ModestGeniusXL

The Year in Television

This was quite a strange year for television.  There wasn't a lot of consistency.  Some of the shows that I liked early on ended up getting canceled for good and were replaced with junk.  Some shows finished their season in the spring and then came back in the fall with questionable storylines to damage their standings overall.  That's what caused "Scrubs" to fall from the countdown.  Then there was the problem that everybody and their mama was putting out a reality show.  It's really been enough to almost turn me off regular television for good.  At the very least, it has caused me to diminish my television intake.  Nevertheless, I was able to come up with 15 that held my attention at some points during the year...

15.  V
Nobody was as skeptical as me about this series coming out.  The original holds a place near and dear to my heart.  I watched the mini-series, the sequel and the subsequent series religiously.  This update did an impressive job of wasting no time in getting down to business.  I even liked how they incorporated the fact that the Visitors have actually infiltrated us for quite a while and we just didn't know it.  We'll see if they can keep up the pace in episodes to come.

14.  Nip/Tuck
This was one of the shows that had that consistency problem.  One episode would be pretty decent and it would be followed next week by something pretty ridiculous.  Even for that show.  It was obvious they kept trying to outdo themselves with the storylines they were coming up with.  Yet I still kept holding on.  The characters of Sean (Dylan Walsh) and Christian (Julian McMahon) still intrigued me.  Plus, I like that they got Kimber (Kelly Carlson) more involved in the show.

13.  30 Rock
The word is that Alec Baldwin is retiring from acting.  Something about he's not getting out of it what he expected?  He couldn't mean that he's tired of doing comedy because that's about all he's good at.  Even he must know that which is why he's hosted "Saturday Night Live" about fifty times.  He was the best part of "30 Rock" this season also.  Thanks in large part to Tina Fey's writing.  That episode with the HD camera and what people REALLY look like in front of it was classic.

12.  The Real Housewives of Atlanta
You don't get any more "train wreck waiting to happen" than this.  Their last season was just the warm-up for this year.  Once they had that little fame and fortune under their belts, they REALLY started showing out.  I kept watching because I wanted to see if they would finally show Kim's real hair, to see if any of them would eventually come to blows, to see if Kandi still had it from her Xscape days and to see if they could stop being phony.  The answer was "NO" to all of those questions.  But I'll probably tune in next season anyway.

11.  Heroes
Here's another show that suffered from consistency issues.  Earlier this year they brought Micah back and got away from that time travel storyline.  I thought they were going in the right direction.  When it returned in the fall, Micah (Noah Gray-Cabey) was gone and they flirted with the time travel thing again. GRR.  But they brought in some new villains in carnies Robert Knepper and Ray Park.  What "Star Wars" fan doesn't like Ray Park??  There's still hope.

10.  Shark Tank
The concept of this show is what caught me in the first place.  People with dreams to start their own companies go in front of these millionaires asking for their monetary help.  Some of the folks had some REALLY great ideas.  Like the gals that had the playpen liner.  But for folks that come in there with an idea like the workout dvd, it starts to get almost like an "American Idol" audition gone horribly wrong and the show's even better.  I hope next season they show more of a "where are they now" with the folks that got funding so we can see how their fledgling companies are doing.

9.  Chuck
This is easily the most underrated show on the three major networks.  It's the Rodney Dangerfield of NBC's line-up.  They're starting to give the show more pub now as they gear up for next season.  They must have finally realized that they have a winner.  I just hope that the idea of tinkering with the format by having Chuck be a spy doesn't mess up the formula.  So far they've been doing an excellent job of successfully combining action, comedy and drama.

8.  The Office
The brief addition of Idris Elba caused everyone in the cast to step their game up.  Including the writers.  It created one of their better seasons they've had in a while.  I was a little leery of how they would handle Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) finally hooking up as well as their marriage.  Oh ye of little faith.  Their wedding episode was "The Office" at its best. 

7.  Better Off Ted
There was some buzz there for a minute that they were going to cancel this quirky little comedy.  Somewhere along the line someone wisely decided that was a bad idea.  So the networks do actually have some common sense.  This show was among a batch of rookie shows that had an impressive outing.  Offbeat comedies like "Better Off Ted" are a nice change of pace from the endless parade of hospital and crime shows that the networks want to keep forcing down our throats.

6.  King of Queens
Yes, I cheated BIG time to include this show here.  It hasn't been on the air in two years so it's here based solely off its syndication.  However, I figured I would apply the same rule to tv shows that I apply to movies.  This year was the first time I started watching "King of Queens" and I was LOVIN' it.  It's gotten to the point now where I'll even watch repeats of the repeats I've already seen.  Kevin James continues to crack me up that much.

