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Beard-folk: Don’t get us wrong, we have greatly appreciated the gentle pleasures derived from Iron & Wine, Fleet Foxes (pictured), Bowerbirds and the like, to say nothing of how fun it’s been to watch aggressive facial hair overtake the fashion mainstream. But there’s too much going in 2010 for artists to look like they just woke up in the forest. Time to break out the razors and hit our instruments with feeling again. (Kevin P. Casey / For The Times)

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Killing genres: Over the last 10 years, we’ve heard the death knell for jazz, rock, hip-hop and cinema (to name a few), and there’s no end of the pop cultural dead pool in sight. Alarmist forecasts like these are always wrong, of course, so to avoid similar rushes to judgment we declare that the next decade should be all about the birth and rebirth of new and familiar forms. New Wave skiffle revival, anyone? (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

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Video game machines as media players: We’ve long feared bringing a game machine into our lives because we’d never step away from EA’s Madden franchise long enough to feed ourselves. But now that both XBox and the PS3 can stream movies from Netflix, we’re coming around. Something gearheads have long recognized will soon come true -- your computer is merging with your TV and vice versa. (Barry Gutierrez / Associated Press)

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Television: Now that “Avatar,” for all its jaw-dropping effects and technology, ushers in a new age of cinema as “Star Wars'-styled spectacle, here’s hoping TV can continue the evolution it’s enjoyed in the last few years of becoming the new home for groundbreaking storytelling and drama. We’re not sure what’s coming to top “The Wire,” “Friday Night Lights” and “Lost,” but we’re excited to find out. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Fame: While much of the hand-wringing surrounding the unscripted TV craze subsided as the genre improved, its dominance seemingly only deepened our culture’s desire for notoriety. We’re not sure how to prevent another Balloon Boy fiasco, but we can speak from experience that a good start is appreciating the internal satisfaction of an anonymous job well done.
Pictured: ‘American Idol’s’ “bikini girl” from its most recent season.(Michael Becker / Associated Press)

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Facts: In a decade where the Internet allowed anyone with a keyboard to join the news conversation, and various networks raced to align with one lucrative ideology or another, irrefutable facts became harder and harder to find. Factor in the need-it-yesterday deadlines of the digital age, and it’s going to take work to pin down what’s real over the next 10 years. The question is, are you up for looking?
Pictured: Fox News’ Glenn Beck.(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

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The DVR (a.k.a. TiVo): No product did more this decade to change how we watch TV, and not only through bypassing those pesky commercials. More TV dramas started thinking in terms of season-long arcs, as episodes could now be collected, saved and studied instead of merely watched. What this on-demand revolution has spawned is still evolving -- and the networks and cable companies are nervous. (Daiman Dovarganes / Associated Press)

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The iPod: Oh, little white miracle that reduced entire CD collections to the size of a deck of cards, we owe you so much. Compressed MP3 files that sound adequate through earbuds became the standard, and the Web’s vast catalog reduced entire albums to forgotten files as acquiring music became even easier than actually listening to it. Luckily, you’re quickly being replaced by your cousin, the iPhone. (Associated Press)

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The last hour of “War of the Worlds” (2005): We caught this surprisingly terrifying remake on TNT recently (love that image of the burning train) and were quickly reminded where Spielberg went off the rails. In the future, just turn it off when you see Tim Robbins and avoid the silly alien snake-eye, a pointless blood-sucking subplot and a rushed ending that seems better suited for a greeting card ad. (Paramount Pictures)

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Fred Anderson: We’re not sure if there’s something in Chicago’s water or if some musicians just never age, but the live album recorded on this saxophonist’s 80th birthday, “21st Century Chase,” has more fiery, unfettered energy than most releases by players half his age. Whatever Anderson is chasing, here with the help of fellow jazz statesman Kidd Jordan, we’d be wise to look for it too. (JUSTIN LANE, xx)

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“Modern Family': Having been raised on classic sitcoms, we’re always curious when a show earns talk for upholding the tradition. But this ABC newcomer still needs improvement. As much as we love seeing Ed O’Neill at his cranky best as the show’s patriarch, many jokes for his young Latin spouse and his daughter’s clueless husband feel tired. And can we give the faux-documentary style a rest, please? (HANDOUT, xx)

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Eric Chase Anderson: Like a lot of holiday moviegoers, we’re pretty smitten with Wes Anderson‘s adorably stylized stop-motion-animated epic, “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” But with all the high-wattage voice-over talent on hand, we were most taken with the quietly cool work of the director’s brother as the precocious visiting cousin, Kristofferson (left). More woodland creatures should practice meditation. (Fox Searchlight Pictures, xx)

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‘The Road’s’ sense of timing: We haven’t yet seen this adaptation of Cormac McCarthy‘s post-apocalyptic tale of a father and son’s search for survival, but we’re struggling to imagine when we will. Viggo Mortensen is probably fantastic and we’re told the film captures McCarthy’s ruthlessly grim vision, but where does all that fit amid festivals of lights and tidings of great joy? Was October all booked up? (Dimension Films)

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‘Friends’: Amid all the well-deserved hype “Curb Your Enthusiasm” earned over the past few months for its show-within-a-show “Seinfeld” reunion, we couldn’t help but notice how little its one-time partner on NBC‘s Thursday night schedule resonates these days by comparison. The years when it dominated pop culture are well behind us, but as Chandler might say, “Could this show be any more dated?” (Jon Ragel / Associated Press)

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The Muppets: In case it hasn’t already shown up in your in-box, last month’s YouTube release of the Muppets’ reliably ridiculous yet reverent cover of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a brilliant reminder of just how many things in life can be vastly improved with Muppet magic. We’re not sure which inspired cameo we adored the most: Beaker, the Swedish Chef or Sam the Eagle. Take that, “Wayne’s World.”
>> Watch the video here(Jim Henson Productions)

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Maria Bamford: Amid all of the post-Thanksgiving shopping hype, we hope you caught this L.A. comic’s series of surreal ads for a certain department store’s ' Black Friday” sale. With a twisted gift for voices and characters, Bamford nearly stole Comedy Central‘s “Comedians of Comedy” series, and we’re thankful she’s finally getting more exposure without compromising her wonderfully weird perspective. (Marsaili McGrath / Getty Images)

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The xx: Its name and austere design aesthetic give the impression of spartan-minded hardcore punks, but instead this English indie pop group’s debut album, “XX,” is one of the coolest slabs of minimalist electro-soul this side of Portishead. Built on the dreamy vocals of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim and achingly spare guitars nicked from the Cure, this album is rated for all audiences. (Owen Richards)

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‘Thirst’: We expected some dark scares from this South Korean import, but this film offered further evidence that the best ideas in vampire movies are coming from the other side of the world. No offense to the legion of “Twilight” fanatics, but that franchise could learn a lot from the sly humor, rich drama and raw sensuality in this story of a priest-turned-vampire and his star-crossed love affair. (Focus Features)

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The History Channel: We suppose everyone needs to attract viewers these days, but this network’s seemingly easy-to-peg focus seems to be losing its way. The recent “WWII in HD” (pictured) makes sense, but how are sensationalist, faux-factual shows like “UFO Hunters” and myriad Bigfoot and Freemason documentaries tied into history? C’mon, guys, it’s not like you have a shortage of material. (The History Channel)

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‘An Education’: While there’s no quarreling with Nick Hornby’s scissor-sharp dialogue or Carey Mulligan’s turn as a ‘60s London schoolgirl, the film as a whole failed us. Little about Mulligan’s relationship with charming cad Peter Sarsgaard surprised us, and the film rushed to a tidy finish that felt better suited to a Hugh Grant comedy. We could’ve learned so much more. (Kerry Brown)

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‘Community’s’ Ken Jeong: We’re not entirely sure about this show -- the smugness of Joel McHale’s character is off the charts and his will-they-or-won’t-they romance with Gillian Jacobs is tiresome. But Jeong has us hooked as an unhinged Spanish teacher who seems to get more hilariously surreal each week. It’s good to see Jeong’s manic scene-stealing gifts intact post-'The Hangover.” (NBC)

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Bob Dylan‘s Christmas album: It’s hard to slag a project when the artist’s royalties go to charity, but we’re confused by “Christmas in the Heart.” The vintage arrangements are fine, but midway through all that Currier & Ives cheer come Dylan’s ravaged pipes, often resembling a bullfrog gargling rock salt. “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” sure, but Dylan sounds a far cry from heavenly. ()

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R.E.M.'s ‘Live at the Olympia': One of the more distressing musical developments over the last decade has been R.E.M.'s tumble into mediocrity. This live “rehearsal” doesn’t solve where Michael Stipe and Co. go next after 2008’s promising “Accelerate,” but it’s wonderful to hear them burn through deep cuts like “Wolves, Lower” like the young, hungry band we once knew. (Mark Matson / For The Times)

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Holiday season creep: It’s bad enough retailers have pushed our country’s seasonal shopping frenzy to Halloween‘s doorstep, but is it necessary for Hollywood to follow along? That’s right, we’re looking at you, Disney. Robert Zemeckis‘ “A Christmas Carol” may prove to be a hit, but rolling it out weeks before Thanksgiving feels like a cash-conscious choice Ebenezer himself might’ve loved. (ImageMovers Digital LLC.)

