Eggshells

I found an interesting article in the Boston Globe comparing ABC Family's Secret Life to MTV's 16 and Pregnant. They debate which one makes the best argument for absitnence. (Cause, you know, if you have teen pregnancy on TV and don't tell kids to not have sex, they'll do it like there's no tomorrow and the world will explode.)

Music from the Best Years Season 1

This show is lacking in a list of music featured in all the episodes, So I made one! Enjoy!
Note: iTunes refers to the U.S. iTunes Store, for episodes 1-7 songs should be in iTunes unless otherwise noted, I'll update the list when I get a chance for the other episodes. If a song isn't in iTunes you can usually find it elsewhere. I tried to provide links to artist pages where you can either hear the song or be directed to where you can, however, some of the artists used on the show have been a little hard to track down (they're in a different band now, just did production music etc.) so I can't assure that all the links provided will turn up the song used or will still be working/useful after some time. But if you'd like to inform me that one is wrong/not working/whatever feel free to do so in the comments and I'll try to fix the problem.

Season 1- Episode 1 - Vertigo
“Rip the Universe” – Reverie Sound Revue (Sam gets on the bus to go to CU) [Not in iTunes]
“Picture my Face” – Teenage Head (Sam comes out to the floor meeting)
“No Thief” – The Guest Bedroom (Sam & Kat talk to Cynthia in the hall and make plans)
“Sexy Results” – Death from Above 1979 (Dawn shows up at Colony meets Trent & Lee)
“Nightstick” – Jake Fairley (Shannon arrives at the dorm)
“Be My Woman, Be My Man (Instrumental)” – Shinjuku Zulu (The girls leave for Colony)
“Sometimes (She’s So Far In)” - Howie Beck (Devan & Sam Dance)
“Batta Swing” – Cecy B (Trent kicks out the guy taking pics of Dawn while she’s drunk)
“Just Another Ordinary Day” – Patrick Watson [not in iTunes] (Sam watches John’s parents set up a memorial)
“The One Thing” – Candence Grace [not in iTunes] (Sam apologizes to Cynthia)
“I See You (Porter Remix)” – Sissy [Steve Porter Remix in U.S. iTunes] (Sam goes to Colony with Cynthia and Dawn)
“Love Somebody” – The Reflex (Girls Dancing at the end) [not been able to find this song released anywhere]

Season 1 Episode 2 - Notorious
“Donut Kill Self” – Die Mannequin (Song Katherine blasts to annoy Sam while she’s sleeping.)
“Waking Around Waiting Downtown” – Reverie Sound Revue (Sam goes to Colony to get a job.) [Not in iTunes]
“Stop Wasting My Time” - Taras
“Sweet Confusion” –Divine Right [artist listed as “By Divine Right” in iTunes, and possibly everywhere else]
“Are You Feeling Me” – Taras
“Today Is Your Lucky Day” – The Salads [Not in iTunes]
“If I Had That” – Ro [Not in iTunes]
“Throw Ya Belly” –Evren
“Go” – Plumtree (End song)

Season 1 Episode 3 - It Should Happen to You
“On the Line” – The Golden Dogs [Not in iTunes]
“So Good (Blue Mix)” – The Love House Project & DJ Oliver [Blue mix not in itunes, other mixes are]
“Valley Road” – Steve Koven [Not in iTunes]
“Someone To Love Me” – DK Ibomeka
“Safe Haven” – Royal Wood
“Lily” – Steve Koven [Not in iTunes]
“You Turn Me On And On” – Ziem [Not in iTunes]
“Kiss The World (Candence Weapon Good Looks Remix)” – Catlow [Remix not in iTunes]
“The Ride” – Dearly Beloved [Not in iTunes]
“Feels So Good (Junior Jack and Kid Crème Vocal Mix)” – Paradox
“Bitter Beauty” - Jason Collett

Season 1 Episode 4 – From Here to Eternity
“Nice to Meet You” – Yoko Casionos
“I Will Love Again (Original Extended)” – Taras
“Go Go Girl” – Down With Webster
“Beautiful” - Cities In Dust
“Thursday” – Asobi Seksu
“Split Second Time” – Masia One
“Kumming” - DJ Spot
“Romantic Rights (Marczech Makuziak Remix)” – Death From Above 1979
“Lost Without You” – Wayne Petti
“Sportsmanship” – Thrust/Ro [not in itunes]