5.  Hoarders
The last of the reality shows to grace this list makes it with good reason.  This joint is almost like a gross-out horror movie come to life.  You know there are people that seriously do live like some of these people do but if you were like me, you probably never saw real footage of just how disgusting some people can be.  Not until "Hoarders" came along.  I dare you to watch this while eating.  If anything else, it provides inspiration to keep your place spotless.

4.  Modern Family
I always wondered whatever happened to Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill).  Apparently he was just waiting for the right material.  He certainly found it with this show.  Fortunately, he doesn't have to exert much effort because of the format of the show.  There are three different families, all related to one another in some way and all with issues.  O'Neill's family is actually the least funniest of the three, but he is able to reap the benefits of excellent writing for the rest of the cast.

3.  Reaper
It makes absolutely NO sense that the CW canceled this show and decided to put on crap like "The Vampire Diaries" instead.  See what type of jacked up rippling effect that whole "New Moon" junk is having in entertainment?  Now a great show with an original premise is gone from the air while more moody teenage vampires with bad acting get a shot.  Hopefully, someone will realize what they missed and bring "Reaper" back.  They can even add a vampire into the mix if that's what it takes for them to think they're being relevant.

2.  Eastbound and Down
When I did a preliminary countdown in the Spring, this HBO series was at #3.  I haven't seen it since then.  Partially because they didn't bring the series back (yet) and partially because I don't have HBO anymore.  Absence certainly made the heart grow fonder.  I started reflecting on how hilarious Danny McBride was in that starring role and realized he had no other competition out there.  If they do decide to bring the series back, that alone would be a good enough reason for me to get HBO again.

1.  Glee
This was the "Friday Night Lights" of this season.  Meaning that this show focused on a high school was so far ahead of the competition that they couldn't even see them in their rearview mirror.  I'm not even gonna lie...it does help tremendously that I was big into Choir in high school so I can see some of myself in this show.  But what helps even more is they have some incredible vocal arrangements.  I was even able to look past the fact that they borrowed a "Fresh Prince" storyline.  When "FNL" does return next season, it's going to have some serious contention to regain it's top spot.

A Year in Passing Thoughts

I was looking over this same category from last year and forgot how many heavyweights there were that passed away.  They all paled in comparison to this year though.  Not in quantity but sheer quality.  2009 will always be remembered as the year that an icon died.  Fortunately, Mike left behind enough memories for all of us to last a few lifetimes.

You can click on each name and be magically transported to the original person obit that I gave each individual.  May they all rest in peace...

Jett Travolta, 16 (son of John Travolta)
Pat Hingle, 84 (character actor)
Ricardo Montalban, 88 (actor)
Patrick McGoohan ,80 (actor)
Paul Harvey, 90 (radio broadcaster)
Ron Silver, 62 (actor)  
Natasha Richardson, 45 (actress)
John Hope Franklin, 90 (author/historian)
Marilyn Chambers, 56 (adult film star)
Bea Arthur, 86 (actress)
Danny Gans, 52 (Vegas magician)
Jack Kemp, 73 (politician)
Dom Deluise, 75 (actor)
Chuck Daly, 78 (former NBA coach)
Wayman Tisdale, 44 (former NBA player)
David Carradine, 72 (actor)
Ed McMahon, 86 (renoun pitchman, sidekick)
Farrah Fawcett, 62 (actress)
Michael Jackson, 50 (the King of Pop)
Billy Mays, 50 (infomercial pitchman)
Gale Storm, 87 (actress)
Karl Malden, 97 (actor)
Steve McNair, 36 (NFL quarterback)
Arturo Gatti, 37 (professional boxer)
Walter Conkrite, 92 (former CBS anchorman)
Gidget, 15 (Taco Bell dog)
Vernon Forrest, 38 (professional boxer)
E. Lynn Harris, 54 (author)
Les Lye, 84 (actor)
John Hughes, 59 (director/writer)
Les Paul, 94 (guitar innovator)
Ted Kennedy, 77 (politician)
DJ AM, 36 (deejay)
Patrick Swayze, 57 (actor)
Henry Gibson, 73 (act0r)
Captain Lou Albano, 76(former professional wrestler)
Vic Mizzy, 93 (television theme song composer)
Soupy Sales, 73 (actor/comedian)
Ken Ober, 52 (former game show host)
Umaga, 36 (professional wrestler)
Luther Smith, 89 (former Tuskegee Airman)
Chris Henry, 26 (NFL wide receiver)
Alaina Reed Hall, 63 (actress)
Brittany Murphy, 32 (actress)
George Michael, 70 (sportscaster)
Percy Sutton, 89 (civil rights lawyer)

