All right, all right, all right

It was the gamble of a lifetime and it paid off. Matthew McConaughey allowed his famously-chiseled body and big-screen looks to be disintegrated to play the starring role in the movie DALLAS BUYER’S CLUB, a role that won him the Oscar last Sunday. But I wonder if the gamble was worth it.

For a second, let’s put that highly-forgettable slew of rom-coms aside, and admit that McConaughey is a brilliant actor, always has been. There’s no winning when you have to carry Kate Hudson around a movie shoot, and Matt McC signed on for that chore twice. He’s always been great, see LINCOLN LAWYER, DAZED & CONFUSED and/or A TIME TO KILL for that, and he’s having his greatest year, see DALLAS BUYER’S CLUB, WOLF OF WALL STREET and/or TV’s TRUE DETECTIVE for that, carving up the profession like a man who’s been told he has a terminal disease. But the physical toll he underwent to embody these roles was off the charts, especially for a guy who lives half his life shirtless. I can’t imagine that transition was easy for someone like him, who was obviously into physical fitness and maintaining a certain look. And he was one of Hollywood’s best looking. But now, at 44 years old, I don’t know if he can get all the way back. Despite his brilliance in DALLAS and WOLF, he’s physically repulsive in both roles. It’s hard to look at him. He made a deal with the devil to get that Oscar moniker on his name.

I don’t know if I could do it. Recently I started Yoga. I feel better, stronger, taller, everything. I’ve incorporated it with gym work, a better diet, and my self-image has skyrocketed. I work on it every day. I feel great every day. I don’t know if I could watch my body and looks and self-image wither away. It would mentally rip me to shreds. But McConaughey did it to play a part in a movie nobody saw or cared about. He did it to win an Oscar. What a gutsy run at glory. As brilliant as he is, this was probably his one shot at the top trophy, and he went all in. I don’t know if I could starve myself, make myself sick, destroy the only body I’ll ever have to “maybe” win an award, even an Oscar, which is no small thing, I get that. I just don’t know.

After he won the Golden Globe for DALLAS it became clear he was on his way to Oscar. The Oscar's are basically a replay of the Globes. McC’s only true contender, in my opinion, was DiCaprio, and there was no way the Academy was giving Leo the award for portraying someone so unlikeable, who’s still on the talk-show circuit. Don’t worry, Leo fans, he’s gonna win a bunch by the time it’s done. It was McConaughey’s award going forward, and he’s now an Oscar-winning actor, he did it. And now there are reports that Mark Walhberg just lost 65lbs to play a part, and there’s very-very early Oscar buzz about it. My first thought: Tragic. I hope this isn’t the new Hollywood trend. "But, Brian, they have the best dieticians in the world." And I know Matt McC didn't invent starvation to win an Oscar, see Tom Hanks in PHILADELPHIA. Hanks did it at 35 not 45. But a grown man is not meant to live on saltines and flavored water for six months. Doing that is really risking your health, and when your health is lost, regardless of how many Oscar's you've won, you're just a guy with his backside hanging out of a hospital gown. I guess it shows the full nature of getting to the top of the most competitive profession on the planet. It's not all mansions and red carpets.

The Oscar’s are a political pony show, they have to be. I believe McConaughey had some kind of inside track before taking this role and blowing his big-screen body to dust. He must’ve understood that Oscar attention was in the cards. I read that he took pennies to play the part in DALLAS, going the Indie route vs. a possible $15-million-dollar payday as Magnum P.I. Many thought it was his only choice. Many thought studios would be reluctant to put big-budget money behind him, because of recent box office busts. Maybe this was a desperate grasp to right his career. But still, he must’ve known he had a real chance at Oscar. No way he underwent a yearlong hunger strike as a total crap shoot. It never is an unknown. Not when you have A-List connections. Even when he graced the Oscar stage last Sunday, he didn’t look like McConaughey, better yes but not back. I just don’t think I could commit to it. And that's why I'm me and he's him.