Season 1 Episode 5 - Secrets & Lies
“This Time (Funky Way Mix)” - Deko-ze ‘n Gavo
“Cup Of Life” – Starry Day [not in iTunes]
“Before We Arrive” – The Meligrove Band
“Keep It Coming” – Swayzak
“Busy Bee” – King Cobb Steelie
“City of Daggers” - Controller.Controller
“Run Danger Boy Run” – The Vampire Beach Babes
“Attn: All Units” - L.A. Williams featuring Paige Ilise as “Louise” [not in iTunes]
“Bang” - Shinjuku Zulu [not in iTunes]
“Push (Extreme Mix)” – Le Peep Show
“Eyeah” – K.I.A.
“A Good Enough Day” - Royal Wood

Season 1 Episode 6 - Girl, Interrupted
“Mutiny Disease” - Sailboats Are White
“Life Is Unbelievable” - John Southworth
“The Slap” – Divine Right
“Just Like That (Original)” – Carl Henry [I think the artist is actually listed as "Nick Fiorucci ft. Carl Henry" in most places, In iTunes as just "Nick Fiorucci"]
“Blue Bobby” – Robert Bartolucci [not in iTunes, I think this might be production music]
“Donkey Punch” – Emjae & Jerome Robins
“Emergency Performance Art Piece” – The Most Serene Republic

Season 1 Episode 7 - Shadow of a Doubt
‘Ain’t No Woman” – DK Ibomeka
“Vallee of Cobras” – The Summerlad
“Jump In The Water” – Uberko [not in iTunes]
“Dance 4” – Kiss Me Deadly
“Skin” – Jiva
“Mi Tierra (Original Mix) – DJ Spot
“Like Lightning” – Matthew Barber [not in iTunes]
“Hustler” – Femme [not in iTunes]
“Lookin’ Out for Number One” – Honeymoon Suite
“Right On” – The Cougars
“Hang the World” – Yoko Casionos
“All My Friends” – Land Of Talk
“Detroit” – The Vagiants
“La Mar” – The Beautiful Girls

Season 1 Episode 8 - All That Heaven Allows
“No Umbrella” – Johanna Stahley
“Blues For You” – Steve Koven [Not in iTunes]
“I Like It A Lot” – Princess Superstar
“Number One” – Catlow
“Superstars (Boris Dlugosh Mix)” – The Loose Cannons [Not in iTunes]
“Lifted” – M1

Season 1 Episode 9 - It Happened One Night
“Citizens Of Tomorrow” – Tokyo Police Club (Devan does sit ups, Noah talks about porn)
“Steep” – Ohbijou (Kat tries to take a show, eveyone’s making fun of her in the hall)
“The Plow” – Champion
“In the Dark” – Sissy [Not in iTunes]
“Full Strings” – Liz Lysinger [Not in iTunes]
“Weigh Me Down” – Royal Wood (Noah & Devan rescue Sam & Trent)
“Time Stands Still” – Holly McNarland (Sam confronts Devan about his voicemail message, she goes to Colony to help clean up) [Not in iTunes]

Season 1 Episode 10 - Cruising
“The Happiest Days of My Life” – My Favorite
“Gotta Make It Hot” – Bre [Song titled “Make It Hot” in iTunes]
“Stop Wasting My Time” – Taras
“Mulato” – Kike Serrano
“Latin Roots” – Jhon Rios
“Girls Are Crazy” –Evren
“You Got That Bomb Thang” - Elika [Not in iTunes]
“Move It” – Trey
“Commerce” – DL Incognito
“Blackwinged Bird” – Emm Gryner
“Get It Right” – Jets Overhead

Season 1 Episode 11 - Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
“Make you Love Me (StoneBridge Remix)” – Fierce & Coppola [Artist listed as Coppola & Fierce in iTunes]
“Emergency Performance Art Piece” – The Most Serene Republic
“Sugar Sugar” – Natalise [Not in iTunes]
“Rashomon” – K.I.A
“Tawoumga” – Champion
“Bo Bo’s Blues” – William Sperandei [Not in iTunes]
“21 Park Rd.” – Bill King [Not in iTunes]
“Muevete (Orginal Mix) – DJ Fadul [Accent mark over the first e in the title]
“Feel the Heat” – The Polarbabies [Listed as “Heated (Feel the Heat)” in iTunes]
“Burning Sunshine (Callea & Rispoli Club)” – Cocobongo
“Mr. DJ (Etienne Ozborne Remix)” – Nick Fiorucci feat. JaQe [Artist just “Nick Fiorucci” in iTunes, Different mix available in iTunes]
“Every Time You Move (Jerome Robins Back 2 Basics)” – Nick Fiorucci feat. Kelly Malbasa [Artist just “Nick Fiorucci” in iTunes]
“What You Want” – Hayley Sales