 

The Year in Music

As I listen to my Zune playist labeled "The Hotness", I realize there was much more good music that came out this year than I originally thought.  I was thinking that I would have to scramble to find a top 15.  Instead, I was having difficulty trimming a list of 30+ cuts in half.  There were some outstanding songs that had to get cut that are still in steady rotation on the Zune.  That's just how it is sometimes though.  So without further adieu...

15.  Yesterday - Toni Braxton featuring Trey Songz
The original version did nothing for me when it was just her.  Then she added Trey Songz and it became more interesting.  Probably helped by a Soul Train Awards performance with a kiss that was blown all out of proportion.

14.  Second Chance - Shinedown
Every year there is some alternative type band that makes my countdown.  It was consistently Nickelback for the longest, but I'm not feeling their new stuff as much.  Shinedown gets the privilege of squeaking onto the list with a song that sounds like it could have been a Nickelback joint.

13.  Sweet Dreams - Beyonce
I never got her "I Am Sasha Fierce" cd.  Not even with Zune Pass even though it wouldn't have cost anything extra.  I just kept hearing nothing but bad things about it so I stayed away.  Also because the first single just sounded horrible.  But it turns out she did have a couple of winners with this one and "Ego" (remix) featuring Kanye..

12.  I Invented Sex - Trey Songz featuring Drake
I originally clowned this song because of the mere subject matter.  Dude looked 13 talking about he invented sex??  But it started growing on me.  Found myself singing along to it.  Then the remix featuring R. Kelly came out and I was diggin' it even more.  Maybe Trey Songz isn't so bad afterall.

11.  Numb Encore - Dr. Dre featuring Eminem
The site I found this on included "Detox" in the subject line as if this was a song off Dre's yet-to-be released follow-up to "2001".  Don't know how true that is.  If it was somebody that just lifted some unreleased Dre and Em vocals and put them over Jay-Z's "Numb/Encore" mix, they sure did a heck of a job.

10.  There's Something Religious - R. Kelly
It's a constant struggle trying to separate the man from his past.  But dude keeps churning out hits to make that a little easier to do.  There's no denying that he know how to make some GOOD music.  His latest cd "Untitled" was probably the best he's had out in a LONG time.

9.  Love Him Like I Do - Detrick Haddon featuring Ruben Studdard & Mary Mary
Yes, I know I have some nerve putting gospel and secular on the same countdown.  That's just how I roll.  Anyway, I don't know why Ruben doesn't do more gospel after hearing this cut.  Maybe because it's not very lucrative unless your Kirk Franklin.  Of course Ruben's secular joints aren't selling all that well anyway so he may want to at least consider it.

8.  Give It to Me Right - Melonie Fiona
Sistas really stepped up their R&B game this year. Melanie is another newcomer who sounds as though she's been doing this for years.  In fact, this cut has a very old school feel to it.  You can almost envision go-go dancers with white patent leather knee-high boots and bouffant hairdos doing the jerk as this cut plays in the background.

7.  This is It - Michael Jackson
I don't even care that this turned out to be a song from the late 80s that is just now getting released as if it's brand new.  That's probably what made the song better.  Mike's recent music didn't have the punch that his older stuff did; therefore, it was a wise move to put out one with an older style to it.  STILL can't believe him gone....

6.  Knocks You Down - Keri Hilson featuring Ne-Yo & Kanye West
The best thing about this song is Ne-Yo's part.  I'm diggin' that kid's style.  He's one of the few cats out there today that has some class about himself without resorting to all the sexual lyrics that his peers do.  Plus, he gives me hope that they really do still make hats for folks like us with big heads. Oh yeah...and Keri Hilson's on the cut too. 

5.  Best I Ever Had - Drake
His cd FINALLY dropped in September.  All whopping seven songs of it.  I still haven't listened to the whole thing, but this cut (the clean version) reminds me of the hip-hop in the early 90s that was the alternative to the gangsta rap that was coming on the scene.  Then I heard the "parental advisory" version and that theory was shot.   

4.  Don't Stop Believin' - Cast of "Glee"
With each passing episode, their adaptations of popular songs got better and better.  It just so happened that this one was featured in the pilot episode.  Excellent decision to get us hooked.  I would normally question anyone trying to take on Steve Perry, but this version with the accapella percussion gives the original a run for the money.