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Aerosmith: We’re not sure if we’re more surprised these rockers may have finally broken up or that people still seemed to care. Don’t get us wrong, we love “Toys in the Attic” and the culture-shifting “Walk This Way” with Run-DMC, but those were long ago. Now the only question is who gets custody of the Diane Warren power ballads, Joe Perry or the man who actually referred to himself recently as “Brand Tyler.”
>> Pop and Hiss blog:Tyler remains in Aerosmith(AFP / Getty Images)

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Bill Simmons: Among the first to offer the fan’s perspective in online sports coverage, ESPN‘s Boston-obsessed “Sports Guy” has a hit on his hands with “The Book of Basketball,” a 700-odd-page tome of roundball minutiae, personal remembrances and oddly brilliant theories that recently topped the nonfiction bestseller list. We’re eager to read, and not just because we surreptitiously grew up loving Larry Bird. (Monica Almeida / New York Times)

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‘Medicine for Melancholy’ (2008): Like many people living in L.A., we’re a frequent visitor to San Francisco, and few movies capture its confounding beauty quite as honestly as this indie drama starring “The Daily Show’s” Wyatt Cenac. Though at its heart the raw, sweetly intimate story of a 24-hour one-night stand, the film also addresses the city’s race and housing issues with documentary-like precision. (IFC Films)

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Enhanced CDs: We understand record companies are eager to add whatever bonus content they can to the fading CD format, but can they at least be sure it’s done correctly? We’ve been eager to listen to a number of new albums on our computers only to have them either not be recognized or crash our whole system. Weren’t these the sort of bad things that would happen if we downloaded albums illegally? (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

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Nomo: With Fool’s Gold and Vampire Weekend bringing African rhythms and textures to indie listeners, we recommend inquiring ears seek out this six-piece from Michigan. Mixing Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat drive with contemporary nods to post-rock dissonance and looping electronics, Nomo is a cool-burning dance-funk party waiting to happen. Start with this year’s “Invisible Cities” on Ubiquity Records. (Ubiquity Records)

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Bon Jovi: We may incur the wrath of New Jersey here, but when did these ‘80s pop-metalers become respected rock titans? We get that people are excited about the new album, but what’s with the lionizing Showtime documentary “When We Were Beautiful”? We know the band is adored and somewhat better than Warrant, Winger or Ratt, but we’re not ready for a world where Jon Bon Jovi is the new Tom Petty. (Mel Evans / Associated Press)

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ESPN‘s “30 for 30': We’ve grumbled about the self-promoting sports network in the past, but they’ve nailed it with this gripping 30-part documentary series. Tapping a variety of filmmakers such as Barry Levinson and Peter Berg, the series looks at the personal sides of events including Gretzky’s shocking move to L.A. and the rise and fall of the USFL (pictured here in 1983). These aren’t just sports stories; they’re human ones. (Allsport)

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’ Stephen Fry in America': We have a serious weakness for travel shows already, so you can imagine our delight at coming across this rumpled British comic on HDNet this fall. Centering around Fry’s dryly witty but reverent adventures across our country in an ever-so-British taxi, we may have earned no greater appreciation for our diverse country than seeing it through a foreigner’s eyes. Plus you haven’t lived until you’ve seen a European intellectual such as Fry attempt to wrap his head around Alabama college football. Jolly good show. (BBC)

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Gourmet grilled cheese: We’ve experienced, with equal parts gluttony and skepticism, the gentrification of burgers, cupcakes and all manner of comfort food. But gourmet grilled cheese sammies? We have to draw the line. No matter how fancy the cheese is, how artisanal the bread is or how you doll it up, it’s still just cheese and grilled bread. Save the $6-8 you’d pay for one of these at a food truck or a fancy restaurant, buy yourself a loaf of bread and a brick of cheddar, and warm up your frying pan. It’s all you need. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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‘Synecdoche, New York': A battery of mixed reviews were shot across the bow of Charlie Kaufman‘s directorial debut when it was in theaters, so it took awhile before we decided to give it a chance on DVD. Even though we probably couldn’t explain what, exactly, we saw in its two hours even with the help of a slide rule and a flowchart, we haven’t been able to get this bizarre story out of our heads. Was Caden dreaming? Why was Hazel’s house on fire? More importantly, how does Charlie Kaufman keep coming up with movies unlike anything we’ve ever seen? (Sony Pictures Classics)

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‘Project Runway': Alas, it’s come to this. Amid all those contractual difficulties and delays, we wanted to believe our beloved design-with-drama program would reemerge unscathed. But it has not. We’re not sure what transpired in the shift to Lifetime, but between the bland challenges, the bizarrely rotating cast of judges and completely ho-hum cast of designers, we just can’t bear to watch anymore. Sorry, ‘Runway.’ One day you’re in, the next day you’re out. (Richard Drew, Associated Press)

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‘Searching for Michael Peterson’: We’ve never been brave enough to surf anything larger than our sofa, but this documentary about the troubled ‘70s surf icon makes us wish we were. Available from the film’s website, the DVD is filled with heartfelt remembrances and remarkable footage of Peterson tearing up the waves at Australia’s Bells Beach before mental illness tragically cut his career short. Drop in. (Peter Crawford)

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‘The Simpsons’: To paraphrase a line from our childhood, this hurts us a lot more than it hurts them. But after years of clunky gags and stories, it’s time everyone admits this animation institution is a shadow of its formerly brilliant self. Among the many ills on TV, the decline of “The Simpsons” is far from our biggest worry, but it still hurts us deep inside to recognize how little this show resembles its subversive peak. (FOX)

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Jeff Dunham: We loved this ventriloquist and his uncomfortably stereotype-adjacent puppets -- when we were 12. We’re not surprised this middle-of-the-road yet top-grossing “comic” made the leap to Comedy Central, but we’re troubled by what his success means. “The Muppet Show” proved that arguing with a stuffed animal can be comedy gold, but everyone knows Dunham is doing all the talking, right? (Richard Mclaren / Comedy Central)

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Karen O: We came down in the middle on Spike Jonze‘s visually arresting but uneven adaptation of “Where the Wild Things Are,” but one thing we are certain of is its appropriately feral soundtrack, led by this singer from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Joined by a children’s choir and a host of fellow indie rockers from the likes of Liars and Deerhunter, Karen O’s raucous mood music sounds how wild childhood feels. (Simone Joyner / Getty Images)

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Disaster porn: Filmmakers have long been obsessed with new and exciting ways to depict mass destruction, but something about the trailer for the effects-heavy “2012' makes us want to spend an afternoon in the library. Never mind that this is the fourth or fifth time director Roland Emmerich has tried destroying the world, but why do these things always start in Los Angeles? Was it something we said? (Columbia Pictures)

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Small-plate dining: One of the side effects of our recession has been a resurgence in sampler-sized dining options for lower prices than ordinarily found on a white tablecloth. Except once all those small plates are added up, the bill winds up no different from the cost of a few large plates. We really don’t mind spending good money on good food, but let’s not call this subtle sleight-of-hand a nod to tough times. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

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‘Friday Night Lights’: At the request of several friends we finally tried the first season of this NBC series, and now we’re so hooked we have to somehow absorb two more seasons before the show returns Oct. 28. Seriously, you don’t have to be a fan of football or small-town Texas to get into this show; all you need to enjoy is terrific acting, writing and cinematography to team with one of the best shows on TV. (NBC)

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Louis C.K.: Ask almost any comic who’s the best stand-up working today and this balding redhead with no internal filter will most likely top their list. A longtime collaborator with Chris Rock, C.K. earned an Emmy for last year’s concert “Chewed Up,” a dark and vulgar journey through marriage and family life that’s as uncomfortably honest as it is hysterical. If you liked Carlin and Pryor, you’ll love Louis C.K. (Paul Lyden / Showtime)

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‘Eastbound & Down’: We’d heard good things about this HBO comedy starring Danny McBride as a mullet-bearing ex-major leaguer, but midway through the first season we were quickly left cold. We realize that in writer-director Jody Hill’s world, liking a character is far from a requirement, but it may be for us. Filling a screen with unpleasantness and self-absorption isn’t exactly escapist entertainment these days. (Fred Norris / HBO)

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Cougars: We shrugged off this slang for older women on the prowl when it first entered the lexicon, but now we humbly ask that it retire to some linguistic frat party in the sky. Though the term is mainstream enough to title a network comedy (starring Courteney Cox, pictured), we’re weary of its misogynistic undercurrent. Until skirt-chasing older men in convertibles get a “Wild Kingdom'-ready nickname, we’re out of the big-cat business. (ABC)

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Zombies: Finally, after wasting time with onscreen villains such as Nazis, terrorists and vampires, Hollywood has returned to a common enemy we can all get behind: the walking dead. Between the 2004 classic “Shaun of the Dead” and the gleefully absurd book “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” it’s little wonder the tongue-in-cheek carnage of “Zombieland” is a hit. Who can resist a comedy with braaains?
For The Record:The printed version of this item referred to the 2004 film as “Sean of the Dead.”(Glen Wilson / Columbia Pictures)

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Lala.com: Lost amid the concerns about MP3 file-sharing was one of its root causes: Music fans wanting to try an album before they buy. Record stores addressed this with listening stations and consider Lala an online listening station for a new era. Log in and you can sample about 7 million songs for one free listen without spending a penny. It’s like window-shopping with your ears -- what a time to be alive. ()