I guess so much in life is a give and take. McConaughey went so far to win. It may’ve been too far to ever come back from. I wonder if there’s anything that I would go that far to win.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2549775/Matthew-McConaughey-responsibility-portray-man-best-ability-big-weight-loss-Dallas-Buyers-Club.html

Watch Oscar Acceptance Speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nsR3SJMc8Q

Brian Huba
3.9.14

Sonic Boom!

Rumor is the Sonic fast food chain is considering a franchise expansion into the Capital Region. I’ve never been to any of the 1950’s themed Sonics, but their TV spots have played here for years, and everything looks so good. The milkshakes, burgers, fries. The commercial’s premise is always two twenty-something guys in a drive-thru, bantering witty while enjoying heavenly fast-food treats. And then I’d think: I really want to get some Sonic. Then I’d remember: there is no Sonic around here. Then I’d wonder: why do they put their commercials on Capital Region TV?

Growing up, I've always wondered how a marketing man could be so good at making the Sonic product look totally delectable, but also wasteful enough to buy TV time in a market where said product can’t be purchased. Isn’t the goal of promotion to make people buy what you’re selling? We were in. We wanted that Sonic grub. It was torturous. Damn you, Sonic.

For the record, the closest Sonic’s in Kingston. But like I said, that could be changing soon. A few local sites have already been proposed. It's gonna happen. And I’m not sure I care anymore. I’ve outgrown fast food, which is sad in the context of this tale. I don’t eat meat (not really, at least), so I’m not sure how serial my enjoyment of their cheeseburgers would be. I've developed a crippling inability to stomach high-fat ice cream w/ all the fixings. My Sonic time may be no more. I may be too old for this.

What happened to that big-eating kid who could obliterate ten cheeseburgers in one sitting? Back then greasy burgers and lots of ice cream was my calling card. I don’t know where that big-eating kid went, but I better find him some fast food fast. I have just the plan. So I’m turning that TV-watching dream into reality.

When Sonic grand-opens in the Capital Region, I’ll be there. In fact, I’m parking out front the night before. That’s right: This guy’s gonna be the first in line. I’ll channel the lunatic energy of eighteen-year-old me. That’s gonna be me again. The big-eating kid’s back, pounding double-bacon burgers and ice-cream castles. The Sonic dream’s so close. First in line; leading the charge.

On second thought, Sonic’ll probably open on a Saturday, and Saturday is my chores day around the house, so I might not be able to make it till mid-afternoon. Hum, I should get my workout in first, because I’m gonna be housing some seriously-sized burgers. Now that you mention it, I probably should pick up some lactose pills since I'll be straight raging on that high-fat ice cream w/ everything on top. Hopefully they offer almond-milk ice cream treats. That would be better for me. While we’re on the subject, it wouldn’t hurt to research whether they have organic and/or vegan alternatives, in case the old stomach is acting up that day. Cattle used to produce Sonic burgers are grass fed, right? Better check that. If I must eat meat, it has to be from grass-fed cattle. This could take some time.

But after that . . . You better watch out, Sonic. Within the first, um, two months of you opening that Albany-area branch, you’ll see me at your retail counter. Of course I’ll have a stack of nutrition reports printed off the Internet, and I’ll be painstakingly ordering your craziest vegan burger with lettuce and thin-sliced tomato, no sauce and no bun, followed by a small all-natural French fry and bottled water. Then dessert--oh boy it’s go time--almond-milk ice cream, one scoop, and put that bitch in 100% recycled cardboard. After I fully sanitize and take my fish oil to promote cardio health, watch this ravenous beast go nuts!

See, I was wrong, I'm not too old for this. I'm still that same kid I was before.