Season 1 Episode 12 - Five Easy Pieces
“Working Out Words” – Diableros
“Tunnels/Terminals” - Jetplanes of Abraham [Not in iTunes]
“New Love” – Two Hours Traffic
“Back In Me” – Jason Kent [Not in iTunes]
“Breaking Glass” - Uncut
“Valley Road” – Steve Koven [Not in iTunes]
“Lily” – Steve Koven [Not in iTunes]
“Moody On Garnet” – Steve Koven [Not in iTunes]

Season 1 Episode 13 - Mommy Dearest
"Up With The Temp" Stella Pinacci
"So Cool" - Vibrolux
"Don't Hang Your Heart" -Chris and Thomas
"White Lines & Red Lights" - Between the Trees (The shower scene with Trent and Sam)
"Latin Brass (Original Mix)" - Jhon Rios
"Ready to Play (Original Mix)" -Jhon Rios
"El Jarabe Tapatio" - Traditional arrangement performed by Studio musicians, Published by Caravage Music
"New Place (Original Mix)" - DJ Spot
"The Funeral" - Band of Horses (End of the episode Sam and Dawn leave, Noah on plane, Trent in rehab)

The Best Years Season 2 - wtf The-N? WTF Fans!?!

The elusive show has returned! (A few months ago, but still...) The Best Years kicked ass in Season 1 and after 2 years we finally get a Season 2. Chances are if you've seen any of it, you've noticed the differences.

The-N has probably screwed themselves over with this one. They wanted to reach out to younger viewers, They dropped their funding for The Best Years, they gain more younger viewers from airing crappy reruns, now the show is back with a new tone that pisses off old fans and new younger fans has issues with grasping the content. People want the dark drama back, but apparently The-N thought younger viewers might not latch on to another season like that.

I think younger viewers understand the drama perfectly, they just tend to have more immature of what the characters should do (ex. "Sam shoulda stay wit Trent cuz he's SOOO0OO Hawt!!!") Granted, parents might not think of a dark college drama as being a show tweens would watch, but isn't the desire to wach things/wear things/listen to things meant for teenagers considered "cool" when you're that age? (How much money do you think Seventeen, the CW, MTV, Hollister, Hot Topic, and American Idol make off of tweens? How many of them are totally and completely marketed towards tweens?) And since when do tweens share their parents' taste in TV? (Or even follow their rules about TV? Is Nickelodon really trying streach their "Parental Approved-ness" to their teen oriented channel? Isn't that an Oxymoron?)

However, the general fan response has pissed me off a little. From what I've seen, very few people actually followed the renewal process, and everyone is totally clueless as to why actors didn't return etc.

Seriously guys? Is it that hard to google the show, maybe read the wikipedia page? The explanations are out there, and not that hard to find. If you're really still posting stuff on the message boards about 'Where'd Trent go?' 'What's up with this season?' you're just plain lazy. Take 10 minutes to read some other posts where people have explained this repetitively. Is that not something we all learned in grade school? "See if your question has already been answered somewhere else?" You want to complain about the show, fine, just know what they hell you're talking about.

A common complain in the same realm; "They totally changed season 2!!!" "It's not the saaammme shooow!!!"

Duh.

It was canceled for being too dark and dramatic for The-N's new vision. Expecting the second season to be just as dark and dramatic is pretty moronic. Clearly The-N wasn't going to have an Afterschool-special-on-crack season 2. There's no reason to expect it.

So after we've accepted this fact, let's think about alternatives that'd be OK. Our crazy rocker friend didn't get their visa renewed so they were deported, stop complaining that all your other friends just don't measure up to the level of insanity and entertainment of your deported friend. That gets no one anywhere. Unfortunately a pretty good amount of the fan feedback I've seen is along these lines. I don't know if it's a result of lack of research or the influx of younger teens/tweens to The-N (most of who tend to bring pretty good amounts of immaturity with them.) Either way, season 2 is open to question on many levels, but until people are actually knowlegeavble about the basics, a discussion can't truely be started.

Helpful Links:
The Best Years page on The-N
The Official Best Years Site
Dose.ca Article on the 2nd Season (Where Randal Edwards talks about how you can't expect last season's show to thell this season's story, and a producer mentions the cancellation/renewal process of Season 1)

Good Cheese - Beyond The Break

Not super Cheesy, but the return of The-N's Beyond the Break for it's last season will definitely keep me entertained. Pretty people, pretty setting, awesome surfing- I'm game! Watch all the episodes on their site, unless you can manage to catch it on the channel, but that's pretty doubtful.

Warning: May induce desire to move to Hawaii