People in my business don’t keep traditional hours. We get up late when everyone else is bustling around and knee-deep into their day, and we stay up late long past when everyone has gone off to sleep.
Baseball hours, some call it. More like Vampire hours with slightly more negative ions.
Anyway, after the games end and the writin’ is all done, it’s time to unwind. Sometimes that means a TV show or two or some serious web surfin’.
The past two nights, however, I tuned into the new Jimmy Fallon show. Fallon, of course, is replacing Conan O’Brien, who is replacing Jay Leno, who, strangely, still will have a show. Apparently Jay is funny – his act is a hit in Branson.
But Jimmy Fallon was not the reason the Jimmy Fallon Show was intriguing. OK, that’s a lie… there was a bit of curiosity there, but we won’t get into that now. Maybe later. In the meantime, our curiosity was piqued by Fallon’s house band, the legendary Roots crew from South Philly.
The Roots are a pretty good reason to check into a tee-vee show. Not only are they really good, talented, interesting, funny and all of that, they are local.
South Philly in the…!
Anyway, media types are prone to hyperbole and labels and all of that. As such, I like to use those things when they are convenient and in this case, the general media consensus is that The Roots are the best hip-hop group in the history of the genre. Hey, absolutes, labels and whathaveyou are tricky things, but in this case, we’ll roll with it.
Who doesn’t love The Roots? Especially after this humorous bit with the host of the show:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0TQcnx8IBY&hl=en&fs=1]
In Philly, the local media has correctly chronicled The Roots’ new gig. In fact, there was a now-dead link story on Philly.com about how gig with Fallon might have saved The Roots. I didn’t read it because the link disappeared into oblivion, but I get the premise. Times are tight and with the cutbacks and everything else, bands will have an especially more difficult time booking gigs. Luckily for The Roots, they will have a steady gig every night of the week.
Musicians (artists) just want to work. That's all... just some steady gigs.
On another note, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, the lyricist/MC of The Roots is the most-well known alum of Millersville University out here in the hinterlands of Lancaster, Pa.
Think about that: Black Thought of the legendary Roots, the greatest hip-hop group ever (yep, using what they give me) and now featured on a network television program went to Millersville.
And how have the local press reacted out here in Lancaster?
(crickets)
Yes, they’re staying on top of all the trends in Lancaster. Good work.
Taking the points (and going to the bank) Generally, I’m not a gambling man (other than with my life), but I made a bet on a sporting event scheduled for Thursday.
Yes, I am betting against the Globetrotters.
Actually, let’s clarify that: Our favorite writer, John Gonzalez, was kind enough to give me the Generals and 25 points. And though the ‘Trotters have lost just two games since 1962, my guess is they aren’t as good against the spread.
It’s almost too easy…
*** New Center City is coming tonight. Be ready.