3.  Empire State of Mind, pt. 2 - Alicia Keys
Sorry Jigga, but Alicia Keys was always the best part of "Empire State of Mind".  She caught some flack over rumors that her cd "The Element of Freedom" was whack (not to mention her issues with stealing another woman's man).  However, the only thing wrong with her cd was she had too much filler on it.  This song was part of the solution, not the problem.

2.  Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
These cats could come to my front door today and I would have no idea who they are.  They could sing every song they've ever released and I still wouldn't know them until they got to this joint.  But I'll be doggone if this cut doesn't go hard.  If this was a record, the grooves would be worn flat from me playing it over and over.

1.  Bad Habit - Maxwell
No clue where he disappeared to for the last 30 years, but he made an amazing come back with his "BLACKsummer's Night" cd.  Nope, I still haven't listened to the entire thing.  It's been a little hard for me to get around to it when I've been so busy playing this groove to death.  Thanks for coming back on the scene to show these young bucks how real grown folks' music is done, Max.

The Year in Movies

167.  That is the total number of flicks I saw during the year.  That's only counting new films though.  I'm not even taking into consideration the ones that I watched as repeat viewings ("The Temptations" a few other times comes to mind).  Having seen that many, it only stands to reason that there were going to be some winners.  There actually turned out to be quite a few.

2009 was a VERY good year for cinema.  I could already tell it was heading that way when I happened on contenders very early in the year.  I was even able to factor in some honorable mentions again this year.  You can click on each one to go to the original review then commence to the rest of the list to see the top 15 that 2009 had to offer.

Honorable Mentions:
Not Easily Broken
Year One
Away We Go
Funny People
(500) Days of Summer

15.  World's Greatest Dad
Robin William's latest masterpiece made it in just under the wire.  Is it one of those cases where a movie benefits from being fresher on the mind because it was the most recently seen?  Maybe.  That doesn't change the fact that this one of the better dark comedies I've seen.  I was trying to think of what movie it reminded me of and it finally came to me.  It's a little like "Election".  Only more vulgar and twisted.

14.  Black Dynamite
I blame "Black Dynamite" for faking me out ino thinking Josh would be a good source for movie referrals.  However, this was about the only flick he and I agreed on this year.  Although I will give him props for hippin' me to it.  We all knew there was NO way this was coming to Des Moines.  It's blaxpoitation at its best with Michael Jai White in top form.

13.  Taken
This film is proof that a good film holds up no matter how long it's been since you've seen it.  I watched "Taken" clear back in January and it stayed on my mind since then.  The concept was something we have seen before with a hero going on a one-man mission to rescue someone close to him.  But Liam Neeson doesn't fit the prototype action hero mode.  Anyone with a daughter will easily have this on their "must-see" list.

12.  The Wrestler
This one made quite a few lists in 2008 for one of the year's best movie.  I didn't get around to it until this year in early January.  My rule is a film is eligible for my list the year I see it "The Wrestler".  Not to mention that I saw Marisa Tomei in a...um..different light.  But seriously, I wasn't the only one who recognized Rourke's renewed skills.  Now he's starring as the lead villain in the upcoming "Iron Man" sequel due in large part to his performance in this joint.

11.  Zombieland
It doesn't get much more fun than this.  Zombie films have enjoyed a revival of sorts ever since the 90s and all types of variations on them have been tried.  "Zombieland" is almost like a "Shaun of the Dead" on crack.  Or perhaps even on crank.  And released just in time to coincide with the mysterious H1N1 outbreak.  Of course I'm not saying that this movie is a preview of what's to come...but I'm just sayin'...

10.  Man on Wire
A good documentary can captivate you just as much as the latest big budget major studio release.  A great documentary makes this list.  This was one of those documentaries that HAD to be made because there was no way you would have believed it if you they didn't have documented proof.  There's no way this Phillipe Petit cat tight-roped walked between the Twin Towers, did he?  Yep.  Eight times to be exact.  And you really have to watch this to believe it.

9.  American Violet
The entire time I'm watching this 'based on a true story' film, I was getting irritated on a couple of different fronts: first and foremost at the unfair treatment the protagonist, Dee (Nicole Beharie) had to endure.  The second, and equally as important, was the fact that Des Moines didn't bother to get this amazing movie.  Instead, we get crap like the Jonas Brothers in 3-D.  Do yourself a favor and don't sleep on this one like Hollywood did.  It's a shining example of the type of product studios should be producing on the regular.  And talents like Beharie deserve broader exposure.

