Watch ‘SNL’ kill it with Presidential Debate sketch

October 2, 2016 | Kevin

1280_alec_baldwin_trump_kate_mckinnon_clinton_snlsn42

Last night ‘SNL’ reminded everyone in America, no matter where you stand in the upcoming Presidential Election, we can laugh about it. And the performances of recent Emmy-winner Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton and American showbiz treasure Alec Baldwin delivered on a promoted opening sketch spoofing the highs and lows of this past week’s real debate between the candidates. It’s easily one of the funniest sketches on this NBC comedy institution in years.

McKinnon playing this over-zealous exaggeration of Clinton just made it all fun. It was just such a solid percussive beat that McKinnon set to bounce the comedy ball back and forth with Baldwin. The way she worked in the shoulder-shimmy shake was just a cherry on top of a cake.

The announcement last week to make Baldwin who has been one of the most effective guest host in SNL’s 42 seasons may have taken some casual fans of the show by surprise, but if you got a grasp of his range you could see this being a slam dunk before it aired. The writing for his Trump was spot-on with his delivery and aggressive mannerisms. Baldwin deserves recognition as one of the all-time SNL greats for performances like this. It makes it exciting to see where else they’ll go with future satires in the coming weeks of the campaign season.

Kudos to the makeup and hair team at SNL as well, Baldwin looked like a perfect clone of the Donald. McKInnon didn’t need to be done up, as she just takes any character for a full ride.

R2-D2 MAKES YOU COFFEE? A DEATH STAR THAT MAKES YOU TOAST?

September 30, 2016 | Marconi🍕

r2d2-french-press

(from gizmodo.com)

It won’t be long before Rogue One: A Star Wars Story officially hits theaters, which means it’s just about time for another onslaught of Star Warsmerchandise. Most of it is stuff you’ve seen before—toys, figures, re-re-releases of previous films—but an R2-D2 coffee press? That’ll get us to perk up and pay attention, and not because of all that caffeine. (MORE HERE)

AS IF I NEEDED MORE REASONS TO DRINK COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF COFFEE EVERYDAY!! Also look at this Death Star Toaster!!!

death-star-toaster

The ultimate power in the Star Wars universe can also be the ultimate power on your kitchen counter now that the Death Star has been turned into a two-slice toaster with settings for light, dark, burnt, and Alderaan’d. (MORE HERE)

OMG JUST TAKE MY MONEY!!! – Marconi

Tags:

Don’t Drill a Hole in Your New iPhone!

September 30, 2016 | Lou

Apparently, people have seen this video show a”hidden” headphone jack that you can get to by drilling a hole in the iPhone 7. Spoiler alert, THERE IS NO JACK! Kind of shocked this needs to be said, but don’t drill a hole in your brand new iPhone.

Then again, anyone who has done this probably should not be allowed to have a phone in the first place. It’s kind of like thinning the herd.

@TheLouLombardo

Tags:

Vote On The Sweet Sixteen // Chicago Pizza Bracket

September 29, 2016 | Marconi🍕

pizza

(from chicagoist.com)

Last week, the 2016 Chicago Pizza Bracket, began where you get to vote on your favorite pizza places in Chicago and crown an overall favorite. The voting was heavy and one poll got more than 4000 votes. The biggest surprise of Round 1? The two Chicago pizza behemoths, Giordano’s and Lou Malnati’s, both got knocked out. Their name recognition is so good that we assumed they would destroy the competition. We were wrong. Apart Pizza Company in Edgewater demolished Lou Malnati’s 59 percent to 41 percent, while Pequod’s destroyed Giordano’s by an astonishing 69 percent to 31 percent. (MORE HERE)

HOW CAN YOU MAKE US CHOOSE??!! This is the hardest most delicious test I’ve ever taken. Must do more research… – Marconi

Tags:

SOUTHSIDE! CTA is the extending the Red Line south

September 29, 2016 | Kevin

ctaproposed103rdststation

Commuters south of Roosevelt Avenue REJOICE, your long bemoaning of lopsided upgrades to the CTA have been heard! The Red Line is getting a big extension in plans revealed today by the Chicago Tribune, that will bring the train line further south to 130th street from the current ending spot at 95th Street. There is still ton of preliminary work to be done including an impact study in 2018 before the actual extension is built with a potential opening in 2026. If all goes well, the additional would reduce 20 minutes from daily commuters for Southsiders who travel downtown with a combination of bus and train. It’s not going to be a small undertaking obviously with Tribune’s Mary Wisnewski reporting it could cost 2.3 billion to complete. 