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Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros: Upon first hearing this band fronted by glam-pop refugee Alex Ebert (formerly of Ima Robot) we loved its commune-ready exuberance. But after seeing them live, the aggressively faux-hemian look overwhelmed the music. It’s OK to dress like an acid flashback, but we’re much more engaged when it doesn’t just feel like a fashion statement. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Another year, another round of hand wringing about who’s getting snubbed. Isn’t it better to ask why rock ‘n’ roll needed a museum in the first place? All due respect to its Cleveland home (not that the museum regards the city with any; most of its ceremonies are held in New York), but don’t most people start bands to rebel against these kinds of institutions?
For The Record: An earlier version of this slide described the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as having hosted all of its induction ceremonies in New York instead of Cleveland. In fact the ceremonies were held in Cleveland earlier this year for the first time since 1997, and a 1993 ceremony was held in Los Angeles.(Jamie-Andrea Yanak / Associated Press)

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Rashida Jones: We first grew familiar with her work from “The Office” and the otherwise-middling “I Love You, Man,” but after watching her roll with Craig Ferguson‘s lunacy on the “Late Late Show” this summer we’re convinced of her comedy chops. Between the developing “Parks and Recreation” and an appearance in the upcoming “Brief Interviews With Hideous Men,” we’re eager to see more. (Paramount Pictures)

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‘The State': Bring up this ‘90s sketch series and chances are you’ll get blank looks, but reference the work its alumni have since created -- such as “Role Models,” “Reno 911!” and “Michael & Michael Have Issues” -- and it all becomes clear: This was MTV’s “Kids in the Hall.” It’s finally been released on DVD. Licensing may have changed the show’s music, but the inventive absurdity remains intact. ()

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Gastropubs: This isn’t easy to say because we’re huge fans of craft beer and burgers so thoughtfully composed that vegetarians question their beliefs. But please, L.A. restaurateurs, we’re tapped out. Not that we don’t welcome sampling a pint from every new variety that sprouts up week after week, but if we keep flooding the market some great spots are going to close once this trend finally crests. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

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KISS: Against all odds, these metal-meets-Kabuki Theater heroes head back to the well with a new album (set for release in the costume-friendly month of October). We’ve lost count of how many “final” reunions this band of surreal ‘70s survivors has enjoyed, but we can’t decide what’s sadder: That it keeps going, or that so many people are utterly stoked to hear it replay “Alive” onstage (Patrick Doyle / The Canadian Press Images)

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The trailer for ‘A Serious Man': A surreal collage of hacking phlegm, non-sequitor dialogue and the percussive heartbeat of the main character’s head bouncing off a wall, this intense and intensely funny tease for the Coen brothers’ new film has us excited for Friday. Who knows what the film’s about, but the prospect of the brothers turning their eye on “Barton Fink” country is a seriously good thing.
>> Watch it here(Focus Features)

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‘Creepshow’ (1982): As we get ready for October’s arrival, we’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend one of our favorite collections of on-screen scary stories. Stephen King meets George Romero in a delightfully dated salute to ‘50s horror comics, and familiar faces Ed Harris, Adrienne Barbeau, a water-logged Ted Danson and more are along for the ride. Grab some popcorn and celebrate simpler scary times. ()

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‘Glee': Given our vague resistance to musicals, we were suspicious of this newcomer, especially after it enjoyed an avalanche of blog-hype last month. But after catching up last week, this comedy has become music to our ears. Think of “Election” crossed with “Freaks and & Geeks” (and surprisingly solid singing) and you’ve got the idea. It’s a “High School Musical” that doesn’t require being in high school to enjoy. (Carin Baer, FOX)

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Kanye West‘s ego: We get it: You can’t reach the top of the hip-hop game without an Ali-esque assurance that you’re the greatest. And you know what? Pound for pound, Kanye has pretty much been that for the ‘00s. But whether last weekend’s VMAs stunt was staged or another act of a guy who just can’t seem to have an undeclared thought, it’s probably best if his music did the talking for the next decade. (Jason DeCrow / AP)

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Beatlemania 2.0: Okay, we’re well past 9/9/09, everyone has absorbed the remastered albums and went on to “Meet the Beatles” all over again in digital form with “Rock Band.” Their music is unfathomably influential, and the likes of them won’t likely be seen again. Now we must move on. We love them too, but if we hear any more talk about the “Fab Four’s” legacy we’re heading off to live in a yellow submarine. (Paul Ellis / AFP/Getty Images)

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Fall: Even though it still feels like endless summer outside, we love reading about the change in the seasons back East, waiting for the leaves to turn and, most importantly, the merciful end of action movie season. We loved you, effects-heavy popcorn delivery systems and your shiny robot superheroes, but now its time to welcome back our old friends for awhile. Plot, nuance and character development, come take a seat next to us on the aisle. (Paramount Pictures)

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Joey Greco: If there was a German word for “feeling shame for those who don’t have enough sense to feel shame for themselves,” this host of the unscripted series “Cheaters” would epitomize it. Even after 10 years on the air, Greco keeps exhibiting a rare ability to feign concern for the people his show exploits. Reality television taught us long ago that every bottom is a false bottom, so we thank Joey for consistently aiming low year after year. (Cheaters.com)

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Local pro football: We admit enjoying a little football from the comfort of our couches every now and then, and we just want to voice our hearty thanks to our fair city for not securing an NFL franchise. We’ve been without a pro team for nearly 15 years, anyone notice a gap in our civic pride? Spare us your seat licenses, luxury boxes and TV blackouts, NFL executives. We’re doing just fine with USC and UCLA. (Bill Sikes / Associated Press)

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Health: No, not the act of tending to one’s well-being (though we’re sure that’s great too), we’re talking about the L.A. noise-rock band that just split our heads open with the album “Get Color.” Born out of the same unhinged downtown scene that gave us No Age and Mika Miko, Health somehow blends the airy vocal melodies of My Bloody Valentine with occasional sonic blasts of a garbage truck being welded to a 747. In a very, very good way. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Pot as plot device: Sorry, screenwriters. We know it’s a gateway drug to hijinks and hilarity when someone gets stoned on-screen (especially for the first time -- hello, Peggy Olson!), but if we can agree that marijuana is closer to the mainstream than ever, then can we agree that it’s no longer edgy to write about it? We’ve traveled on the “Pineapple Express,” we’ve watched “Mad Men” get happy. What’s next? (Carin Baer / AMC)

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Exploding people: Looking past the idea that the alien apartheid movie “District 9' is possibly the most thought- provoking hit of the summer (an easy feat), the film may have broken the record for splatter-art death scenes in one film. Sure, it’s a shocking effect, but eventually we would’ve preferred that some of that visual energy went to filling a few holes in the plot instead. (HO, AFP/Getty Images)

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“Being Human”: The premise for this BBC America series sounds like a bad “SNL” sketch -- a ghost, a werewolf and a vampire share an apartment. But over its merely six-episode first season, the series has not only avoided any sci-fi “Three’s Company” comparisons but wound up with a compelling, self-aware and funny story line. “Buffy” fans -- come out of the “Twilight” and sink your teeth into this import. (BBC / Todd Antony)

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Arve Henriksen: If you’re thirsty for surprising sounds and quietly evocative mood music, look up this sonic explorer from Norway. Imagine Miles Davis remaking “In a Silent Way” inside a snow cave and you have some idea of where this trumpeter’s atmospheric ECM release “Cartography” is coming from. There may not be a traditional jazz groove, but if you follow where Henriksen leads, you won’t miss it. (Oliver Heisch)

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The mainstreaming of mixed martial arts: While we realize that society may always demand a competition as simple as determining who’s the toughest, we never thought that we’d pine for the comparative elegance of a Don King-promoted boxing match. After catching some highlights of this new brand of televised ultra-violence, we’re filled with visions of Rome, and not in a gallant, “Gladiator” sort of way. (H. Rumph Jr, Associated Press)

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The cocktail renaissance: Yes, we’re very excited that foodies have branched out in their beverage choices in an ongoing quest to flash some gourmet cred. But seasonal organic apricots and hand-crushed ice delivered by sleigh from Iceland don’t make a $14 drink go down any easier. The economy may be in recovery, but our untrained palates are still fine with a shot and a beer, thanks. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

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Allen Toussaint’s ‘The Bright Mississippi': It’s tempting to think that after so many years in music this pianist-producer could just rest on his reputation, but instead he surprised us with a brilliant album of rich, mostly instrumental jazz. With backing from heavy-hitters such as Nicholas Payton, Marc Ribot and Joshua Redman, there’s so much New Orleans history here it should come with a bowl of gumbo. (Rafa Rivas, AFP/Getty Images)

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The maturing of Patton Oswalt: We’ve long been a fan of this comic’s smart, surreal wit, but his new CD/DVD set, “My Weakness Is Strong,” shows us something unexpected: growth. With frank -- and frankly hilarious -- talk about parenthood, depression and success, and a darkly dramatic turn in the upcoming film “Big Fan,” Oswalt’s developing into more than his former title as a “Comedian of Comedy.” (Jason Kempin / Getty Images)

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Outrage over Tom DeLay: While we weren’t planning to watch regardless, we still don’t understand the hand-wringing that came out of the announcement that the deposed Republican congressman would be joining the cast of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.” Anyone shocked by this bit of casting hasn’t been paying attention. ABC would book Sasquatch tomorrow if he’d just come out of hiding. (Haraz N. Ghanbari, Associated Press)

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Series premieres: Now that the third season of “Mad Men” is underway, can everyone -- especially newcomers -- ratchet back their expectations? We, of all people, know how tasty those steaks from sacred cows can be, but the online grousing about the show’s pace after the premiere was just confusing. “Lost” fans take note as well: These shows are marathons, not sprints. That’s what keeps us watching. (Associated Press)

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Henry Rollins on KCRW: Both have been such fixtures on the L.A. media landscape for so long that it’s easy to take them for granted, but who knew that these two seemingly distinct tastes would taste so great together? Yes, Rollins’ punk rock Brahmin shtick can get old, but who else would dare introduce metal great Ronnie James Dio to the public radio station’s tasteful airwaves? Rock on, Henry. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

