Chicago comedians join NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live’

 

Saturday Night Live announced three new cast members for their 43rd season set to premiere on September 30th, and the fresh additions include two members of Chicago’s exciting comedy community.

Chris Redd has been quickly ascending in showbiz for a while now with a starring role in the Andy Samberg comedy ‘Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping’, FOX’s ‘Empire’, and a recent role in the Netflix pot comedy series ‘Disjointed’. His stand up has been blowing up recently as with headlining live shows around the country including Second City’s UP Theater. Redd is featured this season on Comedy Central’s Stand-Up Presents’. I was lucky enough to work with Chris years ago on the pilot taping of ‘Fourstar Standups‘, watch his entire killer set from that here. And now he joins the cast of the most prestigious comedy TV show.

Last year it was briefly reported that Redd would join SNL before it’s highly rated season with massively successful satire of the 2016 Presidential Campaign but this time it seems official.

 

Luke Null is another Chicago hire for ‘SNL’ whose improv and musical comedy chops were honed at iO Theater. Null performed in the film ‘The Heart: The Final Pulse’. Watch Null lay down some hilarious tunes on the ‘Chill as F*** Show’. 

Actress Heidi Gardner comes from the Bryan Cranston’s animated series ‘SuperManison’ and she will star in upcoming Melissa McCarthy-penned movie ‘Life of the Party’. She cut her teeth on the stages on Los Angeles’s Groundlings.

The first episode of SNL Season 43 airs on September 30th with Ryan Gosling hosting and musical guest Jay-Z.

Netflix streaming on planes in 2018

Flying in a plane can be a hassle with new fees for baggage and smaller seats on some airlines, but today brings good news for travelers as Netflix has announced their video shows will be streaming on planes. Yes, hundreds of movies and TV shows will be streaming for passengers on Virgin Airlines in the near future. Here is the official announcement.

Netflix users onboard Virgin America’s new ViaSat WiFi-equipped aircraft will be able to stream the best programming available in the skies, including hit Netflix series House of Cards, Narcos and Orange Is The New Black, along with the full Netflix catalogue right to their phones, tablets, and laptops at no cost through March 2, 2016*

This will make it easier to deal with that kid who can’t stop kicking back of your seat for a three hour flight, right?

Check out Tuesday’s Brian & Lou with What Ya Missed – Most Haunted Place In Chicago – Crap Sandwich – We Spend More Time on The Toilet than Exercising – Pay It Forward

 

Arctic Monkeys growing new music and beards

According to NME, Artic Monkeys are recording new music. The report states that drummer Matt Helders told a fan of the band that they should expect this fresh crop of songs before the end of the year. Photos of the band growing new material in the studio have floated around for a while now, and on top of that lead singer/guitarist Alex Turner has grown a beard.

This will be Artic Monkey’s sixth album following up 2013’s ‘AM’ which featured the hits “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?”, “R U Mine?”, and “Do I Wanna Know?”

We just met Alex Turner. ALEX TURNER! Best moment of my life #arcticmonkeys #alexturner #thelastshadowpuppets

A post shared by Sam Carguillo (@samcarguillo) on

Marconi and Lauren chatted with Alex Turner when he played Lolla in 2016 with the side project, the Last Shadow Muppets.

The Last Shadow Puppets live at Lolla

Posted by 101 WKQX on Thursday, July 28, 2016

Turner and Helders talked with Walt backstage at Lollapalooza in 2014.

Queued Up #246

1. The Killers – Wonderful Wonderful
2. Black Pistol Fire – Lost Cause
3. AJR – Sober Up
4. Walk The Moon – One Foot
5. Welshly Arms – Who We Are (Queued Up Artist Showcase 10/4)
6. Brand New – Can’t Get It Out
7. Phoenix – Ti Amo
8. The National – The Day I Die
9. Odesza – Line Of Sight
10. Kings Of Leon – Around The World
11. Slothrust – Sex and Candy
12. Grouplove – Remember That Night
13. The Neighbourhood – Roll Call

1. Royal Blood – I Only Lie When I Love You
2. Ballyhoo – Mixtape
3. Alex Lahey – I Haven’t Been Taking Care Of Myself
4. New Politics – Color Green
5. Morrissey – Spent The Day In Bed
6. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Little Thing Gone Wild
7. U2 – You’re The Best Thing About Me
8. Wild Cub – I Fall Over
9. Manchester Orchestra – The Gold
10. Paramore – Fake Happy
11. Honors – All My Life (Queued Up Artist Showcase 10/4)
12. PUP – If This Tour Doesn’t Kill You, I Will
13. Sleeping With Sirens – Legends
14. K.Flay – Giver
15. The Killers – Some Kind Of Love

