TV « A Continuous Lean.

Dept of Fallen Icons: Corporate Takeover Division.

Jan 11th, 2010 | Categories: TV, Unsolicited Thoughts | by David Coggins

R Tenenbaum

Here’s an unlikely equation for an icon: Publicly crash out of professional tennis, fall in love with your (adopted) sister, move into a tent in your childhood home, and ensconce yourself in a camel hair coat. That, of course, is a description of Richie Tenenbaum. At a distance of nearly a decade—yes it’s been that long—Richie is seared into our memory, at once recognizable and esteemed.

Richie retains his decency even in the face of one of the classic paternal putdowns: ‘Why’d you choke out there that day, Baumer?’ Our sympathy to Richie extends to Luke Wilson, whose portrait is understated and affecting.





Harry Dubin | Workin’ Man

Jan 10th, 2010 | Categories: Americana, New York City, TV | by Michael Williams

In 1947 the New Yorker published a ten-page story about an average New York working man named Harry Dubin. What made Harry interesting was the fact that he was an average Joe, but an average Joe who was one of the first working-class people in his neighborhood that owned a television. Then in 1993 while doing research for another project, author and historian Jeff Kisseloff read the original 1947 New Yorker article and tracked Harry down to interview him. In the process Mr. Dubin shared these spectacular color images of himself back in 1947 doing various blue collar jobs throughout New York. While these photos are staged, the story is real. Read all about it here. [Found via Gothamist]

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Have Gun — Will Travel

Dec 1st, 2009 | Categories: Movies, TV | by Michael Williams

Haveguncard

Thinking about getting that written on a calling card, “Have Gun — Will Travel” just like Paladin in the late 50s, early 60s Western TV and radio show of the same name. I obviously wasn’t around to see any of this show on TV, but I was watching Stand by Me over Thanksgiving and the fellas were singing the theme song throughout the movie. Interestingly enough, the theme song was also sung as a cadence in the movie Full Metal Jacket, one of my all time favorites. I have been watching Have Gun Will Travel on DVD via Netflix and the series has become some sort of a guilty pleasure. The Western genre really has some gems and this series does not disappoint. Hell, Charles Bronson even shows up in the first season.





Mad Men | The Conversation you are Missing

Oct 17th, 2008 | Categories: Mad Men, TV | by Michael Williams

The show Mad Men gets quite a bit of coverage here on ACL, everything from the sixties era style, to the character’s excessive alcohol consumption. While I don’t want to go overboard obsessing about the show (might be too late, the AMC series even has its own category), it is worth pointing out that a few enterprising people (or the AMC marketing department, but I doubt they have what it takes to pull this off see comments) have picked up where the show leaves off and are keeping the characters going 24/7 on Twitter. At first glance it seemed a little goofy, but after a while I really started to enjoy the constant twittering of Betty saying things like: “Trying to spend more time with @sally_draper and @robert_draper, so they don’t feel invisible. It’s hard on them with Don not around” and “Looking for my grandmother’s recipe for German noodles.”





Mad Men on Charlie Rose

Jul 30th, 2008 | Categories: Mad Men, TV, Video | by Michael Williams

Matthew Weiner, Jon Hamm and John Slattery stopped by Charlie Rose this past week for a discussion about the comings and goings of one of the best shows on television. The lead-in to the segment featured some Mad Men influences like Gentleman’s Agreement, The Apartment, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Classics, all of them. The conversation with Weiner (the show’s creator) and the two lead actors was interesting and insightful. Seeing Hamm and Slattery out of character is always strange to my eyes, but the discussion offered good insight into where season two is heading. Rose never fails to amuse me with his constant paper shuffling and magazine touting — never missing a chance to show off a good periodical and give an actor a good ribbing.





The Sartorial Genius of Mad Men

Jul 25th, 2008 | Categories: Mad Men, Men's wear, Style, Suiting, TV | by Michael Williams

With the second season due to launch this coming weekend, much has been said recently about AMC’s sleeper-hit Mad Men. The newly hatched commotion around the show is great, but some of us with an interest in menswear have been hanging by a thread (bad pun, I know) since day one. The characters are great and the drama is enjoyable, but the real reason to watch is for the show’s style. To say that the Mad Men is Sex and the City for guys is wrong. Mad Men is more hardcore than that — it’s Patton meets Gordon Gekko — set in one of the most optimistic times in American history. The gentlemen at the new and very cool service focused site Valet spoke with the show’s costume designer Janie Bryant at length about the show’s sartorial inspirations.





Range Rover Sport vs. Challenger II Tank

Jul 20th, 2008 | Categories: Automobiles, TV, Video | by Michael Williams

The fine gentlemen at Top Gear continue to impress with their inventive programming. Presenter Jeremy Clarkson recently profiled the new and breathtakingly awesome Range Rover Sport (supercharged) for the much revered BBC series. After going over the performance (naught to sixty in 7 seconds, not bad for a SUV), Clarkson took the Range Rover to the proving grounds to do battle with a British Challenger II tank. The result is automotive television at its finest.





Mad Men | The Second Coming

Jun 17th, 2008 | Categories: Mad Men, New York City, TV | by Michael Williams

A screening was held last night at the Museum of Modern Art for season two of Mad Men. The much anticipated second season of the show is set to air a little less than five weeks from now on July 27th (mark your calendars) and I couldn’t be more excited to see team Sterling Cooper back in action.

Ms. January Jones





Hats & Neckties on CBS Sunday Morning.

Jun 16th, 2008 | Categories: Americana, Men's wear, New York City, Style, TV, Video | by Michael Williams

One of my favorite weekend past times is watching CBS Sunday Morning. The program tends to have an eye for classic style and covers lots of old school Americana. With two great stories for men, this weekend’s episode did not disappoint. First came a history of men’s hats, which I found to be extremely interesting. Later was an opinion piece from Ben Stein about the previously discussed demise of the necktie.

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Weekend Video | That Mitchell and Webb Look

Jun 15th, 2008 | Categories: TV, Video | by Michael Williams

Robert Webb and David Mitchell are the British comedians from two of my favorite television programs, Peep Show and the sketch comedy show That Mitchell and Webb Look. Thank god YouTube and Apple TV make it possible for me to keep up with theses hilarious programs. Not sure why I fancy English comedy over American (maybe because most American comedy shows are slap-happy and stupid or maybe I’m just a snob) but these Mitchell and Webb shows are clever and amusing.

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Watch | When We Left Earth

Jun 13th, 2008 | Categories: TV | by Michael Williams

The Discovery Channel put together an awe inspiring documentary called When We Left Earth, about U.S. space exploration over the past fifty years. The six part mini-series takes you from the Mercury missions all the way to the International Space station and all in HD. Pretty awesome stuff.

Part two of the series airs this Sunday, June 15th at 9pm E/P.

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Watch | East of Havana

May 30th, 2008 | Categories: Film, TV | by Michael Williams

My friend Jauretsi’s documentary film East of Havana —a look into the burgeoning underground Cuban hip-hop scene —is making its television debut tonight (May 30th) on the Sundance Channel at 10PM. If you are as interested in Cuban culture as I am, you will make sure to check it out.

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