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Mike Birbiglia: When we first saw this comic’s stand-up special a few years back, we misjudged him as a hoodie-wearing Steven Wright for the Bonnaroo crowd. But after hearing him on “This American Life” we understand why he’s graduated to off-Broadway. Awkward, humble and above all honest, Birbiglia’s absurdist way with a story gets us laughing without seeming like he’s trying to get a laugh. (Brian Friedman)

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ESPN: We’re not sure what happened to this network that once aired Australian Rules Football and self-effacing commercials, but few things in this world make us feel as complicit with the corporatization of sports than 15 minutes with “SportsCenter.” After enduring endless waves of witless catch phrases, blowhard analysts and “jacked-up” highlights, we’d rather retreat to a local Little League game. Quietly. (Rich Arden)

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‘Pretty in Pink': As the passing of John Hughes leads to a reevaluation of his generation-defining oeuvre, our vote for the cream of his ‘80s-tastic crop goes to this surprisingly timeless teen-misfit romance starring Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer and the equally underrated Annie Potts. Not to mention the brilliant James Spader, whose popped-collar villainy may be the spiritual forefather of the entire cast of “NYC Prep.” (Paramount Pictures)

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Woodstock: Another five years have passed, which must mean it’s time for yet another examination of Max Yasgur’s farm, Jimi Hendrix, brown acid and every myth-making wonder driven down our throats since the festival’s first anniversary. Fine, Woodstock was a one-of-a-kind communal experience, the artistic and cultural influence of which we post-boomers could never hope to top. Can we all just move on now? (Elliott Landy, AFP/Getty Images)

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‘Madchester': Now that the Stone Roses’ self-titled debut is getting the 20th anniversary reissue treatment, it’s as good a time as any to celebrate the long-gone musical movement that wedded baggy “Brady Bunch” T-shirts, dance beats and the Byrds into one glorious, druggy mess. The star-crossed Roses were quickly supplanted by Oasis in the Britpop-crazed 1990s, but we’ll never forget when “One Love” conquered all. ()

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‘Thirst': Love a good vampire movie but put off by the swoony teen beat of “Twilight” or the pay-cable camp of “True Blood”? Check out this South Korean import that won the Jury Prize at Cannes this year. There’s plenty of the requisite sex, violence and gore (it’s directed by “Oldboy’s” Chan-wook Park, after all), but it’s this film’s internal struggle of a man of faith-turned-maneater that got under our skin. (Focus Features)

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‘The world is horrible’ docs: Don’t get us wrong, we love that movies like the dolphin-slaying expose “The Cove” and the alarming over-fishing tale “The End of the Line” (pictured) are being made -- they’re a vital social service. But we’re overwhelmed. Keep making the films; but for now can we just change our behavior without seeing them? We’ll catch up with all these films later, but we’re sad enough already. (Jihad Hashim)

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Wacky weathermen: A local forecaster looking for laughs is hardly new, but can we agree that Fox’s night guy, Mark Thompson, has taken the idea to its furthest point by dancing through the weekday highs? We know the weather doesn’t change a lot here, but isn’t there real, live news out there we could be watching instead of the world’s best -- or worst -- wedding guest getting his groove on? (Fox)

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Moritz Von Oswald Trio: Apart from a long-running appreciation for Depeche Mode, we aren’t exactly electronic music heads, but this trio’s dense “Vertical Ascent” (cover at left) has us changing our tune. Joined by fellow European musicians Vladislav Delay and Max Loderbauer, the trio mixes live percussion, synths and improvisation for an album that has more in common with ‘70s krautrock and jazz than techno. ()

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Joe McPhee’s ‘Nation Time’: We completely slept on this reissue from the fantastic indie label Atavistic’s “Unheard Music Series” back in 2000, but we advise you to seek out this unearthed 1970 live recording before the decade ends. Imagine the rich, edge-of-chaos blowing of Ornette Coleman teamed with an airtight guitar-and-keyboard ensemble as funky as James Brown’s backing band. It’s acid jazz that burns. ()

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Indie ingénues: This summer it’s Zooey Deschanel, last summer (and next, given the coming “Iron Man” sequel) it was Scarlett Johansson, and many summers before that it was Winona Ryder. Nothing against future starlets who will like the Smiths, cover Tom Waits or find that reality bites, but surely there’s more to courting the “alt” fanbase than an aloof detachment, big eyes and inability to play more than one character. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

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Vincent Kartheiser from ‘Mad Men’: The third season of “Mad Men” is right around the corner, and as we’ve been frantically trying to catch up with Season 2, we’re still struck by Kartheiser’s quietly desperate exec Pete Campbell, whose worminess always walks a thin but magnetic line between tragedy and comedy. Maybe it’s because he looks like a lost sketch creation by “The Kids in the Hall’s” Dave Foley. (AMC)

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‘Top Chef Masters': While our foodie cup runneth over watching all-star chefs compete for charity, something’s been missing in this unscripted spinoff from Bravo. We initially loved being spared the backstabbing and pointedly edited personality conflicts that make up the original series, but we’re surprised to find that great skills combined with mutual respect leaves us with a show that simply needs more spice. (Bravo)

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Sunny Day Real Estate: Before emo became synonymous with asymmetrical haircuts and guy-liner, there was this anthemic, ambitious and, yes, melancholy band out of Seattle. Torn apart by internal strife before the sound they helped forge started taking off, SDRE recently announced a reunion tour, its first with original (and current Foo Fighters) bassist Nate Mendel since the mid-'90s.
Pictured: Sunny Day Real Estate’s Don Hoerner in 1999.(Geraldine Wilkins-Kasinga / Los Angeles Times)

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‘Battle of the sexes’ comedies: We get it -- it’s summer and not every movie can involve aliens and exploding robots, yet how many variations of the “women and men are so doggone different” rom-com do we need? It’s possible this year’s “The Ugly Truth” has unearthed a few fresh laughs in the formula, but we’re suspicious. Do you think that for all their differences those crazy kids might end up together in the end? (Columbia Pictures)

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‘Brick': Now that Joseph Gordon-Levitt has become one of the season’s stars for his turn in '(500) Days of Summer,” fans need to track down this oddly compelling indie from 2005. Essentially a noirish crime drama set in high school, the movie can be a tough sell given its rapid-fire and at times inscrutable update of hard-boiled patter, but if you can break through and go along for the ride, it’s well worth the journey. (Focus Features)

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Mix-tape fetishism: It may be just us, but lately we’ve noticed a resurgence in nostalgia for homemade cassette recordings made for that special someone. Yes, CD burning and iTunes playlists have rendered these obsolete, and this is a good thing. Not only did tapes sound like rubbish, but obsessing for hours on the perfect love-tape probably isn’t the healthiest way to spend a day. Burn a mix, go outside. Everyone’s happier. (Wendy Wahman / For The Times)

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‘NYC Prep': After the parade shows dedicated to the times and trials of wealthy “Housewives,” we shouldn’t be surprised that their children would be the next natural progression for Bravo. Regardless, witnessing shallow and privileged behavior on the part of adults is one thing, but taking the same “reality” show theory and applying it to high schoolers just fills us with more sadness than schadenfreude. (Virginia Sherwood / Associated Press)

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The ‘In which we . . .’ intro: Troll the Internet for a while and you’ll find no shortage of blog headlines and pithy Twitter teases that introduce stories with a nonsentence beginning with these three tired words. At first we enjoyed the touch of wry humor undercutting the detached high-mindedness of this faux-pretentious phrase, but enough is enough. Subtitle this item “In which we beg for a new clever opening line.” ()

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‘Party Down': We know Starz isn’t exactly HBO or Showtime, but with original programming like this they’re off to a good start. Created by “Veronica Mars’ ” Rob Thomas with help from Paul Rudd, this sitcom about struggling actors captures Hollywood life in a truer way than “Entourage” ever could. Plus, it’s always a pleasure to laugh with people from “Wet Hot American Summer” and “Freaks and Geeks” again. (Starz Entertainment)

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Trent Reznor: We’d lost track of Nine Inch Nails in recent years, but now that Reznor has announced his band -- in its current form, anyway -- is calling it quits, we’re reevaluating. Not only is 2007’s “Year Zero” a darkly barbed gem, Reznor’s been taking the idea of an independent artist in the digital age even further than standard-bearers Radiohead. Whatever’s next for the uncompromising Reznor, we’re listening. (Bogdan Borowiak / EPA)

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Early R.E.M. reissues: Ordinarily we’re suspicious of the baldfaced cash grab that usually constitutes the record industry’s repackaging of classic albums into “deluxe editions,” but the remastered “Murmur” and “Reckoning” have us changing our tune. The best two albums from the band that helped define alternative rock’s early days have never sounded better, whether it’s “Radio Free Europe” or “Little America.” ()

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This year’s summer movie crop: We loved “Up” and “Star Trek,” and “Transformers” and “Ice Age” seem to be printing money at the box office, but so far this year’s films are leaving us just as happy curling up at home with Netflix. Will Tarantino’s spelling-challenged “Inglourious Basterds” break us out of the doldrums? There had better be some good reviews -- Season 2 of “Mad Men” comes out this week. (Francois Duhamel / Associated Press)

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Tate Donovan: We finally started watching the first season of FX’s much-lauded “Damages” recently, and though it’s still too early to tell if we’re on board with the hype, we were delighted to get reacquainted with one of Hollywood’s top utility players. Granted, this might be nostalgia talking after too much “SpaceCamp” and “Memphis Belle” during college, but Donovan’s Everyman presence is always welcome. (FX)