Read more: http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/news/2014/02/07/sonic-drive-in-wants-to-bring-carhops.html?page=all

Brian Huba
3.1.14

It's Our Time Now

This week Jimmy Fallon assumed his role as the newest host of NBC’s TONIGHT SHOW. The broadcast is back in New York, after decades in LA under Carson/Leno. I’m not much of a late-night guy, but I’m glad that Jay Leno’s gone and Jimmy’s got the job. I could not relate to Leno or Los Angeles, or his stock punch lines, cue drum beat and studio laughter. He was classic cars and denim shirts. Leno belongs to the older bunch. He’s outdated. He’s low energy.

I view this hosting change as more than just that. I see it as a full-blown societal torch passing. Gone are the days of Fred Willard and “Jay”-Walking and here are the days of Justin Timberlake and Will Smith and the History of Rap and Slow-Jamming the news and high-energy humor that represents my generation. It’s our time now, and Jimmy is the face of our era in popular culture.

Jimmy is going to create a NYC-based show that translates to You Tube and Facebook and Twitter. I don’t think a single Leno moment has ever trended on Twitter. Almost everything Jimmy does goes viral, and that’s where this generation does its Monday-morning quarterbacking. Plus, Jimmy still has that wide-eyed, I-can’t-believe-this-is-happening-to-me look about him. Ah, hash-tag humor.

I feel like I know Jimmy, not only because he grew up in New York and went to St. Rose and worked at the METROLAND, but also because he handles his success the same way I would if ever given the chance, which I won't, of course. But that’s what the great ones do. They make it look easy, accessible, relatable, when the reality is, the talent level is unequaled. Yep, I think JF is the most talented performer out there. If not, who is? He belongs to us. He’s ours.

I only hope NBC doesn’t get hung up on any ratings dip as we go from Leno to Jimmy. The ratings may not be as high but that’s not the whole picture. First off, Leno’s bloated ratings came from sixty and seventy year olds falling asleep with the TV on. Nobody actually watched that bore fest. Second, Leno had zero water-cooler oomph. Nobody was talking about what Leno did last night. Jimmy might not get eight million a night every night but his work will bring a bunch of day-after buzz and millions of hits on the social media sites. Jimmy’s chief fans are working professionals in their 30s-40s with careers and kids. We can’t stay up till midnight on a Tuesday to watch TV. But I’ve never heard the TONIGHT SHOW talked about like it was this week. That’s gotta be worth something.

So here we are, Generation X, the top spot on TV is ours. What's that look like? It looks like a kid from Upstate New York who wears too many skinny ties and has more talent and work ethic than anyone in the world. He's made it to the Big Apple. He’s our pop-culture template, because I like to think we’re smart, a bit quirky, hardworking, and ready to laugh at ourselves. We exercise, eat right, and take care of each other. I love my generation, and I like seeing us represented via an original, comically-clever, and thoroughly-excited superstar, who still thinks he’s the kid who snuck in the back door of fame and shouldn’t be there. Jimmy Fallon is me, and my best friends, and my colleagues, and my social circle. We're connected to him. And everybody likes to feel connected to something bigger, better, even if said connection is entirely inexistent.

I was actually in NYC the first night the new Fallon show aired. Our hotel room was on the 50th floor of the Crowne Plaza in Times Square. Through our window, we could see the top of the Rock Bldg. where U2 gave an outside performance on the roof. We could see the lights and people packed around as it was filmed, about 7-8PM, I think. We were so close. I felt like I could reach out and touch it. The truth was we were blocks away. But geography doesn’t matter. We were at that show. We were in the scene. We were a part of it.

It's our time now.

Read More:http://variety.com/interstitial/?ref=http%3A%2F%2Fvariety.com%2F2014%2Ftv%2Fnews%2Fjimmy-fallon-delivers-strong-first-week-at-tonight-show-helm-1201116682%2F

Watch:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VFgiPXisu8

Brian Huba
2/23/14

Olympic Death March

I wanted to get wrapped up in the Olympics from Sochi. Why not? This winter has been a never-ending nightmare of cold and weather. TV is terrible and basketball is a snooze fest without Kobe. So I tried, by God, I tried, but I’m struggling to find a grab, a hook, an angle.