8.  Precious : Based on the Novel PUSH by Sapphire
Speaking of movies that never see the light of the day in the Capitol City.  I heard that it did eventually make an appearance but if that is the case, I must have blinked and missed it.  After seeing newcomer Gabourey Sidibe in a couple of different interviews, I had an even greater appreciation for her role as Precious.  Although I'm still mad that the commercials they show for this film depict it as a carefree feel-good movie when it is the total opposite.

7.  District 9
E definitely won't agree with this placement since he didn't care for this film too much.  However, as I pointed to him, his ringing endorsement of "Couple's Retreat" has officially made his current critiquing skills VERY suspect.  "District 9" makes it up this high because they took a sci-fi format and seamlessly made it a very credible mockumentary.  All while not so slyly integrating a little social commentary.  Once again, a newcomer, Sharlto Copley as Wikus, provides an extremely memorable performance.

6.  Avatar (3-D)
I would assume that the regular version of this one would hold up very well too.  However, it would pale tremendously in comparison to the vivid detail and imagery that the 3-D provides.  For this film to take 10 years and $300 million to make, they certainly made sure to get it right.  I like a conspiracy theory as much as the next guy, but I don't buy into the racist overtone that I've heard some people express.  And even if James Cameron is an ass in real life, he knows how to make a great flick.

5.  Michael Jackson's This Is It
I can't even lie...the primary reason this is even on the list is because it's a posthumous acknowledgment to Mike's greatness.  If he were still alive, this would just be a standard documentary that gives a behind the scenes look at how an MJ concert comes together.  Since he's no longer with us, it becomes a painful reminder of how a once-in-a-generation talent is no longer with us.  RIP, MIke.

4.  Paranormal Activity
There can be such a thing as a one hit wonder as it relates to a movie and that's where this movie would fall.  Much like "The Blair Witch Project" only more intense.  To experience the what "Paranormal Activity" truly had to offer, it had to be seen in a theater full of people who are all seeing it for the first time.  The atmosphere that creates as you are all shocked simultaneously is unparalleled.  Even though this flick can really only be fully enjoyed one time, that one time produced a phenomenon that rarely comes around.  Kudos to the director Oren Peli for fostering the perfect storm on a budget of less than $15,000

3.  Fanboys
You have to be a "Star Wars" fan to truly grasp the awesomeness of this film.  And I'm not talking about the last three "Star Wars" movies that came out.  I'm talking about the one and only Holy Trilogy.  "Fanboys" was tapping into that inner geek in all of us that hold near and dear Episodes 4 - 6.  I'm not surprised that I haven't seen this one on any other top 10 list for best films of the 2009.  It was a very niche film that had a very finite audience.  I happened to be a part of that group and it struck a chord with me.

2.  The Hangover
I just finished watching this again the other day when I received my dvd copy in the mail.  I was extremely surprised with how well it held up on a second viewing.  In fact, I think I even laughed harder the second time around.  Okay..so maybe you could go to Vegas 100 times and NEVER have that type of experience.  So what?  It doesn't change the fact that  the series of events they fabricated for this flick were HILARIOUS!

1.  Star Trek
This wasn't on a single list even in the top 10 for best movie of the year.  I just don't get it.  We have gone thru a dozen different "Star Trek" films in the franchise and this is the ONLY one to get it right.  That's hard for me to say because "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"  always holds a place near and dear in my heart.  However, J.J. Abrams updated a franchise with a reboot that blew away all of the competition.  I would like to say you don't have to be a "Star Trek" fan to enjoy the brilliance, but that probably isn't true.  The average laymen would look at this flick as pretty good sci-fi film.  The "Star Trek" aficionado sees that THIS "Star Trek" was by far and away the highlight of the 2009 box office.

Virally Yours...The Year-End Trilogy, Episode III

We finally come to the top 5 viral videos of the year.  Each of these five I have watched countless times over the course of 2009.  You may have seen them once or twice yourself by now.  Trust me...they only get better the more you see them...

5.  AT&T rollover minutes commercial
It's funny how when I was with T-Mobile, they had the funny commercals.  Now that I'm with AT&T theirs are the ones that seem to be on point.  At least this one is.  That look the mother gives the son is priceless...

4.  Star Wars "Dallas" intro
Remember my dude Andyboy who made the Top 10 Websites of the year?  Well this is a prime example of two of the best qualities about his site:  the sheer randomness and his affinity for vintage material.  Love it...