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Compact discs: Industry watchers have sounded the death knell of the CD era for years, and now we’re joining the crowd in the bell tower. After the Beatles remasters are released this year, it’s a matter of time before the other, digital-based shoe drops and people sell off their collections at Amoeba. We’re not sure where that leaves all those lovely music stores, but, hey, there’s always vinyl, right? (Tim Boyle / Getty Images)

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The burger wars: No, we’re not talking about fast food. These days, all local restaurants and gastropubs seem to be required to have a signature (read: upscale) burger. Though we love the creativity that comes out of the competition for an imaginary crown, it’s time for chefs to focus on revitalizing a different American classic. Haute hot dogs, anyone? (Michael Segal)

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Our attention span: Remember the Iranian election and the green armbands? The H1N1 virus (an estimated 1 million cases in the U.S. and counting)? Or the South Carolina governor and his “disappearance”? We’re not sure whether to blame cable news, the Internet or our own information-overloaded focus, but this all-or-nothing coverage trend is troubling. Wait, what were we talking about again? (Richard Drew / Associated Press)

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Multicultural TV programming: There’s something uniquely entertaining about watching the Korean quiz show “Golden Bell Challenge,” the Armenian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” or Bollywood music videos on “Namaste America” on the weekends. And if some shows don’t have English subtitles, no problem: As with most TV, it’s actually better to not understand what’s being said anyway. (Tengku Bahar, AFP/Getty Images)

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‘Battle of the Network Stars': With every attempt to recapture the magic of the TV classic (this time it’s with ABC’s actors-and-athletes series “The Superstars”), the more elusive this perfect storm of lowbrow entertainment and high comedy proves to be. Want proof? Search YouTube for “Robert Conrad vs. Gabe Kaplan” and gaze in wonder at what made this show -- and the 1970s -- so bizarre. (Courtesy Trio TV)

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Grizzly Bear: We’re suckers for hearing the band of the moment, and the quartet’s new album, “Veckatimest,” is touted as this summer’s must-hear. Though the first single, “Two Weeks,” is an addictively airy confection, the rest of this ornate, harmony-rich album left us kind of cold. Each song is undeniably pretty but feels like an impossibly delicate construct, making us wonder whether there’s any blood underneath it all. (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

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‘The Fashion Show': In the throes of “Project Runway” withdrawal, we gave Bravo’s knockoff of itself a try. But just as in fashion, there is no substitute for the genuine article (which returns in August to Lifetime). The contestants are so willfully eccentric and catty, they seem like cartoon parodies. And as the host, Isaac Mizrahi can’t fill Tim Gunn’s stylish shoes. As Mizrahi might say, “We’re sorry, we’re just not buying it.” (Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images)

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Classic baseball on MLB.TV: We never thought we’d watch a decades-old ballgame, but one Saturday we were completely transfixed by a rebroadcast of Game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series between the Red Sox and Angels. Painful memories for Angels fans, but such feelings are leavened by seeing the game in a simpler time. And just count how many mustaches there are. Did everyone idolize “Magnum, P.I.”? (Los Angeles Times)

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Musicians as brew-masters: Kid Rock doesn’t ordinarily hold our attention for long, but something about the announcement of his new beer warmed our hearts. We love the touch of self-awareness in telling our Pop & Hiss blog that he just wanted to make “an everyday beer,” but we love even more that this will create jobs in his native Michigan. So who’s next to jump on board? Anyone up for a lovely Pearl Jam porter? (Adam Broach / Associated Press)

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‘The Goode Family': We’re carrying some serious love for Mike Judge‘s track record, but we finally decided to set his latest series aside for a while. It’s not that the overly global-conscious aren’t ripe for satire -- they are -- it’s just much funnier when it’s delivered by nuanced animated characters. Even stoic Hank Hill was much more than a Texas stereotype. (ABC)

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Travel hosts as cautionary examples: We sort of get the multicultural understanding engendered by the Travel Channel’s digestive daredevil Andrew Zimmern, but we’re at a loss after catching the promos for “Bite Me With Dr. Mike” (pictured). The premise? Guy goes to exotic locales and gets attacked by exotic creatures. Isn’t this just “Jackass” with a thicker passport? (The Travel Channel / NHNZ Productions)

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Handsome Furs: We’re often suspicious of husband-wife duos (call it scarring from the Captain & Tenille days), but the indie-rock pairing of Wolf Parade’s Dan Boeckner and spouse Alexei Perry exceeded our expectations with the album “Face Control.” Electronic beats and synths backed by growling guitar while Boeckner yelps? Oh yes, love will keep us together. (Liam Maloney)

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Season 2 of ‘The Wire': Mostly removed from the drug-slinging street corners at the series’ heart, this “chapter” from 2003 seemed like the odd duck of David Simon‘s crime drama. But the tales of the stevedores caught in the urban decay around the Baltimore docks can’t be overlooked. It’s where the show first transcended its genre. (HBO)

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‘Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiment': Though we could do without the scenes of shooting and skinning cute, fuzzy things, this unscripted Discovery Channel series had us spellbound before its finale earlier this week. With regular people hiking and foraging across the wilderness, it was often hard to fathom there wasn’t even a cash prize at stake. (Discovery Channel / Pilgrim Films)

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Daniel Tosh: It’s too soon to tell how the clip show “Tosh.0' on Comedy Central will fare, but when we stumbled upon this lanky comic’s stand-up special from 2007 on the same network, we loved his surreal, stream-of-consciousness riffs and smartly self-aware grin. Think a less fratty, more self-effacing version of Dane Cook and you’re getting warmer. (Mattias Clamer / Comedy Central)

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‘Quirky’ indie films: The eccentric has been a cinematic staple as long as we can remember, but we’re asking for a timeout after Sam Mendes’ 'Away We Go.” We love John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, but surrounded by such a rogue’s gallery of weirdos, we barely had room to breathe, much less care about their story. “Indie” is not code for “strange people.” (François Duhamel / Focus Features)

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‘Land of the Lost': This goes out to the original series and the remake. First came the series, which somehow terrified us when we were kids but now looks about as realistic as the average Handi-Cam YouTube epic. Then came the movie, which, after opening in a distant third last weekend, may prove that not every camp-nostalgia impulse can be mined for gold. (Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures)

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MTV’s ‘outrageous’ moments: Now that the dust has settled from the big “Brüno” vs. Eminem publicity stunt, can we please stop thinking the former music channel is really a network of unscripted high jinks? We’re pretty sure the last pure moment on MTV that wasn’t laser-focused on the promotion of a film, album or TV show was purely accidental. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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Computer animation: Speaking of “Up,” as beautiful and typically on point emotionally as Pixar‘s latest is, were we the only ones a little charged by the odd novelty of Disney planning to release a regular ol’ hand-drawn animated feature with “The Princess & the Frog” in December? It’s nice that studios are remembering there is still ‘toon-based life beyond pixels. (Disney Pictures)

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Ed Asner: There may be no more classic yet lovable grump in entertainment these days than the former Lou Grant, so we were thrilled to see him in the crowd-pleasing “Up.” Asner did not disappoint as adventurer Carl Fredricksen. And with a little luck, he won’t have to don another Santa suit. (He’s played St. Nick four times since 1995.) (vALERIE mACON, AFP/Getty Images)

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Jay Bennett: With the release of Wilco‘s cheekily named “Wilco (The Album)” coming in a few weeks, we were heartbroken to learn that Bennett (second from right), co-architect of three of the band’s best albums, died in his sleep on May 24. After a split with Jeff Tweedy, it never seemed he got his due, but he was an irreplaceable part of some classic songs. R.I.P., Jay.
Pictured: Wilco in 1996(Brad Miller/Warner Bros)

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Hipsters hating hipsters: Scratch almost every scruffy-bearded Echo Park guitarist in an American Apparel T-shirt and you’ll find someone bemoaning all those sheep smoking Parliament cigarettes and wearing vintage Ray-Bans at his local vegan diner. Enough. If you’re living in a hip neighborhood, you’re probably a hipster. And honestly, it’s OK. (Damon Winter / Los Angeles Times)

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Vincent on ‘Lost': Even after mulling it a while, we’re still baffled about what’s going on with those time-traveling castaways. (Though we’re thankful Walt’s chubby yellow lab -- played by Madison, according to IMDb.com -- made another appearance.) Whatever lies ahead, we hope the series doesn’t wrap up without one trademark flashback from Vincent. We bet he knows what lies in the shadow of the statue. (ABC)

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BBC America’s ‘Top Gear': After seeing a few episodes of the popular show hosted by chattering gearheads Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, we’re a bit overwhelmed by the testosterone. Yes, there was a Helen Mirren guest spot a while back, but with the program’s live audience, it’s sort of like “The Man Show” dipped in 30-weight. (BBC Worldwide)

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The Jazz Bakery: We desperately hope that this isn’t a “don’t know what you got till it’s gone” situation and that this intimate, reverent little music hall finds a new home -- soon. It’s not a terribly good time for music, but here’s to this room beating the odds and coming back better than ever before. May the Bakery rise again.
>> Read the Times story here(Jay L. Clendenin, Los Angeles Times)

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Kid fashionistas: We’re all for precocious children, but is asking for an ascot well before one’s bar mitzvah a good thing? We don’t want to scar any preadolescents who might get misty about the Rodarte sisters or dress like a Victorian-era dandy, but we gotta say: There’s something charming about kids in hot-cocoa-stained T-shirts, not Coco Chanel. (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)