Here’s how I see it on Day 8. The biggest Olympic stories have been the Russians’ Steel Circle of Security rounding up stray dogs and shooting them dead. Then a Russian who was in charge of a faulty lighting display at the Opening Ceremonies “tragically” died a few days after said miscue by “accidentally” falling on a bunch of knives. And the first night of NBC coverage showed America a one-eyed Bob Costas bringing us events that had actually happened about ten hours earlier. The table was set for some super-memorable games.

Let’s get into the athletes and the actual competitions. OK, um, yeah . . . I got nothing. Do you know--I mean really know--a single athlete from the American squad? I don’t. There’s that male figure skater with the pony tail who cries a lot. There’s a few hot snowboarding women, but snowboarding is a little too X-Games for me, and I don’t know anything about the women, except they’re all pretty hot. I guess you could argue Shaun White’s a celebrity but didn’t he get finished by injury on the first day? Hockey and pairs skating is always fun, but I have to admit the time lag is taking some of the shine off it.

Where’s a Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan controversy? I’d even take some winterized version of Michael Phelps or Missy Franklin. Remember Dan vs. Dave from the 1990s? The Olympics PR committee has always been astute at creating something fun out of guys who luge and curl for medals. There’s just nothing in Sochi to get excited about on a sensationalized level. And every time I turn on the coverage, it’s some kind of new-age ski jump game that just goes on and on and on.

I’m not asking for The Miracle on Ice from this third-world Siberia, although the US Hockey team looks good this year, but I need something headline worthy. At a time when NOTHING is happing in the domestic sports world, meaning the Sochi Games have zero in-market competition, I can’t strike a dynamic chord of conversation on it with ANYBODY.

"Hey, Brian, what about Bode Miller?" Oh, boy.

The only story that moved the needle for me was the brilliant work of Russian figure skater, Evgeni Plushenko, who was nothing short of a rock star on ice. He’d overcome injury and age to compete through his fourth games. His routines were epic, and awesome, and flawless. For me, he was can’t miss TV. He actually put a face to this barren waste land where people live in huts roofed with animal skin. Probably, right? It was a great story and a great talent. En route to certain gold he blew out his surgically-repaired back and abruptly exited the tourney and retired from skating. His sad end was, of course, met with death threats and raining boos from his home crowd. And that about sums up the Sochi ’14 Games. I don’t even think a two-eyed Bob Costas can save us.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to watch the Men's Skeleton.

Read More: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304703804579380891907714848?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304703804579380891907714848.html

Brian Huba
2.15.14

hmmm, I Wonder

Watch clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Z1lSGgUUQ

If only there was a way we could know what that large-bellied, Southern white man said to that young, black college basketball player to make him react with such apocalyptic scorn. Hmmm, I wonder. Why would this NCAA athlete, Marcus Smart, shove this Southern white fan then need to be restrained and dragged off the court as boos poured down from around the arena? If only there was a way we could know.

Read More: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10426105/marcus-smart-oklahoma-state-cowboys-shoves-fan

Brian Huba
2.9.14

A Little Holiday Editing

Why do we need so many holidays in America? Has anyone ever taken a good look at the outrageous number of ridiculous holidays that dot the calendar? Have a gander at this cartoonishly-extensive list (http://www.2014calendarwithholidays.com)