3.  Jack and the auto-tune
E originally sent this to me with the caveat that you had to be in IT to get it.  Um...no.  It's funny no matter what field you're in.  We all have that one person in the office who is irritating for one reason or another.  Now give that person an auto-tuner and imagine how bad it would be...

2.  Rihanna & Shy Ronnie
"Saturday Night Live" as a whole this hasn't had too shabby of a season this year.  There were some really wack skits, but these Digital Shorts quickly turned into the best things about the show.  I still don't get how Adam Samberg hasn't taken off in movies yet.  That's okay though...that just means more Digital Short greatness still to come...

1.  Two Worlds Collide
If I ranked the best SNL Digital Shorts ever, this would be number one on that list too.  Hands down.  And that's saying a lot considering the Digital Shorts themselves are what makes SNL worth watching...

The Year in Photos

Virally Yours...the Year-End Trilogy, Episode 2

You can check out Episode 1 here in all of its glory.  As for Episode 2...

10.  Jigga Rhapsody commercial
You don't necessarily have to be a Jay-Z fan to really appreciate the genius of this commercial, but it does help.  For those that aren't h'e s basically recreating the cover of all of his cds in what appears to one seamless sequence.  Classic...

9.  E*Trade Broken Wings
There was once a time when Super Bowl commercials were the best spots on tv ever.  Not so much anymore.  This ad from this year's Super Bowl is the only one that still holds up...

8.  Brian's novel
I may have been a bit liberal with this pick.  It was actually a splice from an episode of "The Family Guy".  But as I mentioned, I found it on the internet so it counts...

7.  Miller Lite dating commercial
It took me a minute to find a good version of this.  For the longest time, I could only find the ones where folks had recorded it from their tv with a camcorder.  I finally found a good version just in time for this list...

6. Henneken secret room commercial
You'll have to excuse the fact it's not in English.  It's only a few words though.  You really don't need to understand what they're saying to get the gist of how great this joint is.  As I've previously mentioned, the hilarious commercials are the ONLY good things about beer...

The Year in Websites

A couple of sites dropped off the radar altogether this year.  For good reason too.  MySpace for one was just getting TOO hood for me.  Not to mention that it wasn't very practical.  Then there are a couple of blogs that I don't follow anymore for various reason.  Of course, there are a few more that I do.  Maybe they will make the cut next year.  We'll just have to see.  As with last year, each entrant here is clickable so you can be directed right to the website to which the link pertains. 

Honorable mention:  AICN
The list was so tight this year that this one barely got squeezed out.  Don't get it twisted though, I still frequent this one on pretty much a regular basis.  I rely on them to give me the 411 on much of the latest movie news, trailers and whatnot.  Plus, their weekly dvd column gives me a heads up on flicks I can add to the Netflix queue.

10.  IMDB (Internet Movie Database)
I probably don't utilize as much of their features as I could.  One of these days, I may even submit my own reviews in their review section for everyone else to see.  For now though, this site comes in extremely useful when I'm doing reviews on my own website.  Rather than pulling the dvd out and having to go to the credits section again to get an actors name, I can just get it directly from this site.  They also tend to have some interesting trivia on films that gives you more insight into the movie.

9.  Rotten Tomatoes
It's almost like IMDB but with a little more flare.  The best thing about it is their Tomatoemeter.  It gives a percentage score on a movie based on all the visitors to the site that have weighed in on it.  I don't always agree with it, but it has been pretty close to being on point.  When a popular site like that shows that "New Moon" scored a 28% it is further proof that I'm not the only one who doesn't always buy into a movie's hype.

8.  Rantings of a Creole Princess|
There have been more than a few instances this year where I've gotten news from her website rather than the mainstream media.  Or at least I saw it there first.  Mostly because she taps into more news outlets than I do.  Her site is where I'm also getting the gumbo recipe that I will be trying out.  You know...the jumbo recipe that I forgot to get the ingredients for and now it's too late because the weather is terrible and everything's closed anyway.

7.  The Prodiginous Blog
The site formerly known as Andyboy.  Earlier this month, he posted that he was giving his blog a break to focus more on charitable activities and because he generally wasn't feeling it overall.  I'm glad he changed his mind.  He doesn't post as frequently now, but even his occasional entry is better than most.  They are always brief in length and they are about the most random things you would ever expect.  Plus, he tends to have a penchant for old stuff like me so he'll always be okay in my book.

