3D’s Wednesday Video Spotlight: Chapter 17
3D is back once more for your weekly dose of Rooster Teeth madness. This week brings chapter 17 of “Red vs. Blue: Recreation,” which I believe should be wrapping up soon. So enjoy the comedy insanity while you can.
—3D
Jeff Dunham to speak to National Press Club today
Jeff Dunham – hailed by Time magazine as “perhaps the most popular comedian in the U.S.” -meets the press today when he and his comedic sidekicks appear as a prestigious newsmaker speaker at the National Press Club, the world’s largest professional organization for journalists.
According to a news release, the invitation to speak at the dinner is part of a month filled with such high-profile events for Dunham as he nears the premiere of his Comedy Central TV series “The Jeff Dunham Show” on Oct. 22.
The ventriloquist also will make a cameo appearance on the Emmy Award-winning Best Comedy “30 Rock” on NBC on Oct. 29.
The National Press Club invites speakers to address its members on such criteria as their newsworthiness and national or international stature, and generally are high-level decision-makers or extremely influential setters of policy and trends. Dunham joins such recent speakers as Sen. John Kerry, Congressmen Barney Frank and John Conyers, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, and “The Wire” creator and former journalist David Simon. Since 1932, more heads of state and government have appeared at the National Press Club than any other forum in the world outside the Oval Office of the White House, including every sitting U.S. president. Newsmakers luncheons also occasionally feature superstar entertainers like Oklahoman Toby Keith and Billy Joel.
Dunham has certainly become a newsmaker and influential trendsetter in recent years. Recently named to Forbes magazine¹s Celebrity 100 list, he has been rated as “America’s favorite comedian” by Slate and the top-grossing live comedy act in North America by Pollstar. Dunham has sold an astounding 4 million-plus copies of his three DVD titles (as compared with average stand-up comedy DVD sales of 35,000) and racked up 350 million worldwide views of his clips on You Tube and other Internet sites.
He earned the most-watched show ever on Comedy Central with his holiday show “A Very Special Christmas Special,” drawing 6.6 million viewers to its debut, and recently struck a multi-platform deal with Comedy Central and content partnerships with iTunes and Amazon.com. Next year will see the publication by Dutton of his unique autobiography, “All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed, and Me,” in which the comedian and his characters tell his life story.
“The Jeff Dunham Show” is an innovative “comedy reality” series on which Dunham and his suitcase posse of comedic partners interact with real people in actual locations to hilarious results.
His “30 Rock” appearance finds Dunham joining such other notables as former Vice President Al Gore, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Anniston and Calvin Klein who have done cameos on the critically-acclaimed show. Dunham caps 2009 with his first-ever tour of Australia.
-BAM
Weekend Warmup for Oct. 9-11, 2009
Kevin Welch
Here is a list of events happening in Oklahoma this weekend (Oct. 9-11). For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
- Hear singer-songwriter Kevin Welch at 9 tonight at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley. Information: Information: 524-0738 or www.bluedoorokc.com.
- Shop for gourmet foods, clothing, gifts and more at the Junior League of Oklahoma City’s annual Mistletoe Market at the Travel and Transportation Building at State Fair Park. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Information: 843-5668 or www.jloc.org.
- Check out the Student Film CD release show featuring The Pretty Black Chains, Mayola and Cameron Buchholtz at 8 p.m. Saturday at VZD’s, 4200 N Western. Information: 524-4203 or www.vzds.com.
“The Wizard of Oz”
- See a free screening of the classic movie “Wizard of Oz” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the activity plaza at Myriad Botanical Gardens in downtown. The film concludes this season of the Myriad Gardens Foundation’s Screen on the Green film series. Information: 297-3995 or www.myriadgardens.com.
- Watch Ghostlight Theatre Club staging of Neil LaBute’s “Fat Pig” at 8 p.m. today and Saturday at the club’s Paseo theater space, 3110 N Walker Ave., Suite A. Information: 286-9412 or www.ghostlightokc.com.
- View the new special exhibit “The Dutch Italianates: 17th-century Masterpieces from Dulwich Picture Gallery, London” at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive. Information: www.okcmoa.com. (See my feature on the exhibit Friday.)
Joss Stone (Associated Press photo)
- TULSA – Hear Grammy winner Joss Stone at 9 p.m. Saturday at the BOK Center, 200 S Denver. The concert will cap the inaugural River Rush event celebrating Tulsa’s River Parks. Information: www.bokcenter.com.
- See Reduxion Theatre Company’s production of the Greek tragedy “Antigone” at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at City Arts Center, 300 General Pershing Blvd., Oklahoma State Fair Park. Performances continue Thursdays-Saturdays through Oct. 24. Information: www.reduxiontheatre.com.