Jan 1 New Year’s Day
Jan 20 Martin Luther King Day
Jan 31 Chinese New Year
Feb 1 National Freedom Day
Feb 14 Valentine’s Day
Feb 17 Presidents’ Day
Mar 4 Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras
Mar 17 St. Patrick’s Day
Apr 15 First day of Passover
Apr 18 Good Friday
Apr 20 Easter Sunday
Apr 21 Easter Monday
Apr 22 Last day of Passover
May 1 National Day of Prayer
May 11 Mother’s Day
May 15 Peace Officers Memorial Day
May 16 National Defense Transportation Day
May 17 Armed Forces Day
May 22 National Maritime Day
May 26 Memorial Day
Jun 14 Flag Day
Jun 15 Father’s Day
Jul 4 Independence Day
Jul 27 Parents’ Day
Aug 19 National Aviation Day
Sep 1 Labor Day
Sep 6 Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day
Sep 7 National Grandparents Day
Sep 11 Patriot Day
Sep 17 Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
Sep 19 National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Sep 25 Rosh Hashana
Oct 4 Yom Kippur
Oct 6 Child Health Day
Oct 13 Columbus Day (Most regions)
Oct 15 Last day of Sukkot
Oct 31 Halloween
Nov 4 Election Day
Nov 11 Veterans Day
Nov 27 Thanksgiving Day
Dec 7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Dec 17 Wright Brothers Day
Dec 17 First Day of Chanukah
Dec 17 Pan American Aviation Day
Dec 24 Last day of Chanukah
Dec 24 Christmas Eve
Dec 25 Christmas Day
Dec 26 Kwanzaa (ends Jan 1st)
Dec 31 New Year’s Eve

I think we can eliminate and/or bypass the discussion on the following observances:

Feb 1 National Freedom Day
May 15 Peace Officers Memorial Day
May 16 National Defense Transportation Day
May 17 Armed Forces Day
May 22 National Maritime Day
Jul 27 Parents’ Day
Aug 19 National Aviation Day
Sep 6 Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day
Sep 7 National Grandparents Day
Sep 11 Patriot Day
Sep 17 Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
Sep 19 National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Oct 6 Child Health Day
Oct 15 Last day of Sukkot
Dec 7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Dec 17 Wright Brothers Day
Dec 17 Pan American Aviation Day

99.99% of Americans pay no attention to these days, so let’s edit them right off. But the editing doesn’t end there.


Mar 4 Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras
Mar 17 St. Patrick’s Day

Why are St. Pat’s and Mardi Gras American holidays? Neither celebrate US culture or US heroes. If it’s an excuse to drink, I’ve come to find that drinkers don’t really need artifical excuses.


Feb 1 National Freedom Day
May 15 Peace Officers Memorial Day
May 16 National Defense Transportation Day
May 17 Armed Forces Day
May 22 National Maritime Day
May 26 Memorial Day
Jun 14 Flag Day
Sep 11 Patriot Day
Sep 17 Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
Sep 19 National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Nov 11 Veterans Day
Dec 7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Do we need 12 different days to celebrate the Armed Services?

Jan 20 Martin Luther King Day
Feb 17 Presidents’ Day
May 26 Memorial Day
Sep 1 Labor Day
Oct 13 Columbus Day (Most regions)

Why are any of these days necessary? Why are they SO important that schools and businesses close across the country? Maybe we’re starting to figure out why we’re losing to the Chinese. Speaking of the Chinese, we observe the Chinese New Year on Jan 31?


May 11 Mother’s Day
Jun 15 Father’s Day
Jul 27 Parents’ Day
Sep 7 National Grandparents Day

Really??

And finally . . .

Feb 1 National Freedom Day
Jun 14 Flag Day
Jul 4 Independence Day
Sep 17 Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
Oct 13 Columbus Day (Most regions)
Nov 27 Thanksgiving Day

ALL these Origin Holidays are required? This couldn’t all be combined into one SUPER American Holiday?

So let’s take a look at a functional, reasonable calendar

Jan 1 New Year’s Day
Feb 14 Valentine’s Day
Apr 15 First day of Passover
Apr 18 Good Friday
Apr 20 Easter Sunday
Apr 22 Last day of Passover
Jul 4 Independence Day
Sep 25 Rosh Hashana
Oct 4 Yom Kippur
Oct 31 Halloween
Nov 4 Election Day
Nov 11 Veterans Day
Nov 27 Thanksgiving Day
Dec 17 First Day of Chanukah
Dec 24 Last day of Chanukah
Dec 24 Christmas Eve
Dec 25 Christmas Day
Dec 26 Kwanzaa (ends Jan 1st)
Dec 31 New Year’s Eve

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!

