Image courtesy of Creative Commons user, TalAtlas

Voters from a small town in Tennessee have elected a dead man to be their next mayor. Carl Robin Geary defeated the very unpopular incumbent (I mean they elected someone 6 feet under) Barbara Brock by a vote of 268 to 85 in the town’s mayoral election Tuesday.

I’m assuming everyone knew that Geary died of a heart attack last month. Several citizens admitted to just hating Barbara so much they would throw their vote away. The danger of politics is that you might find out just how much people hate you.

-Nicky G

Image courtesy of Creative Commons user, Zeitfixierer

The University of Texas at Austin is at the top of “Playboy” magazine’s latest list of America’s top party schools. “Playboy” assembles THE LIST by doing lots and lots of research I’m sure.

ASU has been on the magazine’s top party school list 5 times, and places 6th on the latest list. The magazine says the winning school will get a party thrown by Playboy which will include Playmates, models, giveaways, and quote, “a special award honoring each school’s partying prowess.” Sounds sexy.

Here’s the full list of Playboy’s 2010 Top 10 Party Schools:

1. University of Texas at Austin
2. West Virginia University
3. University of Wisconsin-Madison
4. University of Miami
5. East Carolina University
6. Arizona State University
7. Rollins College
8. University of California-Santa Barbara
9. Plymouth State University
10. University of Iowa

Don’t see any Providence schools. Or any schools close to here. So let’s get on this list, New England! Party hearty and let’s get a Playboy party!

You have been given this task. Complete it at your own peril.

-Nicky G

Image courtesy of Creative Commons user, vwb5

You know the Twinkie defense? Dr. Conrad Murray’s legal team is reportedly working on their case by adding a “Coke” defense.

This is the guy who was accused of killing Michael Jackson by prescribing him obscene amount of drugs.The legal team will be pointing to MJ’s alleged habit of consuming large amounts of caffeine-heavy soda Coca Cola. Heard of it?

The defense says that Jackson was the one who administered his own fatal dose of the anaesthetic Propofol and that Jackson drank Coke on purpose, in spite of suffering from severe insomnia. Yes, blame it on the misunderstood, genius superstar. He’s loved all over the world. Just let him drink Coke, ya’ll.

No matter what it’s not illegal to drink Coke, right? As far as I know, it’s still illegal to over-prescribe medications if you’re a doctor.

Back to the drawing board, killer!

-Nicky G

Image courtesy of Creative Commons user, the_defiance

Actor Sacha Baron Cohen has tied the knot. It was confirmed over the weekend that the star of the movie “Borat” married the beautiful, talented, perfect, and wonderful Isla Fisher on March 15th in Paris. Sacha (no, let’s call him “Borat”) exchanged wedding vows with Isla in a traditional Jewish ceremony in front of a small number of friends and family members. Borat and Isla were engaged six years ago and have a two-year-old daughter together. In an e-mail to friends, Isla called her wedding day, quote, “the absolute best day of my life.”

We wish them all the joy in the world

-Nicky G

Image courtesy of Comedy Central

Tiger “Cheetah” Woods is making a TV appearance.

Probably not in the way he would want. News breaking today that Trey Parker and Matt Stone will begin the 14th season of South Park on Wednesday with an episode about Tiger Woods and “the sex addiction outbreak”. This is not one to miss.

For more click here.

-Nicky G

Coming soon. In 3D. Can’t wait. I’m still a child inside.

-Nicky G

This is why I only shave on my bike. I kid. I kid.

-Nicky G

Image courtesy of Creative Commons user, Fan the Fire Magazine

First-timers dominated a historic Academy Awards ceremony Sunday night.
The low-budg Iraq war drama “The Hurt Locker” captured the top prize of Best Picture, and its director, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman ever to receive Best Director honors! Big deal.
The other major categories were also swept by actors earning the first Oscars of their careers.
Sandra Bullock, was named Best Actress for “The Blind Side”. We can argue about that all day. I feel like a lot of people loved Meryl Streep.
Jeff Bridges took the Best Actor Oscar for “Crazy Heart.”
The supporting actress and actor awards went to Mo’Nique for “Precious:” and to Christoph Waltz for “Inglourious Basterds.” Very deservingly if I say so myself.

