iron Man 3
7. Now You See Me
8. The Great Gatsby
9. Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain
10. The Frozen Ground

CD

1. Arcade Fire, Reflektor
2. Katy Perry, Prism
3. Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped in Red
4. The Robertsons, Duck the Halls
5. Drake, Nothing Was the Same
6. Thomas Rhett, It Goes Like This
7. Toby Keith, Drinks After Work
8. Lorde, Pure Heroine
9. Miley Cyrus, Bangerz
10. Linkin Park, Recharged

Fiction

1. Sycamore Row, John Grisham
2. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
3. Winners, Danielle Steel
4. Doctor Sleep, Stephen King
5. The Longest Ride, Nicholas Sparks
6. Accused, Lisa Scottoline
7. We Are Water, Wally Lamb
8. Identical, Scott Turow
9. Fifteen Minutes, Karen Kingsbury
10. Aimless Love, Billy Collins

Non-Fiction

1. Killing Jesus, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
2. David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell
3. The Death of Santini, Pat Conroy
4. I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai
5. Johnny Carson, Henry Bushkin
6. Si-Cology 1, Si Robertson and Mark Schlabach
7. History Decoded, Brad Meltzer
8. Crash and Burn, Artie Lange and Anthony Bozza
9. Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg and Nell Scovell
10. My Story, Elizabeth Smart and Chris Stewart

Celebrating Hendrix

Written by Jon Williams

Earlier this week, PBS aired a new documentary on Jimi Hendrix as part of its American Masters series. Hear My Train a Comin’ explores the legendary guitar wizard’s life and career in his own words, intermixed with previously unseen concert footage and conversations with friends, family, and contemporaries. Its showing winds down a year-long celebration of Hendrix that commenced on what would have been his 70th birthday, November 27, 2012. The documentary is already available on both DVD and Blu-ray for classic rock-loving patrons who may have missed its original airing, or who just want to see it again.

Although Hendrix’s life and career were brief (he died at age 27 after only 4 years of musical success), both are worth exploring. The incandescent performer’s confident and flamboyant stage persona was a front for a quiet, shy personality away from it. After working early on as a sideman to such entertainers as Little Richard and the Isley Brothers, his career began in earnest in 1966 when his manager began recruiting musicians to join a band designed to highlight Hendrix’s talent, and thus the Jimi Hendrix Experience was born. Their first album, Are You Experienced? (currently out of print), contained such staples as “Purple Haze,” “Hey Joe,” and “Foxy Lady.”

Despite such a powerhouse track listing and a strong start in Great Britain (where it was kept from #1 only by the seminal Beatles album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band), Hendrix’s career got off to a lukewarm start in North America. The Experience’s first single, “Hey Joe,” failed to chart upon its release. While the music fell short, Hendrix finally managed to capture everyone’s attention with his stage antics. On the recommendation of Paul McCartney, who saw Hendrix perform a blistering version of “Sgt. Pepper” just three days after its release, the Experience was invited to perform at the Monterey Pop Festival in California in June of 1967. At the end of their performance, Hendrix famously lit his guitar on fire, making a name for himself and cementing his place in rock n’ roll lore. This performance (and more from the festival) can be seen on The Complete Monterey Pop Festival DVD and Blu-ray available from the Criterion Collection.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience followed up Are You Experienced? with just two more studio albums during Jimi’s lifetime. Axis: Bold as Love was released later in 1967 to capitalize on the success of the first album, and the first side of the original album had to be hurriedly remixed after Hendrix left the master tapes in a taxi. The double album Electric Ladyland (also out of print), released late in 1968, featured two songs greater than 13 minutes in length, plus a cover of the Bob Dylan song “All Along the Watchtower,” which has become one of Hendrix’s signature songs.

Hendrix’s tragic death in September of 1970 at the age of 27 was a major blow to the music world, which earlier that year had already experienced the breakup of the Beatles. However, he left behind a treasure trove of unreleased materials, resulting in a number of posthumous releases that continue to this day. Valleys of Neptune, released in 2010, contained a number of previously unreleased tracks Hendrix had been working on in preparation for a fourth album; another such album, People, Hell and Angels, was released earlier this year. Audio engineer Eddie Kramer, who worked extensively with Hendrix during his lifetime, says this 2013 album has exhausted the supply of unreleased Hendrix studio tracks, but that other live albums may eventually be made available.

Although Hendrix’s career was cut short, his influence on rock music was undeniable, and interest in his music remains very strong. SmartBrowse his name on our website to see the wide range of CDs, concert and documentary DVDs, and other materials we have available from and about this amazingly talented and transcendent musician.

Hot This Week: November 4

Katy Perry's brand new album debuts at the top of this week's music chart, along with three other new titles. It's quite a week for big names in fiction, with new audiobooks by John Grisham, Wally Lamb, Scott Turow, and Helen Fielding making the list. In non-fiction, a Johnny Carson bio and a collection of historical mysteries by Brad Meltzer make the list.

DVD

1. After Earth
2. Iron Man 3
3. This Is the End
4. World War Z
5. The Great Gatsby
6. The Frozen Ground
7. Now You See Me
8. Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain
9. Epic
10. Oblivion

CD

1. Katy Perry, Prism
2. Pearl Jam, Lightning Bolt
3. Drake, Nothing Was the Same
4. Miley Cyrus, Bangerz
5. Lorde, Pure Heroine
6. Fifth Harmony, Better Together
7. DJ Khaled, Suffering from Success
8. Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience (2 of 2)
9. AFI, Burials
10. Luke Bryan, Crash My Party

Fiction

1. Sycamore Row, John Grisham
2. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
3. Doctor Sleep, Stephen King
4. We Are Water, Wally Lamb
5. The Longest Ride, Nicholas Sparks
6. Identical, Scott Turow
7. Storm Front, John Sandford
8. Gone, James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
9. Bridget Jones: Mad about the Boy, Helen Fielding
10. Just One Evil Act, Elizabeth George 

Non-Fiction

1. Killing Jesus, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
2. David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell
3. I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai
4. Johnny Carson, Henry Bushkin
5. My Story, Elizabeth Smart and Chris Stewart
6. Si-Cology 1, Si Robertson and Mark Schlabach
7. History Decoded, Brad Meltzer
8. Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg and Nell Scovell
9. One Summer, Bill Bryson
10. Tip and the Gipper, Chris Matthews