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Woody Allen vs. Dov Charney: It’s the kind of lawsuit we would have loved to have seen on Court TV. Allen sued American Apparel for using his image on billboards without permission. Last week, American Apparel settled but founder Charney said his insurance company made the choice. And he offered this anti-mea culpa: “I’m not sorry for expressing myself.” (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Wine bars: If 2008 was the year of the gastropub, 2009 is shaping up to be the year of the wine bar -- at least in Los Angeles. Combining all the aesthetic annoyances of yuppiedom with all the snobbery of vinophilia, the ever-expanding cadre of “chic, intimate, delightfully priced” wine bars just makes us want to grab a 40 of malt liquor and drink it from a paper bag. (Jim Pease / For The Times)

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Phoenix: The Parisians in this band are hipsters to the core -- frontman Thomas Mars’ baby momma is Sofia Coppola, for Pete’s sake -- but their latest album, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix,” proves the clever pop of 2006’s “It’s Never Been Like That” wasn’t a fluke. We recommend the Classixx remix of the new single “Liztomania” -- pure disco cotton candy. (Paul Bernhard)

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‘Adventureland’: The marketing behind this coming-of-age comedy had us thinking it was basically “Superbad” rewired as a late-’80s period- piece. Boy, were we wrong. Quietly, Greg Mottola delivered one of the most achingly honest depictions of growing up in the post-Reaganit’s set in 1987 years we’ve seen, with all the awkwardness, pathos and humor intact — and great music too. Our Gen X cup runneth over. (Abbot Genser, Associated Press)

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Deadspin.com: We’re not hard-core sports fans, but as a variety of athletes (hello, Mannywood) disappoint us in one form or another, it’s nice to know there’s a blog to treat our variety of athletic entertainment options with the irreverence they deserve. Given its frequently lowbrow tone, it’s certainly not for everyone, but neither are most center-field bleachers after the sixth inning. (deadspin.com)

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TV morning news: What with our usual rush out the door in an explosion of coffee and wrinkled clothing, we haven’t caught much TV in the a.m. lately. But when did the “news” go from being “perky” to “aggressively chatty”? Not that we need to return to the genial ’80s calm of David Hartman, but information may not be best served via a hopped-up cocktail party. (Getty Images)

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Robin Thicke: We’re prepared to live in a world where the son of the “Growing Pains” dad can become the new Justin Timberlake, or George Michael (check the ’80s shades he rocked on “ The Daily Show”). But let’s rein in the praise, oh, vocal online fan base. Singing falsetto does not make him the next Marvin Gaye. But if all goes well, someone someday may be called the new Robin Thicke. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

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Depeche Mode: Between the absurd-in-hindsight “riot” at the Beverly Center in 1990 and last month’s free concert on Hollywood Boulevard, the English synth-pop band has been L.A.'s house band of sorts for going on two decades. Now they’re back with a new record and two nights at the Bowl this summer, but the real surprise is how good they still sound after so many years. Guitar bands may age, but electronics are forever. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

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Steven Soderbergh‘s ‘Solaris': We’re risking the wrath of devotees of Tarkovsky’s 1972 original, but the key to Soderbergh’s 2002 version is not simply thinking of it as a remake. It’s more an exploration of loss under Soderbergh’s cool direction; George Clooney and Natascha McElhone offer an ambiguously creepy take on love and regret; and Cliff Martinez’s icy electronic score sends the film into an orbit all its own. (20th Century Fox)

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’ Star Trek’ -- again: Wow, so we’re still talking “in Klingon” (yuk yuk) about Kirk, Spock and McCoy. What, we didn’t get enough “Star Trek” from the 10 movies or six TV series that preceded J.J. Abrams’ prequel that opened this weekend? Let the sci-fi completists have at it -- the rest of us will patiently await the film version of “Battlestar Galactica.” With origins in the ‘70s instead of the ‘60s, it’s slightly fresher geek fare. (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

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Andy Milonakis’ ‘Let Me Twitter Dat': We’ve mentioned our ambivalence toward Twitter in this space before, but somehow this comic found something even more annoying -- poorly done musical satire in its honor. Not that we expected some Noël Coward-level wit from a “Man Show” veteran, but somehow this song made us yearn for the intellectually stimulating songcraft of “Weird” Al Yankovic. (Stephen Osman / Los Angeles Times)

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Kristin Scott Thomas: After “The English Patient,” we sort of lost track of her. It took a couple of turns in recent foreign dramas, such as “I’ve Loved You So Long” and ' Tell No One,” to remind us how arresting she can be. But check out IMDB -- did you realize she’s also done comedy? An “Ab Fab” ep and the unintentionally hilarious “Under the Cherry Moon” (with Prince!). Seriously, we’ll follow her anywhere. (Thierry Valletoux / Sony Pictures)

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‘The Iron Giant': Remember our Vin Diesel item a while ago? We picked up a copy of this DVD last week and were reminded how charming director Brad Bird‘s big-screen debut is. “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille” may have more pizazz with Pixar‘s computer-generated muscle behind them, but this film’s timeless message and “Giant'-sized heart trumps them both. How this didn’t generate just as much acclaim is beyond us. (Warner Bros.)

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M.I.A.: That’s right, we’re going there for music’s latest darling, Grammy performance and all. Look, we love her songs (especially “Kala” -- that’s just unimpeachable). But please, M.I.A., don’t coat your mainstage Coachella performance in a bunch of dissonant sound effects and grouse about wanting to be back in the tents. You’re talented, and many people want to hear your music. Isn’t that why you got into this? (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

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‘Observe and Report': No one loves dark comedy more than us, which is what made this film so puzzling. We for the most part enjoy Jody Hill’s cringe-inducing style of comedy, but usually there’s a heart buried somewhere inside “Eastbound & Down” and his other weird worlds. This time, it was just bad behavior by bad people that, instead of making us laugh, made us feel, well, bad. Maybe Hill needs to lighten up for a while. (Peter Sorel / Associated Press)

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Good boys: First, the Jonas Brothers’ movie tanked and now Zac Efron is looking to warm our hearts with ' 17 Again.” More power to those who want to branch out from the “High School Musical” franchise, but it sure seems like “Twilight’s” Rob Pattinson is running away with the title for teen heartthrob in 2009. Vampirism isn’t for everyone, but it might be time to try rocking the facial hair or a couple of scary tattoos, Zac. (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

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Record Store Day 2009: Part of us fears one day this informal holiday may have as much resonance as Hug a Passenger Pigeon Day, but we’re grateful to have had Saturday to bounce from local shop to shop and pick up special releases from the likes of Tom Waits and the Flaming Lips. With luck, maybe a “slow music” movement along the lines of the food industry will take root and we can celebrate this every day. (Pat Wellenbach / Associated Press)

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Celebrities who Twitter: With every tech advancement in self-promotion comes a new wave of the famous and fortunate to share their thoughts with fans and (in this case) followers. It’s like that tabloid column “They’re just like us!” except in this case it’s not necessarily something to celebrate. Turns out the velvet-rope crowd doesn’t have anything interesting to say in 140 characters or less, either. (Stephen Haas / Associated Press)

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Teenage Fanclub: Not to delve too deeply into the “obscure rock” genre, but our iPod shuffle recently reminded us of just how catchy, smart and downright terrific this band is. If the last you heard was the ‘90s-hyped “Bandwagonesque,” do yourself a favor and get friendly with the Scottish songwriters’ flawless “Songs From Northern Britain” or 2005’s comeback “Man-Made.” Sunny power pop never felt so good. (Donald Milne)

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Vin Diesel: Just look at that name -- simply reading it makes you tougher. We didn’t realize how much we missed a good monosyllabic action hero until the third sequel to “The Fast and the Furious” hit theaters. And did you know Vin provided the guttural voice for the title character in “The Iron Giant”? As long as he steers clear of roles requiring actual human emotion, this man could be our governor one day. (Universal Pictures)

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Lady Gaga: Forgive us for running a bit behind here, but we’re haunted to this day by what we witnessed from the dance music star du jour on “American Idol.” What’s with the violin? Are we sure that wasn’t Christina Aguilera? And why doesn’t this woman wear pants? We give her props for the clearly insane sewing work that goes into her stage outfits, but we’ll be glad when this Euro-tinged electro-pop storm passes. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)

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Chrissie Hynde: Whatever your feelings were about the Pretenders’ country-dusted 2008 album, “Break Up the Concrete,” the power of this frontwoman cannot be denied. Have you seen her lately? We caught a Pretenders performance on HDNet last weekend, and seriously, the woman sounds like not a day has passed since 1984. Can someone check her closet to see if there’s a photo of her aging? (Joel Ryan / Associated Press)

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‘Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern': We almost feel guilty knocking this show, as this chef/digestive adventurer is clearly as eager to please as he is to eat unmentionables, but Zimmern’s nerdy energy and foodie-baiting oohs and ahhs just aren’t as fresh as its Travel Channel cousin “No Reservations.” Call us cynics, but if all we wanted was sightseeing enthusiasm, we’d turn to Huell Howser. Bring back our Anthony Bourdain. (Travel Channel)

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John Cusack: Oh, John. You inspired teenage dreams with “Say Anything” and spoke for a nation of record geeks in the adaptation of Nick Hornby’s “High Fidelity.” But you slogged through “1408' like a man who’d rather be somewhere -- anywhere -- else, and despite indie efforts such as “Grace Is Gone” and “War, Inc.,” we’re worried you’re falling into the dark side. Stay quirky, Cusack. The world already has a Nic Cage. (David Appleby)