Taking Back Sundays – 9.24.17

1. Blink-182 – Josie
2. Paramore – Now
3. All Time Low – Something’s Gotta Give
4. Alien Ant Farm – Movies
5. Fountains Of Wayne – Stacy’s Mom
6. Box Car Racer – I Feel So
7. A Day TO Remember – We Got This
8. Minus The Bear – Pachica Sunrise
9. Dashboard Confessional – Hands Down
10. Relient K – Be My Escape
11. Fall Out Boy – Sugar, We’re Going Down
12. Say Anything – Baby Girl, I’m A Blur
13. Royal Blood – Figure It Out
14. My Chemical Romance – Helena
15. All-American Rejects – It Ends Tonight

9.24.17 – Alt_Backspace

1. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
2. The English Beat – Tears Of A Clown
3. Luscious Jackson – Naked Eye
4. Smashing Pumpkins – Perfect
5. O.M.D. – So In Love
6. School OF Fish – 3 Strange Days
7. The Smiths – Stop Me If You Think You\’ve Heard This One Before
8. Breeders – Cannonball
9. Husker Du – Could You Be The One?
10. Bush – Comedown
11. The Cure – Fascination Street

1. Pearl Jam – Corduroy
2. The Clash – I Fought The Law
3. Bjork – Army Of Me
4. Nirvana – Lithium
5. U2 – Trash, Trampoline And The Party Girl
6. Depeche Mode – I Feel You
7. Urge Overkill – Sister Havana
8. Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
9. The Flys – Got You (Where I Want You)
10. Paul Westerberg – Dyslexic Heart
11. Sublime – Badfish
12. Psychedelic Furs – The Ghost In You
13. The Housemartins – Happy Hour

Indie-Pendent Dance Party – 9.23.17

Bones UK – Pretty Waste
Arcade Fire – Creature Comfort
The 1975 – The City
Sofi Tukker featuring Nervo, The Knocks & Alisa Ueno – Best Friend
TR/ST – Bicep
Busy P Featuring Mayer Hawthorne – Genie
Mute Math – Break The River
New Respects – Future
The Ramones – Rockaway Beach
FIDLAR – West Coast
Jimmy Eat World – The Middle
Circa Waves – T-Shirt Weather
Wavves – King oF The Beach
Len – Steal My Sunshine
Ghost Beach – Miracle
Bit Funk feat Nefe – Destination Sunrise
Third Eyed Blind – Semi Charmed Life (Kasum Remix)

Panama Wedding – Feels Like Summer
Architecture In Helsinki – Livin In The Future
Talking Heads – This Must Be The Place (Viceroy Remix)
Viceroy – Chase Us Around
VHS Collection – Waiting on The Summer (Penguin Prison Remix)
The Cure – Just Like Heaven (The Penelopes Remix)
Gentlemen Hall – Sail Into The Sun (Lenno Remix)
Empire of The Sun – Walking on A Dream (Marc Scout Remix)
Fekix Cartel – Get What You Give (New Radicals Cover)
Daft Punk – Get Lucky
Two Door Cinema Club – Bad Decisions (Purple Disco Machine Remix)
RAC – Cheap Sunglasses (Viceroy Remix)
The Knocks – Classic (Discotech Remix)
Amber Mark – Heatwave
Magician – Sunlight
Penguin Prison – Never Gets Old (Solidisco Remix)
Sunday Girl – Love You More (RAC Mix)

David Spade is NOT Kurt Cobain…Right?

It seems as though in Austria they think Joe Dirt = Kurt Cobain??

Thanks to modern technology aka the internet we have proof that the two are not one in the same.  

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Hancock building name change seems more likely than ever

(from chicago.curbed.com)
After two and a half years of rumors surrounding a possible name change of Chicago’s John Hancock Center, a new report suggests that the likelihood of such a change is more real than ever. According to theChicago Tribune, The Hearn Company, the owner of the iconic 100-story supertall skyscraper, is marketing the hulking mid-century tower’s office space and its naming rights for sale. According to Tribune reporter Ryan Ori, the deal could earn Hearn Co. $330 million.

(MORE HERE)

It’s been known as The Hancock Building for 48 years. I think there should be a grandfather clause. Sears Tower was renamed after 36 years and we all still call it SEARS TOWER!! The 101WKQX radio tower is on top of the Hancock. So much history. It seems wrong that it all comes down to someone buying the naming rights to a building. Maybe we could all pitch in and just name it The Oprah Tower or Tower of Jordan. At least if it’s got to be renamed it could be renamed something that won’t change again when the next naming owner’s contract is up.

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Eddie Vedder takes a knee…

Eddie Vedder has not ever been shy about sharing his political thoughts, as he took a knee’ to support the protests by NFL players.  Vedder also added some commentary (from usatoday.com)

Pearl Jam’s opinionated frontman also weighed in on President Trump’s tough talk concerning North Korea, and that nation’s nuclear capabilities.

He told the audience he’d read that a nuclear missile fired from North Korea could reach his home in Seattle in 30 minutes, and he’d thought of his wife and his two daughters.

