The High Bar w/Warren: The Great American Novel

Very little is definite about The Great American Novel  other than it hasn’t been written yet, and perhaps, you may even disagree with that. (I’d love to hear your nominees.) That’s why I invited winning and award-winning author Jonathan (All About Lulu) Evison to join me on The High Bar… to debate the fate of our nation’s long-form fiction. Johnny knows books and ought be voted most-likely to pen the ultimate tome. His upcoming book, West Of Here, surely aspires to greatness. Together, Johnny and I may not have all the answers, but we have fun arguing the possibilities. So, grab a barley-pop, sit a spell and watch The High Bar. Afterwards, scribble your thoughts on a cocktail napkin or share them here on The Warren Report. Please.

The High Bar w/Warren: Marriage Equality

Marriage isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes strength, courage and love to take the wedding vow and honor that commitment. I know. I failed. (Though someday, I may well try again, encouraged by daughter.)

On this episode of The High Bar, I welcome documentarian Steven Greenstreet (8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION) to raise a toast to, and the bar for… Marriage Equality. Should everyone be allowed an equal opportunity to celebrate true love or are some relationships destined to be torn asunder by religious doctrine and political haymaking?

Watch The High Bar, draw your own conclusions, then share them here, please.

O my Gob! Arnett’s back.

Some people are funny no matter what they do. Steve Zahn. Vince Vieluf. The entire cast of Arrested Development. And I’ll watch them in anything they do, because I know laughs are guaranteed. In CALVIN MARSHALL, Steve Zahn steals laughs with a mouth full of chaw and a mind full of mush. Vince Vieluf steals scenes in THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF LITTLE DIZZLE with retro references and post-modern delivery. And, Will Arnett steals hearts to the dismay, then delight, of his former tv bro, Jason Bateman; both of whom have elevated deadpan to Le Creuset status.

Which actors do you find funny regardless of the  context? I’d love to know.

LOST in the hype

Move on. No show here. Move along. In the language of the NYPD, that means: get lost.

Now that LOST has finally come to an (unsatisfactory) end, perhaps we all should just move along as well. But what of all our unanswered questions? Thanks to Sven Liden for directing me to College Humor for this succinct, if not brief, encapsulation, of LOST’s many loopholes.

Do you have answers or were you satisfied by the series’ tear-jerking finale?

How To Act: Sir Ian McKellen

If you really want to be actor, you should learn from the best. Here, Sir Ian McKellen teaches Ricky Gervais the secrets of his own method on what is, perhaps, the best episode of Extras. Never watched the short-lived series? For shame, it is brilliantly and brutally comedic.

Making small Chang(e)

Forget a room with a view, what about a view with 24 rooms! Architect Gary Chang magically transforms his tiny Hong Kong apartment into two dozen different layouts with more sliding walls than an episode of Scooby Doo. Imaginative, eco-friendly and bachelor-cool, but what would he do if he ever had some meddling kids?

Formula for success?

We all know Hollywood’s summer blockbusters are formulaic and, sadly, this “Oscar®-worthy” trailer reminds that even award-contending films are becoming tedious, script-by-numbers affairs. (And the winner is… Ryan Thompson for recommending this silly short.)

Did you see (what) TEDDY SAW?

I like my comedy, like I like the ink in my ledger: black. Sure, some of you may be appalled by this video from Ben Schwartz, but at least you’ve been warned. Jigsaw has never been as kind to his victims. Enjoy!

Get your Superfreak on!

Economists may not know right from wrong, but they can make startling arguments about pimping, hand-washing and global warming. Thus my delight when hosting Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, authors of SuperFreakonomics, at Seattle’s Town Hall in December of 2009. The award-winning duo — bean-counter and ink-stained wretch, respectively — explain their methodologies and their madness and  Warren Etheredge provides the occasional question, irreverent commentary and moral compass. (This evening presented as part of the American Podium series broadcast on the Seattle Channel.)

Ouch! My head…

Provincialism makes my head hurt. Why does nudity still equate with obscenity to so many? Songstress Erykah Badu has been fined $500 for disrobing in Dallas for the music video accompanying her latest tune, Window Seat. Note that Ms. Badu was not charged when she filmed the sexless piece but rather once the video aired. Seems only then that a witnessing mother was reminded of how the public exhibition has scarred her two small children, whose eyes, apparently, she could not cover long enough to miss the site of the briefly-naked crooner. Isn’t it amazing how even the unraveling of a barely-repressed memory can trigger knee-jerk offense? Curious that less issue was taken with Ms. Badu’s climactic mimicry of JFK’s assassination. (She crumples to the ground feigning a fatal head wound in Dealey Plaza.) Strange that Texans don’t mind re-enacting that chapter of their historic infamy. Further proof that the Lone Star state is constantly evolving back and to the right. Read more…

Fo shiznik my Biznik!

Dan McComb unveils the new, improved trailer for the Biznik Innovators Series featuring host Warren Etheredge and guest stars Susan Scott, Dan Pink, Scott Berkun and Dom Sagolla. Remember: nowadays, thinking for oneself is innovative.