Blog: Appetite for Distraction

Well, this is when I would prefer to be finishing up a countdown. It's currently Friday evening and it's not even 11 yet! Woohoo! So my sister is coming to stay with us for a week. It's going to be lots of fun and I'm certain we'll listen to lots of music. I can't wait until I have a computer of my own again so that I can DL all these episodes I've been making for like the last 6 weeks and listen to them on my iPod! Countdown #93 [...]

It's already March, you guys. When you're dreading something in the middle of February, it's March really quickly. But things have settled back down at work and I'm excited to do my Media Update! Last Song/MP3 I listened to: So, on the drive home tonight we were listening to the radio. The last song I heard before we got home was Foster the People singing "Pumped Up Kicks" . Have you heard of this song? ;-) However, just now I saw Maroon 5 [...]

Title: Last Stand Airdate: 11/17/1985 My age at Airdate: 2 years, 4 months, 1 day Episode Type: Hostage This episode is one I remember watching as a youth. And it also is special because it is from the set of this episode that we get the famous RDA "Oh I didn't see you there, but I'm happy to see you" opening credits shot (at the top of this entry). So let's not waste any more time talking about it....let's start talking about it! OPENING CREDITS No Opening Gambit this week. The episode has so [...]

You'll see what I mean when you listen to the episode. I feel like I'm in one of those situations where I'm playing catch-up. I mean, it's not as bad as it used to be, but this is the latest I've been putting a countdown together in MONTHS. I suppose it'll get better, right? Countdown #92 ***Featuring*** AWOLNATION The Black Keys Blink-182 Chevelle Coldplay Foo Fighters Foster the People Fun. featuring Janelle Monae Gotye featuring Kimbra Homer Simpson Rise Against Sleigh Bells Young the Giant

So this post is just going to be 3 videos. The first is my favorite song from the collaboration album of Jay-Z and Kanye West: Watch the Throne . It's called "Niggas in Paris" And I still love that song. I feel like it's different than the rest of the album. And I like that. The next song, however, is I guess a parody of it by Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) that I saw on The Needle Drop today. It's called "Niggas [...]

Title: Trumbo's World Airdate: 11/10/85 My age at Airdate: 2 years, 3 months, 26 days Episode Type: ANTS! So, before I begin, I have to say that I couldn't have done this post without the very generous offer by my wife to go grocery shopping whilst I stayed at home and watched MacGyver. She is truly a wonderful woman. Now, on with the episode. This episode is one that I remember being horrified by back when I was watching these when I was 7 or 8. If I've done my [...]

That's right. We have a couple more songs debuting on our chart this week and I'm pretty excited about both of them. One is by an old friend of the countdown and one is by someone we've never seen on the charts before. Listen and enjoy! Also, in a couple of weeks, I'll be hitting Countdown #100. Any ideas about what I should do, if anything, to commemorate the occasion? I'll try to remember to ask on the next podcast, too. Countdown #91 ***Featuring*** AWOLNATION The Black Keys Chevelle Coldplay [...]

Title: The Heist Airdate: 11/3/85 My age at Airdate: 2 years, 3 months, 19 days Episode Type: (I usually wait until I've watched the episode before I fill this part out, but I'm gonna go with...) Heist MacGyver?!? Helping with a Heist?!?! Can it be?!?! Let's find out.... OPENING CREDITS Wha-wha-what?! No opening gambit? Oh snap, y'all. Shit just got serious. This episode is probably going to be like The Ten Commandments, Goodfellas, and the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy PUT TOGETHER!!! So we start on a bomber landing in a scenic location. [...]

We had one new song last week and this week we have two more! So exciting! We also have a very mellow segment on this one, so remember to relax during that part. (I was going to have an exclamation point, but a period is just so much more mellow, you know?) Countdown #90 ***Featuring*** AWOLNATION The Black Keys Bush Chevelle Coldplay Foo Fighters Gotye Featuring Kimbra Foster the People Red Hot Chili Peppers Young the Giant

Title: The Gauntlet Airdate: October 20, 1985 My Age at Airdate: 2 years, 3 months, 4 days Episode Type: Rescue OK just from the title, I'm going to assume this will all be about MacGyver having to retrieve some sort of glove, be it armored or silk, only time will tell.... OPENING GAMBIT Ok it looks like we're in the Middle East... A car is slowly working its way through town, a man is yelling at his camel....and MacGyver is creeping over the rooftops, talking about Mrs. Freifogel, his den mother. I love tales [...]