“What would you do? You’d scream at the sky and go, ‘What the (expletive)? How could this (expletive) happen?’ But at that point, that’s not gonna do any good whatsoever. And if I’m not gonna be on a stage for a while, I’m gonna say it tonight, here in Nashville. What the (expletive)? Are you kidding us? Can you please stop? Just stop.” (MORE HERE)

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VIDEO: Addison Russell Destroys, Delivers Nachos in St. Louis

During last night’s Cubs game — deep in the heart of St. Louis, a most hated rival —  Addison Russell dove into the stands to try and catch a foul ball.  What he ended up catching was a tray of cheesy nachos.  But the story didn’t end there — Russell came back a little while later with a peace offering.  Check out the video (thanks to YouTube/Chris Goossens):

Hence, “Nacho Man” was born.  But do you detect a little shade thrown Chicago’s way in his “thank you” tweet?  Plain?!?  — [eric]

 

[Cover Photo:  MLB.com]

Brian & Lou 09.26.17

What Ya Missed – Most Haunted Place In Chicago – Crap Sandwich – We Spend More Time on The Toilet than Exercising – Pay It Forward

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What’s The Most Haunted Spot In Chicago?

Cosmopolitan put out a list of the most haunted spots in each state and Bachelor’s Grove in Chicago topped the list in Chicago! Is this true?! We want to hit up the most haunted spot in Chicago before Halloween.

In 2016 Thrillist put out their list and it included:

Excalibur
Country House Restaurant
That Steak Joynt
Red Lion Pub
Congress Plaza Hotel
Resurrection Cemetery
Harpo Studios

Is there anything we’re missing? We want to go to the Most Haunted Spot in Chicago before Halloween!!!

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A Tums cocktail that gives you heartburn—and relieves it

(from chicagoreader.com)

“It’s kind of a jerk thing to do, I think, to give someone over-the-counter medicine. It was difficult to incorporate into a cocktail,” says Gary Matthews. The Drumbar bartender is referring to Sarah Syman of Otto Mezzo, who challenged him to create a cocktail with Tums—the antacids traditionally used to relieve heartburn. (MORE HERE)

I love this idea. I want to apply it to burrito and pizza making challenges as well please!

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Portugal. The Man unveil new live version of ‘Feel It Still’ – and discuss the track’s origin and lyrics

(Photos by Zach Spangler & Julia Simone Paul)

(from nme.com)

Portugal. The Man have unveiled a new stripped back live video for their breakthrough track ‘Feel It Still’. Bassist Zach Carothers talks about the track’s origin, lyrics and meaning.

Recorded on a rooftop in London, the new rendition strips the track down to its bare essentials to allow the true class of the songwriting to really shine. To date, the song has been streamed over 90 million times. (MORE HERE)

Before they released the previously mentioned version, they performed it here in the Lounge. Maybe this inspired them?

 

 

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NEW ON NETFLIX IN OCTOBER

(from chicagotribune.com/redeye)

Grab some Eggos, your world is about to be turned upside down. “Stranger Things 2” premieres on Netflix next month. The streaming site is also blessing us with some great comedies, like “Tommy Boy” and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.” If you find yourself trying to get hyped for Halloween, well, there’s always “Cult of Chucky.” In terms of titles leaving the site, lend us your ear so we can tell you to binge all seasons of “The Wonder Years,” “30 Rock,” “One Tree Hill” and “Friday Night Lights” because they’ll be gone before you can say “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.” (MORE HERE)

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Happy belated birthday, Jim Henson

No one person inspired me to create more than Jim Henson. He was amazing!

Here’s another couple of great pieces about the brilliance of Jim Henson… click HERE and HERE.

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Brian & Lou 09.25.17

What Ya Missed, Broke Ass Meals, Whats The Worst Thing Your Kid Has Said To You, Is It Florida, Woman Mad About Service Dog, Lou Tucked A Napkin In His Shirt

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A Truck Full of Pumpkins Catches Fire . . . and Explodes

Here’s an early Halloween NIGHTMARE for you.

A 44-year-old female truck driver was hauling a load of PUMPKINS on Interstate 75 near Tampa, Florida on Friday when she hit the guard rail . . . and the truck caught on fire.  Then it EXPLODED . . . and flaming pumpkins flew everywhere.

Fortunately, no one was hurt including the driver. READ MORE

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Dwayne Wade is done with the Chicago Bulls

Tonight ESPN is reporting that Dwayne Wade and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to a buy-out on his contract. Wade will compete in his 15th NBA season coming up , after averaging 18.3 points, 3.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds last year in his first season with his hometown team, the Bulls. Wade prior to his NBA career which saw him win championships with the Miami Heat, attended Richards High School in Oak Lawn, IL  and he had a standout performance for Marquette University during the 2003 NCAA Tournament.

It is believed that Miami, Cleveland, and San Antonio are possible suitors for Wade. It has been widely reported that both Wade and the Bulls agreed to the buyout. The rumors around Wade’s Bulls exit and where he could end up next have been running since August. Many basketball insiders expected this move after fellow Bulls star Jimmy Butler was traded since the Bulls finished their season.

TMZ Sports caught up Wade who addressed the speculation in late August in this video.