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Delayed DVR gratification: It’s a risky move to withhold a series’ output from yourself (particularly if you spend any time on the spoiler-ridden Internet), but the payoffs are great. We just now started the final season of “Battlestar Galactica,” and it’s wonderful to knock out a bunch of episodes in one sitting with prior shows fresh in our minds -- and we decide on the cliffhangers. Suspense is so 2005. (SCI FI Channel)

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Philip Glass’ film work: Far be it from us to slag a musical treasure, but the Minimalist themes that are his stock in trade can be absolutely lethal during late-night movie viewing. We once heard Glass referred to as “Philip Glass, Philip Glass,” a joke we didn’t get until being lulled to sleep during the otherwise excellent “The Fog of War.” Talented guy, but some scores should come with warning labels. (Claire Folger)

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The 33 1/3 series: Now up to 63 titles, this set of classic-album deconstructions in mini-book form does wonders to disprove the notion that writing about music is like dancing about architecture. Want to ponder the cultural significance of Celine Dion or explore Black Sabbath’s “Master of Reality” through the eyes of a disturbed teen? This series has both and much more. Listen up and start reading now. (Continuum)

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Anna Faris in ‘Smiley Face': This googly-eyed blond recently became a comedy It Girl, but after watching this 90-minute goof from 2007 by Gregg Araki we’re left as bewildered as her drugged-out character. Between this and ' House Bunny,” we’re wondering when playing dumb became the ticket to stardom? Wait, don’t answer that. (Lacey Terrell)

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The Airborne Toxic Event: Far be it from us to slag a rising local band, but after seeing its performance at SXSW (yes, on TV), we’re wondering what the fuss is about. Decent songs, but do we really need another Interpol? A hint: Covering “Goodbye Horses” from that creepy “Silence of the Lambs” scene doesn’t make you dark. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)

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DirecTV’s TV101: We missed SXSW this year, but thankfully this satellite-provided network was showing interviews and live performances all weekend long. It didn’t always have the hot new buzz bands (Echo & the Bunnymen, anyone?), but it was still great to see Austin’s own March Madness without the maddening crowds.
Pictured: Charlie Reid of the Proclaimers performs at the DirecTV Live showcase during SXSW(Sasha Haagensen / Getty Images)

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Pearl Jam‘s ‘Ten': It’s the album no hipper-than-thou music fan ever wants to admit owning, but now it’s back with a brand-new mix in a variety of special-edition re-releases (including an insane four-LP version for $200). Scoff if you will, but the freshened-up album sounds to us today even more like it did back in 1991: classic. (Associated Press)

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Hobo chic: With the recession come many ways to capitalize on it, but the most annoying is this mini-trend. Upscale restaurants and bars play at being poor with brown bag service, “soup kitchen” specials and pink slip parties (yes, you, Café Was and Bar Celona). Combine this with Depression-era fashion, and the cavalier disregard for the real human cost of this recession starts boggling the mind.
Photo: Fashion from the Moschino men’s show in Milan, 2009.(Peter Stigter)

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’ Rachel Getting Married’: As we catch up on last year’s Oscar nominees, we sadly came away underwhelmed with Jonathan Demme‘s drama. Anne Hathaway was solid as the flaw in the World’s Most Fabulous Connecticut Wedding, but these times make it tough to feel too empathetic for Cheever-esque tales of upper-class woe. And that omnipresent string section didn’t help. (Sony Pictures Classics)

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Real, live books: They’re portable, often boast pleasing-to-the-eye cover art and, through the magic of turning pages, you can monitor your progress through a novel or memoir -- no batteries required! Plus, they make for a great conversation piece and are easy to consult for future reference. The Kindle may yet be our future, but until then we’ll be clinging to our still-wireless world of paper. (Los Angeles Times)

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Scaling back on music consumption: We’re dyed-in-the-wool music nerds, so our iPod once runneth over with just about every song or album that crossed our mind. But so far our resolution to rein it in for 2009 has paid off. Remember when new music was pored over and absorbed after every trip to the record shop? Here’s to slowing down to explore and love our finds before acquiring more. (Alexander F. Yuan / Associated Press)

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Russell Brand: We enjoyed this haystack-haired comic’s appearance in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” but after seeing his stand-up on BBC America and Comedy Central, we’re mystified as to his standing as a comedic heavy-hitter. We’ve been a fan of British comedy since first seeing “Monty Python.” So far, Brand strikes us as a glib rock star without a band. What are we missing? (Nancy Pastor / For The Times)

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The Bad Plus: We’d lost track of this jazz trio since its 2003 major-label debut, “These Are the Vistas,” knocked us out with intellectual virtuosity and a quirky sense of covers (Aphex Twin’s “Flim” is only scratching the surface). But its latest album, “For All I Care,” won us over. It’s worth hearing the group, joined by vocalist Wendy Lewis, breathe life into “Lithium” and “Comfortably Numb.” (Chris Floyd)

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‘Zero Effect': Seeing Bill Pullman in last year’s middling “Bottle Shock” reminded us of our fondness for the character actor’s chops, particularly in this buried treasure from 1998. Directed by a then-23-year-old Jake Kasdan and buoyed by a quietly exasperated Ben Stiller as sidekick to Pullman’s eccentric detective Daryl Zero, this comedy is worth getting to know. Got time for a sequel? (Gemma La Mana)

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Asher Roth’s ‘I Love College’: We loved it too, but given the economic implosion, we can’t decide if now is the perfect or worst time for a song celebrating being zonked out of your mind through higher education. It’s not as if there’s a job waiting once that red frat-boy cup runs dry, so by all means hold off as long as possible. But hopefully a few people are studying for a way out of this mess. (YouTube)

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“Family Guy': Ever since “The Simpsons” started losing the zip on its fastball a few years back, people have recommended a visit to Quahog, R.I., for sharp animated satire. Although the show has moments of inspired lunacy, is there really a comparison between its reliance on censor-testing humor and endless cutaway tangents and what Springfield brought to the table during its subversive peak? D’oh, no. (Fox)

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Arena shows: Corporate assurances aside, the recent Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger can’t bode well with regard to already-inflated service charges ($2.50 to print our own ticket? Really?) and sanctioned scalping outlets like TicketsNow. As much as we love our big rock shows from the likes of U2 and Prince, we might have to beg off if costs go much higher. Here’s to cramped clubs and paying at the door. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Soul Coughing: As we wait for the next nostalgia wave to crest for all things 1990s, hopefully this melder of warped jazz with spoken-word weirdness will get its due. Those familiar only with its minor alt-rock hits “Super Bon Bon” and “Circles” should explore the ’94 album “Ruby Vroom,” if only for the biting funk rant “Screenwriter’s Blues.” Aside from Randy Newman, no one’s written a wittier anthem for our city. (Marcelo Krasilcic)

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The “Miles From India” set: In the wake of “Slumdog Millionaire,” Americans are enjoying a mini-fascination with the sights and sounds of India. So explore this two-disc collection of Miles Davis covers by his past bandmates teamed with top Indian jazz players? It sounds like a strange mix -- and at times it is -- but the rewards are hearing the ever-evolving spirit of jazz within these inspired excursions. ()

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‘Jules and Jim': We risk incurring the wrath of cinéastes everywhere, but after finally taking in this 1962 Truffaut classic, we were honestly left underwhelmed, even a bit bored. Yes, it’s all very lovely to look at and filled with that very special variety of Gallic romanticism, but we couldn’t figure out just what made the erratic Jeanne Moreau so irresistible. Call us heretics, but we prefer Truffaut’s “400 Blows” any day. (Fox Lorber Features)

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Lily Allen‘s internal monologue: Because the poor woman clearly doesn’t have one. Lily, we adore you and your music, but it’s clearly time to rise above tabloid-satisfying acts such as getting into a Twitter-feed slap-fight with the likes of Perez Hilton. Next time, instead of airing your every thought to a gossip-hungry blogosphere and beyond, you know what you should do? Go write a song about it. (Bloomberg News)

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Current TV: We first dismissed this user-generated-content-crazed network as MTV’s “True Life” with cooler graphics, but lately we’ve been hooked on its view of TV 2.0. Documentaries from the network’s “Vanguard” series pulled us in with storytelling that rivaled the best of NPR, and comedy segments on “infoMania” tweaked mass media as well as “The Daily Show.” This current is picking up speed.
Photo: Al Gore at a press conference announcing the launch of Current in 2005.(Paul Sakuma / Associated Press)

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Robert Downey Jr.‘s Oscar chances: Though we enjoyed “Tropic Thunder,” we’re still dumbfounded with the ironic reality of Downey’s supporting actor nod (he played an actor obsessed with academy recognition). Regardless, Oscar speculators know that comedy equals death in this game, and frankly we’re OK with that. Downey’s been much better in roles that didn’t require face paint. (Merie Weismiller Wallace / Associated Press)

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This year’s best picture class: As much as it depresses us to say, we’re not terribly enthused about any of the choices at the top of our Oscar score card. “Slumdog” is a slick fairy tale but pretty thin by Oscar standards; we’ve already kvetched about “Milk” and “Benjamin Button'; and “The Reader” came close to making us feel like Nazi sympathizers. Is it “Frost/Nixon” by default? Wake us for 2010. (EPA / Universal Pictures)

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Bobby Hutcherson’s ‘Head On': We slept on this Blue Note reissue when it dropped last year, but don’t make the same mistake. The legendary vibraphone player is in top form on this 1971 album, stretching out for some “Bitches Brew'-esque jazz-funk, and the package gets only better with head-bobbing bonus tracks such as the nearly 20-minute workout “Hey Harold.” Good vibes all around. (Blue Note)