“The Hurt Locker” — a top nominee along with “Avatar” heading into the event with nine nominations — was the night’s big winner in quantity as well with six Oscars.
Along with Best Picture and Best Director, the film was recognized for 4 other awards.
Poor “Avatar”. It only received three Oscars, for Art Direction, Cinematography, and Visual Effects. Very blah but not surprising.
Other highlights included a tribute to John Hughes, while James Taylor provided the music for the event’s memorial segment.

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin served as co-hosts for the 82nd annual Academy Awards and I would say pretty funny. Funnier than no host I guess?

Nicky G, EJ, Domino, Max, and Daphne were on-hand to liveblog the event for WBRU News. Look for it to come back next awards season.

Thanks to everyone and congratulations to the winner. It was great night overall. Sorry Avatar.

-Nicky G
with Metro

Image courtesy of Trinity Rep

Trinity Rep’s fast-paced “Twelfth Night” is a wonderful complement to a night out. The other evening I took in a performance and was pleasantly surprised by the intricate and hilarious show that most have seen many times. “Twelfth Night” is just one of those shows. You see it plenty of times in your life if you love theatre (and even if you don’t, I suppose). We often see good productions and maybe a great one every now and then.

This “Twelfth Night” follows the grand tradition of Trinity taking scripts and making them more interesting than on first examination. Director Brian McEleney has set this show in a gentleman’s club in the Victorian era. Amidst a Christmas celebration, everything goes helter skelter and true love is found.

If you don’t know the story, here’s a breakdown: Viola (Cherie Corinne Rice MFA’10) is shipwrecked and hides herself as a man among the company of Duke Orsino (played powerfully by Joe Wilson, Jr.). Cesario, as he is called, becomes the Duke’s right hand man so the Duke uses Cesario to woo the woman he loves: Olivia. This Olivia is beautiful (a masterful Annie Worden MFA ’10) but not so interested in the Duke, as she is mourning her brother’s death. But she quickly falls in love with Cesario who we all know to be Viola—a lady. All the while, Viola has fallen for the Duke!

Circling around them is the clown Feste (a singing Stephen Berenson) and nasty butler, Malvolio (played by Brian McEleney). For someone who is directing and starring in the show, Mr. McEleney does a phenomenal job. His Malvolio is so discontent and miserable that his eventual demise is exhilerating. His performance was stellar and a stand-out. Malvolio is antagonized by Olivia uncle, Sir Toby Belch (a chortling Fred Sullivan, Jr.–having a great time) and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, the man Toby is trying to set her up with. Stephen Thorne as Aguecheek is physically brilliant. He throws himself around with such abandon; we laugh just when he comes on stage.

In a surprising twist, we learn that Viola’s twin brother Sebastian (also played by Cherie Corinne Rice MFA’10) is alive and soon joins the fray, thoroughly confusing everyone. Sebastian sleeps with Olivia and marries her–all the while she believes it to be Cesario. In the end, all is righted, the lovers end up together and wicked people are punished (sort of).

The exuberance of the show lent itself to some truly lovely moments (see the yellow stocking bit). Unfortunately, Ms. Rice’s performance left the most to be desired. It’s hard to play two characters (especially when they meet) but her delivery seemed rote-ish and almost unfeeling. A Mariah Carey song and a tardy theme of “Christmas” also seemed out of place. The show was celebratory but not fully joyous and for it to be as funny as possible, we want to fall in love along with the characters on stage. This is a “Twelfth Night” to see for many of the performances and I recommend you go—especially for McEleney’s Malvolio. So you can say you saw it!

Grade: B+

-Nicky G

Twelfth Night runs through March 7th, 2010. For more information, visit trinityrep.com.

-Nicky G
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