6.  CNN
They revamped their site a few months ago and I'm really not feeling the new layout.  Mainly because they no longer reference blogs in their comments section so I get no benefits from linking to their stories now.  I've also noticed they are losing a step with their ability to be timely with their reporting.  Not by much, but just enough to be noticeable.  There is still no denying that they are one of the most reliable news sources out there though.

5.  TMZ
It is pretty sad that this site renown for Hollywood gossip and even sometimes sleaze is above a more reputable news source like CNN.  It is what it is.  They may come across as dirtbags sometimes, but they are effective.  When we were all wondering about the Tiger Woods accident, they were the first to have the pics of the scene.  They're everywhere.  I've said it before and I'll say it again...when World War III is over, the only thing left will be cockroaches, the Wayans family and TMZ.

4.  Netflix
The service itself is already a godsend.  You can order any dvd that has been released and keep it for as long as you want.  Although it makes more sense to have a quick turnaround to make sure you get your money's worth for your monthly membership.  I am constantly visiting the website to manipulate my queue.  I'm always trying to get the movies situated just right so that when they receive my latest returns, I've got two winners on deck.  If I time it just right, I can get the new releases on the date they are released.  I especially like how I can rate movies which allows them to recommend movies based on my previous ratings of similar flicks. 

3.  Twitter
You may remember me mentioning in the Year in iPhone Apps that I prefer the website version of this app.  The reason being is sometimes I may be sitting watching tv and I can pound a Twitter entry quicker than I can text it out.  The actual website is just much more user-friendly anyway.  I just wish they would work on refining that Retweet button a little more.  And they also need to get a better spambot filter

2.  Facebook
As much as I am on this website, I would probably be on more if it wasn't blocked at work.  Not necessarily active but at least have it pulled up.  All of the different status updates from my FB friends around the country never get old.  I know more about folks now than I did when we went to school together.  I'm able to stay up to speed with family as well as get re-acclimated with those cousins that I forgot I'm even related to.  But most of all, it's another outlet for me to share postings like this one.  Which leads me to the anti-climatic top spot...

1. Life in the Mind of a Modest Genius
Earlier this year, I finally broke down and signed up with GoDaddy.com to get my own domain.  It took me a minute to figure out the mapping which should have been so simple.  However, after it was all said and done, I got an actual domain name which is easier to relay to people:  www.ModestGeniusXL.com.  I even had someone approach me with an advertising opportunity that ended up paying for nearly an entire year of this subscription and I only had to mention a little blurb about their product.  Here's to bigger and better things for this site in 2010!

Virally Yours...the Year-End Trilogy

As promised, I have put together a list of the best viral clips on the internet.  However, mine is a very loose interpretations of "viral".  Most of these weren't videos that were intended solely for the web.  My theory is if they are on the net now, they qualify.  It doesn't matter if I originally saw them on television or elsewhere.

I had initially intended to knock out all of the top 15 in one post.  Then I realized that it would be one very long entry if I did that.  I know folks' attention spans can get around this time of year so I broke it up into three separate entries instead.  Thus, the trilogy.  Have fun with numbers 15 thru 11...

15.  PS3
There are a few PS3 spots featuring this guy Kevin Butler, VP of Enough is Enough.  They're all pretty good, but this one really cracks me up with the overall theme.  Not mention Kevin taking it home with his last line...

14.  Geico
The exaggerated accent is what really makes this one classic.  Oh..and the fact that it's a talking pothole...

13.  The Muppets
No clue how old this is, but it has to be relatively recent because there's a reference to video conferencing and the Kermit's voice doesn't sound like the Frank Oz original.  Nevertheless, it reminds you that the Muppets are timeless.  And that Animal is the TRUTH...

12.  Happy Cows
I had to double check to see what product they were trying to sell.  It's been a minute since I've seen this commercial on television.  I don't know why though because it was brilliant.  Not brilliant enough to make me want to go the stores looking for Real California Milk, but a great commercial nonetheless...

11.  LeBron & Kobe puppets
Nike did has done nearly a dozen spots with these Kobe and LeBron puppets.  There is even a video out there that is a non-stop 9-minute compilation of all of them put together.  That was a bit lengthy for my tastes.  Plus, when I looked thru it, this was the one that stood out the most. 

The 10 Most Mesmerizing People of 2009

All the media news outlets have been doing their run down of the 1o most fascinating/amazing/intriguing/[insert your own adjective here] people of the year as is always done around this time.  It made me realize I need to do my own.  These are the top 10 folks who caught my attention in 2009 whether for better or worse...