- Laugh along and take some Oklahoma-Texas rivalry when Oklahoma City’s Red Dirt Improv engages Texas rival ComedySportz Austin in comedic battles at 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday at IAO Gallery, 706 W Sheridan. Information: www.reddirtimprov.com.
Reckless Kelly
- Hear Reckless Kelly at 11 p.m. Saturday at the Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan. Information: www.wormydog.com. The band also will play at 8 p.m. Friday at Buffalo Run Casino in Miami. Information: www.buffalorun.com.
- THACKERVILLE – Listen to country singer Clay Walker at 8 p.m. Saturday at WinStar World Casino. Information: www.winstarworldcasino.com.
- Take in “Radiant Music” when the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and violinist Corey Cerovsek perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Also, the Philharmonic will play a family concert titled “Something Spooky at the Symphony” at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Civic Center. Information: www.okcphilharmonic.com.
Creed
- TULSA – Hear the reunited Creed with Staind at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the BOK Center, 200 S Denver. Information: www.bokcenter.com.
- NORMAN – Catch Johnny Rivers in concert at 8 p.m. Friday at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9. Information: 322-6464 or www.riverwind.com.
- NORMAN – Get in the swing of things when Asleep at the Wheel performs at 8 p.m. Friday at Sooner Theatre, 101 E Main Street. Information: www.soonertheatre.com.
-BAM
3D’s What to Do in Oklahoma: Rifftrax Edition
Hey loyal readers. 3D here with a recommendation for your evening’s entertainment. The “Rifftrax Live!” event that was screened in Oklahoma several weeks ago is being rebroadcast in theaters across the state again tonight at 7:30. For theater and ticket info, please click here.
Here’s the press release:
Who knew that the worst movie ever made would be so popular! The original evening of live riffing captured on August 20th will be rebroadcast to movie theaters nationwide for one night only. Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy (Tom Servo) and Bill Corbett (Crow T. Robot), now of RiffTrax.com, are even better on the big screen!This event is hosted by Veronica Belmont, the Host of Tekzilla on Revision3 and Qore on the PlayStation Network, with Musical Guest Jonathan Coulton—singer-songwriter and internet superstar—and a special segment by Rich “Lowtax” Kyanka of Something Awful. To find out more about RiffTrax, visit www.RiffTrax.com.
This encore event will feature the new short, Flying Stewardess, and non-stop hilarious riffing on a COLOR version of “Plan 9 from Outer Space”- a 1959 science fiction/horror film written, produced and directed by Edward D. Wood Jr. Don’t miss your last chance for an exciting evening of riffing, zombies, aliens, cheesy performances, wisecracks, laughable special effects and more!
Everyone Loves (More) Free Stuff …
All event attendees will receive FREE exclusive digital goodies including the Flying Stewardess downloadable short, an autographed digital photo of the guys, three songs by the RiffTones and an animated short of the failed Plans 1-8! A URL and code will be revealed on-screen at the end of the encore event.
—3D
Robin Williams finally performing tonight at OKC’s Ford Center
Robin Williams (Associated Press photo)
Comedian Robin Williams will make his long-awaited Oklahoma City stop on his “Weapons of Self-Destruction” stand-up tour at 8 tonight at Ford Center, 100 W Reno.
Williams was originally scheduled to appear at the Oklahoma City arena on April, but he was forced to postpone several dates when he underwent heart surgery in March.
“This little break has given me more energy than ever,” said Williams in a news release. “Plus it’s wonderful to have a cow valve… If you don’t mind the grazing, it’s quite invigorating.”
Previously purchased tickets will be honored at tonight’s show.
For more information, go to www.okfordcenter.com.
-BAM
Bonus Video Spotlight: Jimmy Fallon praises OSU after Orange Peel
Comedian and TV personality Jimmy Fallon praised Oklahoma State University Tuesday on his show, “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”
Fallon and country star Jason Aldean rocked Gallagher-Iba Arena over the weekend at OSU’s Orange Peel 2009.
At the top of his Tuesday show, Fallon showed off the OSU sweatshirt and orange (naturally) Eskimo Joe’s cup that the students gave him. He also quipped that if he had attended OSU he would have been known as “Eskimo Jimmy” for his undying devotion to Joe’s endless beer Thursdays promotion.
-BAM
3D’s Wednesday Video Spotlight: Chapter 16
Well, this week in Rooster Teeth videos there’s a new chapter in their ongoing series and a new “RT Short.” Chapter 16 of “Red vs. Blue: Recreation” features a very put upon Tucker, which is a special treat for my brother-in-law, who can’t get enough of the sauve blue team member. Please enjoy.
—3D
What to do in Oklahoma on Oct. 1, 2009
Today’s featured event:
MIDWEST CITY – Hear comedian/singer Margaret Cho at 8 tonight at Rose State College Performing Arts Theater, 6420 SE 15.