This massive extension is a part of the CTA’s ‘Red Ahead’ plans for the commuting system’s most used train line with $425 million construction work into the Red Line South portion in 2013, continued work on the 95th Street and Wilson stations. If approved it would be the first major train expansion to the CTA since 1993 with the Orange Line extension.

As a far Southsider who always had to efficiently manage the time ever-shifting times of buses and trains to make home from the Metro late at night, this is amazing news. This will open lives and make working in the Second City so much better for the Sox side of town. Now let’s get a direct train out to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Tinley Park, right?!

Big Star is Coming

September 29, 2016 | <3 Lauren

Just imagine… the year is 2018.  The Cubs have won the last two World Series and to celebrate we walk across the street to Big Star!

Well, at least half of that is definitely going to happen!

bigstar

Go Cubs Go.

<3 @laurenoneil

Oh no homies, Adventure Time will end in 2018

September 29, 2016 | Kevin

The adventures of Finn the Human and Jake the Dog are running short as today Cartoon Network announced the whimsical fairy-tale sing-a-long psychedelic animated series will end in 2018. The show created by Pendleton Ward premiered in 2010, has grown to cosplay success being a darling of the comic book convention crowds and young children at the same time with guest appearances by Marc Maron and Ron Perlman.

“Adventure Time was a passion project for the people on the crew who poured their heart into the art and stories,” said Ward in a statement from Cartoon Network. “We tried to put into every episode something genuine and telling from our lives, and make a show that was personal to us, and that had jokes too! I’m really happy that it connected with an audience for so long. It’s a special thing, I think.”

‘AT’ still has a way to go with a ninth and final season plus specials, a mini-series, and movies to come before the influential show ends it’s run. Also just remember buddies, it’s still got two more fun years to come.

If your scratching your head and asking “WHAT IN THE HECK IS ‘ADVENTURE TIME’?’ well this should be a fair example of it’s otherworldly cartoon madness.

And if your a huge fan of the Land of Ooo, you can geek-out over this.

@kevkellam 

Spider Bites Guy’s Junk… Twice

September 29, 2016 | Lou

csiro_scienceimage_3797_a_redback_spider-1-300x200
Image: CSIRO, via Wikimedia Commons

Meet the “unluckiest man in Australia.” A construction worker was bitten on the penis by a venomous spider for the second time in five months! First time around he was using a porta potty on a job site and the red back spider struck. Cut to five months later. Same porta potty. He finally works up the courage to use it again, and guess who’s waiting for him? Another red back spider. Got him in almost them same exact spot.

You can dig a little deeper on this HERE.

 

Tags:

The Scary Peeper Creeper

September 29, 2016 | Lou

Who calls the cops first; you when you wake up in the middle of the night and forget you stuck this thing in the window or your nosy neighbor who thinks he spotted a perv? Still, kind of surprising Home Depot pulled it from shelves over complaints. You can still grab one online, HERE.

peeper-gse

Tags:

Did somebody order a pizza? 5 trusty bars that welcome pizza delivery

September 28, 2016 | Marconi🍕

pizza-at-bar

(from redeyechicago.com)

one corner, you have a cozy tavern with a killer beer list. In the other, a pizza joint tempting you to order takeout. You don’t have to choose: For the perfect low-key night out, just put them together. Ordering pizza has become something of a tradition at Chicago bars without kitchens. There are plenty of reasons you’d want to hang out at them — bowling, live music, friendly bartenders — but elaborate food menus aren’t among them. But because food delivery is welcomed, you can call in dinner without ever leaving your bar stool. To aid in your pizza-ordering pursuits, we visited five bars known for the custom and identified popular delivery orders at each, plus beverage pairings to match — though the experts behind the bar suggest you don’t get too hung up on the suggestions. “It’s about whatever tastes good to you,” said Jay Jankowski, manager at Map Room. (MORE HERE)

I love this idea, but what with POSTMATES, GRUBHUB + UBEREATS you can order ANYTHING. Though pizza is always a great choice. My suggestion to these bars is WHY NOT HAVE FOOD AT YOUR ESTABLISHMENTS!!!?? One of the biggest issues in Chicago late night is the large number of bars and pubs that don’t serve food and many times there’s nothing nearby open for miles. Chicago is an amazing food city but it can be difficult to find good late night food unless you know where to go. Plus usually when you’re out drinking you don’t want to wait for food to be delivered. Sometimes you just want A SLICE or a TACO and a beer without waiting 40 + minutes. Would be great to have a few more decent bars WITH food, open late (until 2 am or later) – marconi

 

 

Tags:

Q101 Contests

The Latest from Q101

Upcoming Concerts & Events