10.  Taylor Swift
Let's just get the negative entrants out of the way early.  Yes, she falls into that category.  I had NO clue who this gal was until the whole episode with her and Kanye.  I knew the name, but couldn't pick her out of a line-up if you paid me.  Now, unfortunately, I can.  And her music STILL sucks.  The ONLY reason she blew up this year was because of folks feeling sorry for her for that incident.  At a Video Music Awards Show of all places.  Please go somewhere and sit down in 201o, Taylor.

9.  Tiger Woods
He's on this list for all the wrong reasons.  You already know all of them.  Before the year is over, hopefully the list of mistresses/girlfriends/jumpoffs/affairs will have tapered off before it hits 20.  It's really too bad because he had accomplished so much on the golf course that now it will all be forever overshadowed.  Nike said this will be a blip on the radar when we look back on his career years later.  I'm kinda' thinking not.

8.  Ricky Gervais
There are probably several folks who are fans of Steve Carell's show "The Office" that don't even realize the show owes its beginning to the BBC version starring this cat.  Honestly, I haven't seen a single episode of the original.  However, everything I have seen Gervais in has been on point.  I don't know how he'll do with hosting an awards show (The Golden Globes) but in just two movies this year, he's secured a spot on my "must-see" talent list.

7.  Kevin Hart
Easily one of the most underrated comedians out there.  I blame his management.  Ever since his one starring role in a TERRIBLE movie ("Soul Plane"), he hasn't been allowed to take off like he should.  That was 5 years ago.  Since then, he's been blowing up and stealing scenes in bit parts such as his role in "Not Easily Broken".  The real reason he's on here though is his stand-up concert "I'm a Grown Little Man" is on constant rotation on the Zune.  One of the best stand-ups I've seen in a LONG time.

6.  Harrison Barnes
This will be the only regional entrant on the list but it's well-deserved.  I went at this youngster rather hard earlier about his decision to go to UNC over Iowa State.  That was well-deserved as well.  It doesn't change the fact that the kid is a pretty great talent.  He went up against an Illinois high school team with their own national superstar and more than held his own.  It was a nice change of pace to see Iowa have the top rated high school baller in the nation.  We have Barnes to thank for that.

5.  Kaleb Eulls
Name doesn't ring a bell, does it?  Don't feel bad because I had to go back and check the archives myself to jog my memory.  I could remember his phenomenal feat of heroism of saving his fellow classmates; I just couldn't remember his name.  Kaleb set himself apart from any and all of his peer group on that date.  The story stuck with me all year long even though the media didn't play it out that much.  I thought I would continue his pub by giving him even more due credit here.

4.  Captain Chelsey Sullenberger ("Sully")
When we first heard the story of a huge Airbus crash landing in the Hudson, who would have ever thought any one would survive?  The photos of that thing just sitting there on top of the water still baffles me.  Captain Sully deserves all the credit he received for landing that jet in such a manner that all 155 souls walked away without so much as a scratch.  His calm demeanor throughout the ordeal as well as his humility in the aftermath earned him big points with me.

3.  Michelle Obama
You have to go clear back to the JFK presidency to recollect a time that anyone ever gave a hoot about the First Lady.  I honestly don't think it was solely because she was the first Black woman in that position (although it was a contributing factor).  It was mainly because it has been a LONG time since there's been an attractive First Lady in the White House.  As if that wasn't enough, she has a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law to boot.  I'm just going to need you to back off the Vaseline on the legs a bit when you're on television, Madame First Lady.

2.  Michael Jackson
Barbara Walters has a rule when she does her similar list that the people must be alive in order to be recognized.  I don't subscribe to that theory.  It's probably not right to rank one person's death as being more significant that another's, but there's no denying that Mike's death left a huge void in the entertainment world.  A talent like him only come along once in a generation.  His "This Is It" movie reminded us of that.  There's not much more I can say that I didn't already touch on in my original tribute to him.  Except that we are all blessed to have experienced his gift during our lifetime.

1.  President Barack Obama
Now you HAD to know he was going to be number one.  Contrary to how long it may seem, he hasn't even been President for a year yet.  His historical inauguration just took place in January of 2009 and people keep acting as though everything he's promised should be accomplished by now.  He inherited a HUGE mess that was accumulated over 8 years.  It will take more than a year to clean it up.  I'm glad that he's taking the time to make sure it's done right.  Most of all, I'm glad that the President we have in office to help us recover from the Rethuglicans' reign is a brutha.