So, I started recording this one on Friday night. Pretty typical. Then I finished up this evening (It's Saturday night as I type this) and for some reason I got myself worked up about a particular issue. I mean, don't get me wrong. There's not a blue streak of cursing or anything, but I definitely work some stuff out over the course of a couple intros. It'll either be interesting to you or not, but I hope you'll enjoy the music that happens in between! Countdown #89 ***Featuring*** Ben Folds Five The [...]

With all of the planning of Lila's baptism and everything, I haven't gotten a lot of media time in (I know. Poor James.) so some of this is going to be relatively odd.... Last Song/MP3 I listened to: I was listening to Bad Veins ' Self-titled debut album on the way home from work today because they have a new album coming out on April 24th. I was in the middle of listening to "You Kill" when my friend Marc called. [...]

Title: Thief of Budapest Airdate: October 13, 1985 My age at Airdate: 2 Years, 2 Months, 27 Days Episode Type: Espionage OPENING GAMBIT A man with a very awesome mustache sits in a tent in the desert. He is in the tent with a horse. Mustache has stolen the horse from a king and it's considered to be one of the most valuable horses alive. MacGyver takes out the guard and steals his turban. Yep. There's MacGyver in a turban. A perfect disguise. Mustache is practicing sword-based Martial Arts while Mac saddles [...]

The week went by so fast and yet it was full of stress for most of the people I know. Weird, huh? Well, I know what I always do to destress: Rock out to some Alternative Tunes. The funny thing about this countdown is that the songs can take on a comfort food feel to them. So, pull up a chair and enjoy! Countdown #88 ***Featuring*** The Black Keys Blink-182 Bush Cage the Elephant Chevelle Coldplay Foo Fighters Lifehouse Red Hot Chili Peppers Switchfoot Young the Giant

Title: The Golden Triangle Airdate: October 6, 1985 My Age at Airdate: 2 years, 2 months, 20 days Episode Type: Magnificent Seven-style Village Rescue This is where the rubber meets the road, people. We're out of the Pilot territory and into the honest-to-God Season 1 Experience. Still with me? Great. Let's go. Opening Gambit A bearded man is holding suitcase in a junkyard. He looks anxious. MacGyver sneaks in undetected. Beard guy is approached by two suits. Mac lets us know that Beard has [...]

Haha I have never seen that word spelled out before. It looks silly. Here's a new countdown. Hopefully no new songs will go on the chart until I figure out how to get my computer fixed after it suddenly found itself sitting in a pool of soapy water. Pray that it's just the power cord that's fried, people! Countdown #87 ***Featuring*** Ben Kweller The Black Keys Blink-182 Bush Cage the Elephant Chevelle Coldplay Foo Fighters Red Hot Chili Peppers Switchfoot Young the Giant

Title: Pilot Airdate: September 29, 1985 My age at Airdate: 2 years, 2 months, 13 days. Episode Type: Rescue And here we go. We're opening on a majestic canyon. "....Somewhere in Central Asia. Present day" A dude in a funny hat is climbing an almost sheer cliff. The sultry voice of Richard Dean Anderson comes on the voiceover. Telling a story about a horse. As I recall, MacGyver is a lot more country than he became later on. This is what's known as the "Opening Gambit". It has nothing to do with the episode itself. It [...]

So, you may not be aware of this, but you are reading this in the middle of my daughter's 6-day birthday extravaganza. Well, maybe "extravaganza" is a bit dramatic, but damn if this kid isn't celebrating her birthday on three non-consecutive days! Her actual birthday was on Thursday (1/12) and K and I took the day off and spent it with her! It was lots of fun. Now, when you're reading this, we'll be preparing for the actual birthday party. Fun times. We're probably rocking out to the countdown right along with you! Countdown #86 [...]

So, on Twitter the other day, I asked if anyone had any opinions about me starting a feature on my blog where I watch and talk about each MacGyver episode. One person said that they were PRO that idea and so here we are. MacGyver (god it's going to get annoying capitalizing that "G". don't be surprised if that stops very quickly. like, before this post is done, quickly.) is one of those shows that I "grew up" on. I have a very vivid memory of being in the TV Room/Office in our house in Nebraska, watching MacGyver, [...]

This is one of my favorite episodes of the year. I look forward to it and I think that all my anticipation has paid off. I had so much fun putting it together and I think you'll have a lot of fun listening to it! 2011 Artists of the Year ***Featuring*** Dessa Doomtree King Post Kitsch Me First and the Gimme Gimmes New Found Glory NOFX P.O.S. Rise Against Smashing Pumpkins Wild Flag