TJ Miller explains why he left ‘Silicon Valley’

T.J. Miller who recently left the hit HBO comedy series about a demented team in tech world ‘Silicon Valley’, spoke with Vulture about why he decided to the leave the show after the fourth season. It could have something to do with big movie roles like the blockbuster ‘Deadpool’ and it’s upcoming sequel that could be pulling him away from his conniving modern day dude Earlich Bachman. Here are Miller’s perspective on leaving the show.

On the end of his run at HBO: “It felt like a breakup with HBO. The final phone call was them going like, ‘Well, I don’t think this is the end of Erlich. I still want to see him on television,’ and I was like, ‘I know but I think this is for the best.’”

On Erlich’s decreased importance to the show: “I actually think the writing with Erlich gets funnier and funnier the more inessential and irrelevant he becomes. He’s an annoyance.”

On parting ways with Thomas Middleditch and executive producer Alac Berg: “I think that HBO and Alec Berg, specifically, kind of thought — and I guess apparently Thomas Middleditch — I guess they thought, “Alright, maybe this is the end of the character. But like everything in the show, we’ll sort of solve this and then it’s back to normal.” And they just didn’t imagine that I would be in a position of being like, “I think that’s it.” … I don’t know how smart [Alec] is. He went to Harvard, and we all know those kids are f—ing idiots. That Crimson trash. Those comedy writers in Hollywood are f—ing Harvard graduates and that’s why they’re smug as a bug … I think that in television you usually have one element that is very challenging, very frustrating. It’s an obstacle, right? So you’re doing the best work that you can do. Alec was that for me, and I think I was that for Alec. And a very good article was written that says that Erlich in the show is just this constant annoyance to Richard … And I think in some ways, that is analogous to real life. I think in some ways Thomas Middleditch is … we have a contrarian relationship, like a big brother–little brother relationship. And this is also an opportunity for me to be like, “Let me just step off, dude. Like, just do your f—ing thing. You’re amazing.” I did a two-man improv show with him for a decade. He’s amazing.”

Miller who was born in Colarado, got his start in comedy through improv and stand up in Chicago before moving west where he broke into movies and TV with roles in ‘Cloverfield’,’How To Train Your Dragon’ and ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’.  Check out his new HBO stand up special ‘Meticulously Ridiculous’ , here is the trailer.

Miller also roasted the haters on a BBQ with this bit on CBS’s ‘Late Night’ recently.

What the Riot Feast Pop-Up Will Look Like In Wicker Park

(from chicago.eater.com)

As Saved by the Max prepares to hit the road to LA, the team behind the uber-popular TV show-inspired pop-up are also preparing its replacement: Riot Feast. Opening on July 8, the team behind the music and carnival pop-up, inspired by Riot Fest, revealed a rendering via Chicagoist of what it will look like. Check out all of its punk carnival glory above. Tickets are available here. (MORE HERE)

SHOCKING NEWS! A LOT of people are on Facebook

Facebook overlord Mark Zuckerberg confirmed today the omniscient social media platform has over 2 billion active users. This news was further reported in Tech Crunch with a comparitive chart to other social media website, showing that the big FB is not just the top of the mountain, it is the mountain. Facebook which grew out of a college centric network to something literally touches all of our lives, so this is not really surprising. It’s interesting to see how massive and influential as seen in hard data. Less than 5 years ago, Facebook had 1 billion users now as double that. That’s ridiculous.

techcrunch.com 

Does Your Grocery Store Have a Mascot?

Behold… JoJo, the Jewel-Osco one-eyed monster!!  I’m sure JoJo is bound to frighten a few unsuspecting kids tagging along with mom to the grocery store. -wALT

Jewel-Osco unveils their first mascot – Jojo

Jewel-Osco has unveiled their first mascot!This is JoJo – a one-eyed, gender-neutral monster. JoJo has been greeting guests at some recent store openings, and the company has launched a new online club that encourages kids to eat healthy. What do you think about JoJo?!

Posted by Marcus Leshock on Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Good heavens, there’s videos too!

Lollapalooza 2017 Food Vendors Including Kuma’s Corner

(chicago.eater.com)

Lollapalooza officials unveiled the 34 vendors that will populate “Chow Town”—what the festival calls its food area — in 2017. Due to a last-second lineup change, the number is down one from last year’s 35.

The Lolla lineup doesn’t feature an abundance of metal, but that’s not stopping Chicago’s infamous Kuma’s Corner from serving festival-goers this year at Grant Park. Kuma’s, Chicago’s chain of burger bars that famously blasts metal while serving massive burgers named after rock bands, is a newcomer to Lolla. (MORE HERE)

Check out Lollapalooza 2017’s full food lineup below.

  1. Bella Bacinos
  2. Billy Goat Tavern
  3. BJ’s Market & Bakery
  4. Broken English Taco Pub
  5. Cheesie’s Pub & Grub
  6. Chubby Wieners
  7. Connie’s Pizza
  8. County BBQ
  9. Dia De Los Tamales
  10. Edzo’s Burger Shop
  11. Graham Elliot
  12. Harold’s Chicken
  13. Kamehachi
  14. Kuma’s Corner
  15. Leghorn Chicken

(MORE HERE)