Presented by Rose State Live!, Cho’s new show is a mix of stand-up and live music. Cho’s trademark raunchy, socially relevant and politically charged comedy has developed a cult following. The performance is intended for mature audiences only.
For more information, www.rose.edu/rslive.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
3D’s Wednesday Video Spotlight: Chapter 15
3D is back again to provide you with your weekly dose of Rooster Teeth madness. This week there is a new chapter of “Red vs. Blue: Recreation” and a new “RT Short.” Since last week’s episode featured the return of my favorite character, I was very excited to see this chapter. I hope you will be too.
—3D
Jason Aldean talks about his success, OSU Orange Peel
Jason Aldean
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
In the past year, Jason Aldean has embarked on his first headlining tour, watched the size of his concert crowds triple and notched the two biggest hits of his career with “She’s Country” and “Big Green Tractor.”
Suddenly, the country rocker’s future looks “Wide Open,” just like the title of his latest album.
“It was almost like we were on everybody’s radar and then all the sudden these two songs came out, and it just kicked it into overdrive for whatever reason. And it’s been a good thing,” Aldean said by phone from a tour stop in Lexington, Ky.
“It’s been fun, but things all the sudden got a lot busier this year than they had been, which is really weird, because all the sudden we were getting a lot of TV offers.”
Suddenly, Aldean was appearing on “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” “Chelsea Lately” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” The country star, 32, will reunite with Fallon Saturday when the singer and comedian are featured at Oklahoma State University’s Orange Peel 2009.
“He is what you see. He’s funny and a very good personality and a very nice guy,” Aldean said of Fallon, adding he hopes to hear the “Saturday Night Live” alum’s Barry Gibb impression. “He’s a trip, and I think it’s gonna be a great show. … I’ll definitely be on the side of the stage watching his show.”
More music fans than ever are watching Aldean, whose Lexington concert sold 10,000 tickets, compared to the 2,500 he drew a year ago.
He he has a come a long way from his teenage days playing clubs in his native Georgia. When he won the Academy of Country Music’s top new male vocalist title in 2005, he had been working in Nashville, Tenn., about seven years. His first two albums — his 2005 self-titled debut and 2007’s “Relentless” — spawned seven top 10 hits and have sold more than 2 million copies.
But Aldean’s career blasted into a whole new orbit last November when he premiered the sexy single “She’s Country” at the Country Music Association Awards. With guitar riffs inspired by AC/DC and lyrics paying tribute to Southern beauties, the rocking track rocketed to No. 1.
“I thought if radio will play this — I don’t know if they will, but if they’ll play this — I think it’s got a shot of being a big song for the … spring, going into the summer. And that was kind of my original thought. I had no idea it was going to do what it did,” he said.
The lead-off single shot his third album, “Wide Open,” to No. 2 on Billboard’s Country Albums Chart and No. 4 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200 list when the record was released in April.
The momentum just kept building with his next single, the rural romance “Big Green Tractor,” which topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for four straight weeks. He recently became the first country artist to top Billboard’s Ringscan list when “Big Green Tractor” plowed past tracks by Jay Z, Mariah Carey and The Black Eyed Peas to become the top ringtone.
“I like the song a lot, obviously, or I wouldn’t have cut it. But I mean, I would have never thought that that would be the one to hang there at No. 1 for four weeks,” Aldean said.
“And that’s the thing with music: You just never know which songs are going to strike a chord with people. The thing I’ve always tried to do is just put out songs that I liked, things that I like singing, that I thought were cool, and you just hope that people get it and can relate to it. And those are two songs that obviously they did. And it changed everything.”
Despite his recent successes, Aldean said he still is nervous about this week’s release of his new single, the brokenhearted ballad “The Truth.”
“(It) is completely a 360 and is probably the most country thing we’ve ever put out,” he said. “We’ve had two songs that have done great, but this one may die at (No.) 50. It’s so hard to tell. But it’s also exciting to sit there and watch one climb up the chart when it’s doing really well.”
The country rocker said he won’t let his own football-related heartbreak stop him from putting on a great show at Orange Peel.
“I’m still heartbroken that OSU beat Georgia, but I’m getting over it,” he said. “I’ll be over it by then.”
In concert
Orange Peel 2009 with Jimmy Fallon and Jason Aldean
When: 7 p.m. Saturday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Gallagher-Iba Arena, Oklahoma State University.
Information: (877) OSU-PEEL or www.osupeel.com.
In concert
Jason Aldean
When: 9 p.m. Friday.
Where: WinStar World Casino, Thackerville.
Information: (580) 276-4229 or www.winstarworldcasino.com.
-BAM