Read More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-howerton/can-we-bring-the-holidays_b_2903040.html

Brian Huba
2.8.14

Police Brutality? Please!

All week I’ve followed the story regarding the Troy Police Dept. and the Kokopellis night club, plus the subsequent charges by the business itself that the Troy PD was at fault. Too brutal. The reason why violence went next level. Read here: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Kokopellis-Police-at-fault-for-violence-5189816.php

"There was a scuffle in our stairway and our security had already restored order and had the situation under control ... before the police arrived," said Barry Glick, who operates the club with his son, Joe Glick.

So why did police 'arrive'? Who called them? Why were they there? Listen to the 911 calls: http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S3303393.shtml?cat=300. I understand what Kokopellis is trying to, I get it, we all do. Then came the calls by Troy-based community groups for Chief Tedesco to resign. He ain’t resigning. Nor should he.

It’s easy for people to Monday morning QB police procedure, but I wouldn’t want to be charged with coming into a nightclub--full of drunk people, possibly violent--and restore order. But that’s what these cops do on a daily basis. They worm into the rat holes of hell and carry out the law. Are their procedures sometimes questionable? I suppose. Would this nightclub mess have been better handled if the Green Berets came? Of course. But local cops aren’t commandos. Most are young guys with the new family and the mortgage on a mid-level salary. Don’t let the brushcut fool you. They’re just trying to provide for their family and build a career without getting killed, or maimed, or crippled. Did they overact? Who cares? You call the guns, you get the guns.

“But, Brian, they should be trained.” Trained? Agreed. You throw beer bottles at them they throw nightsticks at you. See, trained. It’s not rocket science. Cops' careers are spent rubbing up against the criminal element, the most desperate people on the planet. Have you ever seen an episode of COPS? It’s funny for like twenty minutes. Try it for twenty years. Everyone’s always lying to you, angling against you, and flat out targeting you. And for the love of Martin Luther King, please kill the race angle on this story. The cops were called into that club. They didn’t voluntarily storm the castle. It was far from under control (see the tape). They were attacked. They attacked back.

Are all cops the hero-saints I’ve described here? Hell no. I know all about smalltown guy who gets off-duty drunk, drives through town at 80mph, running red lights, because he can. He’s above the law. We all know that idiot. With that said, here’s what I say to all my second guessers. Next time a call of violence comes from Fourth Street or Arbor Hill or Hamilton Hill, we’ll let the cops sit it out, and YOU go down there and break it up. You get dressed and drive down and resolve the whole affair peacefully. If those cops are so misbehaved, YOU clean up the next call.

If I was a cop, I couldn’t sleep, eat, or crap straight. Imagine living with the nonstop reality that being shot on the job is something you have to at least think about, all the time. You think those cops wanted any part of that nightclub chaos? You think they wanted that trouble? They wanted to cruise the beat, drink coffee, and go home to their kids. They did it because they had to do it. And they did what needed to be done.

When we were 19 years old, my friend Bill bounced at a club in Albany called Michael’s. It was a late-night spot, good college-girl selection, but a touch of edge to the place. Remember that song that said, “Hey, dirty, baby I got your money”? That’s the song I associate with that four a.m. scene. Anyway, one night near closing, as the crowd thinned, a very large, bull-bodied man who’d been released from ACJ the day before (so the story went) began to get out of control on whiskey and whatever. He had a violent rep and he was a scary SOB. He was getting in people’s faces, threatened a bar tender, smashed a few bottles, tossed a stool on the ground. He was ramping up and ready to unleash, and it was on my friend Bill to intervene, physically remove him if necessary. Oh, boy.

To say that was the scariest fifteen minutes of my life (and I was only there by extension) would be the biggest understatement since “Houston, we have a problem.” Luckily, it ended well that night, but I can only imagine the human fear those cops felt when faced with a nightclub full of this, and you’re the big-blue target, the enemy, the racist, the bad guy. You did what you had to do, boys.

Brian Huba
2.2.14