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Opening title sequences: Think of the most acclaimed TV series -- what do many of them have in common? Whether classics such as “Hill Street Blues” and “Mission: Impossible” or recent favorites such as “Six Feet Under” and “Mad Men,” the shows that broke ground with eye-catching visuals or music were usually doing the same thing with their storytelling. So often the best shows have us at “hello.” (AMC)

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Blossom Dearie: Missed in the hubbub of last week’s Grammys was the loss of one of the sweetest voices in the jazz world (or any other); the singer died in her sleep at 82. For those who aren’t familiar, think back to “Figure Eight” or “Unpack Your Adjectives” from the “Schoolhouse Rock” cartoons. Who else could’ve made multiplication tables sound as lovely and smooth? (Associated Press)

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The new wave of 3-D: Forgetting the visceral thrills that can result when a child or pickax appears to drop right into your popcorn from the screen, we’re a little concerned that this trend appears to be growing, particularly in animated films. Movies still need more than effects. “Coraline,” for example, was a visual feast even in 2-D, but the story still felt flat. (Associated Press)

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Artistic integrity: We’re respectfully requesting the return of “selling out” as an insult, particularly in terms of music. Yes, times are hard, but the line must be drawn once more. We want to hear artists such as Wilco, Cat Power and Modest Mouse without thinking of a new automobile, and hopefully the next generation agrees (No Age [pictured], we’re looking at you). (Karen Tapia-Andersen / Los Angeles Times)

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Self-imposed TV blackouts: We spent a recent week roughing it away from what Homer Simpson called “television’s warm glowing warming glow” and we have to say, it does a body good. There’s too much news and entertainment out there to make such decisions permanent -- especially while “Lost” is just starting to make sense -- but it’s sobering to remember that TV is a treat, not a whole mea (Michael Sohn / Associated Press)

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Coachella 2009: The annual concert in the desert has spoiled us with top-line performances such as Rage Against the Machine, Kraftwerk and the Pixies, but it’s that track record that left us feeling so uninspired about the coming lineup. All due respect to Paul McCartney, Morrissey, et al, but where’s the can’t-miss headliner? With so many like-minded festivals, the answer is “probably across the country.” (Monty Brinton/CBS)

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Crossword puzzles: Mark it down (or across): Sudoku is so mid-2000s. Stretching your word power is back. Hollywood’s on board as well, with Sandra Bullock fraying the edges of plausibility as a lovesick crossword puzzle nerd in the upcoming movie “All About Steve,” set for a March release. We make no promises about the entertainment value of the film, but the folded page is always a safe bet. (PBS)

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The JoBros’ Grammy nomination: We rarely court teen or ‘tween anger on a Sunday, but if the Jonas Brothers walk away with a statuette tonight (Update: they didn’t), it may be another plague-of-locusts harbinger of the End Times. Trust us, JoBros fans: Having grown up loving Duran Duran, we understand -- but they don’t deserve the hardware. Big sales and the nostalgia circuit in 2021 is all the musical legacy they’ll need. (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

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Bruce Springsteen at the Super Bowl: It’s what the Boss was born to do: bellow big anthems recalling one’s glory days in front of tens of thousands of earnest boomers having the most expensive night of their lives. In the Dad-rock triumvirate of Macca, Petty and Bruce that have played recent halftime shows, the pride of Asbury Park seemed most at home. (Amy Sancetta / Associated Press)

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‘Top Chef’ canoodling: Realistically, no network is going to cry “cut” when two reality show contestants start an illicit romance, but we wish Bravo had. Maybe we’re old-fashioned, but we watch these cooking contests for two reasons: mind-scrambling displays of skill and maybe a culinary train wreck or two. If we wanted “The Real World” with seared scallops, we’d find it. (Bravo)

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The Oscar push for ‘Milk': No doubt, the same-sex marriage debate and Proposition 8 injected this movie with greater significance than most end-of-year releases, but let’s rein in the accolades. Sean Penn is remarkable as usual, but that doesn’t forgive the narrative broad strokes and on-the-nose dialogue that leave parts of this film feeling like a well-done TV movie. (Focus Features)

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’ Wall-E': This one’s for the academy: Just because a movie was created by animators working around the clock on computers doesn’t mean it can’t be one of the best pictures of the year. Few movies of the year possessed a sharper story, stronger message or bigger heart than this little guy, and he was more alive on-screen than some actors we know. Great films are great films, period. (Associated Press)

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Exclamatory choruses: We’re surely not alone on this, but Beyoncé's “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” has been running through our heads nonstop, and it’s not because of the aggressively choreographed video -- it’s that weightless flurry of “ohs,” stickier than buckwheat honey. Let Morrissey and Andrew Bird pore over thesauri; sometimes, two letters are all anyone needs. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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Crying for ‘Benjamin Button': We’re big fans of director David Fincher, so we went into this with expectations high. But something in this supposed love story left us wanting. Maybe it’s Brad Pitt‘s nonreaction reactions to his life’s events, or the artful visual effects overshadowing any of the film’s occasional signs of life. In the end, we were most depressed about having spent our whole night in an under-stuffed theater seat. (Paramount Pictures / EPA)

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Indie 103.1: The late, lamented station seemed to have no shortage of fans, but apparently not enough to keep it going. The station wasn’t perfect -- it certainly had a playlist of songs like any other commercial radio outlet, and some of its shows didn’t hit as well as others (“Feel My Heat,” we’re looking in your direction). But we truly didn’t know what we had until it was gone. RIP, Indie. May the Internet be with you. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Inaugural celebrations: Admittedly, we hit the wall with the 24-hour Obama coverage on the news networks this past week, but only the most cynical among us can truly admit to being unmoved. Seriously, most occasions featuring awkward musical medleys with the likes of U2, Bruce Springsteen and Garth Brooks involve award shows and sporting events. It was heartening to see so much fuss about something truly historic. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

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Jon Bon Jovi: We’re not out to alienate any Jersey transplants out there, but when did this former hair-band frontman become a soul singer? An R&B legend like Bettye LaVette is belting out “A Change Is Gonna Come” at the “We Are One” inauguration concert last weekend, and Bon Jovi is considered a suitable duet partner? Let Jon sing from “Slippery When Wet” -- we like him there. But Sam Cooke isn’t his comfort zone. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

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Blue Note: Jazz may not occupy the same prominence it once enjoyed, but we’re grateful this label has remained a constant for going on 70 years. New signees such as the Bird and the Bee and Aaron Parks show it will keep evolving beyond what traditionalists consider jazz, but this is a perfect month to revisit its remarkably deep and influential back catalog as well. Jazz still rocks. (Blue Note Records)

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HDTV: Like many viewers, we looked at this as a pleasant but boutique extravagance. After a post-holiday splurge, we have to admit: It kind of rules. The trick will be keeping this from making our burgeoning TV habit a crippling disorder, but with choices like seemingly 3-D reruns of the BBC’s “Planet Earth” (pictured) and mind-bogglingly sharp sporting events, consider us hooked again. (Terry Andrewartha)

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“30 Rock” guest stars: As the awards add up, we’re not alone in saying we like this show. And we get that it’s been struggling for ratings, but surely there’s a better way than stunt-guest-casting every episode with Steve Martin (pictured), Salma Hayek and Jennifer Aniston. Hey, NBC: The rest of the inmates at this workplace asylum (Kenneth, Frank and Pete) kept us coming back too. (Nicole Rivelli / NBC)

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Animal Collective: Most haven’t even heard of this yelpy cult rock band, but those in the know bought its critically acclaimed new album, “Merriweather Post Pavilion.” The vinyl pre-release cracked the Billboard charts, but we fear this emperor still has no clothes. The live shows are messy atonal workouts, and past albums hit us as uneven takes on inscrutable art-rock. What are we missing? (Takahiro Imamura)

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‘Fringe’: After we initially resisted J.J. Abrams’ latest addition to his storytelling empire, the reruns of this spooky Fox series finally hooked us. Anna Torv may not be the most magnetic lead and John Nobel’s “Nutty Professor” shtick wears a bit thin, but the show rivals its network cousin “The X-Files” now that it’s built up a head of steam. We have no idea what’s happening, of course, but we identify with the Observer. (Ben Mark Holzberg / FOX)

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The persistence of time: Seriously, it’s 2009? Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago we were stockpiling canned food before all the forecast Y2K mayhem? Instead of fixating on the years flying by, take comfort in knowing that many current pop culture favorites are bound for a lower profile in 10 years. Nothing against the pleasures of 1999, but how often do we look back on Smashmouth and “The Phantom Menace”? (Bill Kaye / LucasFilim)

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Tragic dog movies: We’re animal lovers to the core, but we don’t remember hearing a public outcry for new, more effective reasons to sob into our sleeves in movie houses. “Marley & Me,” the dog and the book were charmers, but maybe we’re just too sensitive to confront such matters over the holidays. Just because a new generation didn’t have its own “Old Yeller” doesn’t mean it needed one. (Barry Wetcher / Associated Press)

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Indie-rock couplings: Last year, we weathered the puzzling (and short-lived) pairing of Natalie Portman and freak-folker Devendra Banhart, but the inter-scene trend reached an apex with the recently announced engagement of indie-cred-tastic couple Zooey Deschanel and Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie. There’s nothing wrong with like-minded people finding happiness, but is the scene really lacking its very own Brangelina that badly? (Nancy Pastor (Gibbard) ; Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images (Portman)

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