The 2009 Brainies Awards

The 2009 Brainies: theunibrain's First Annual Boxing Day Awards for Excellence In Entertainment and Stuff.

Death of the year
Carolyn: Michael Jackson. I still can’t believe it’s happened and I still half-think that it’s yet another of his media manipulations and he’ll “return from the dead” for a Comeback Tour in 2015.
Scott: There can be no disagreement here.

But without tragedy we wouldn’t have had:
Carolyn: Corey Feldman of The Two Coreys fame arriving to Jacko’s memorial dressed as… Michael Jackson
Scott: Or Marlon Jackson coming out of hiding. Oh, and MJ's kids being unveiled. So THAT's what Blanket looks like without a blanket over him!

Reunion of the Year
Carolyn: Seinfeld cast on Curb Your Enthusiasm – sure, it made no sense when the episodes aired out of order in Australia but it was hells worth it just for the exchange between Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld about Christopher Walken. “I don’t know why he was on the boat.” Damn straight.
Scott: Andy Dick and sobriety.

Movie of the Year
Carolyn: The Hangover cos next week's no good for me... The Jonas Brothers are in town. But any week after that, it's totally fine.
Scott: Really the only movie I liked as much as The Hangover this year was Star Trek. Who ever would have seen that coming? Thanks JJ!

Worst Movie of the Year
Scott: In a year that brought us Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, Bride Wars, Land Of The Lost and The Lovely Bones, we were really spoiled for choice. But the winner has to be 2012; tired format, tired script, several decent actors totally slumming it. Paranormal Activity, meanwhile, was the least scary scary movie of all time. I fell asleep.
Carolyn: I saw Meg Ryan in The Women on DVD this year. Do not make the same mistake. However, the movie at the cinemas that made me the most angry was The Ugly Truth. Just a poor effort all round and that part with the hot air balloons? Are we even gonna pretend that wasn't green screen? I realise it's 2009 but how hard is it to take out a real hot air balloon and film it? Not very, I say. PS: 2012 was disaster-tastic and I didn't hate Bride Wars. Is that wrong?


Song The 'Brain CLEARLY made a huge hit (maybe): Sam Clark's "Broken". Well done Sam! Well done us! It's time to take another listen...




Australian star who would do well to get to America cos he's awesome: Sam Clark.

Stars we like the best who rhyme: Kylie and Miley

Stars we like the best who rhyme and who should thusly record a duet asap: Kylie and Miley.

Song of the Year
Carolyn: I want to give my vote to "3 Little Words" by Frankmusik but it was snatched out of his hands at the last minute by Lady Gaga’s "Bad Romance". Sorry Frankster.
Scott: I went to my iTunes play count for this answer. It was also Gaga! But very close runners-up are "Beat Again" by JLS, "Who Says" by John Mayer, "Break Your Heart" by Taio Cruz and "Battlefield" by Jordin Sparks.

TV Show of the Year
Carolyn: I want it to be Glee but to be honest if it wasn’t for Jane Lynch, I wouldn’t still be watching. I hand my award to The Big Bang Theory (I heart Sheldon!) and give honourable mentions to Modern Family, Cougartown and Parks & Recreation.
Scott: It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Could not agree more with honourable mentions. Additional honourable mentions: 30 Rock, My Life On The D-List, The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty.

Far more entertaining off TV than on:
Scott: Home and Away. Oh my.
Carolyn: Two And A Half Men... his arrest is just unfolding but hey, it's Charlie Sheen and it's just GOT TO be more entertaining than on TV.

Best drunken TV host: Karl Stefanovic. His post-Logies hosting of the Today show was utter gold. He should be drunk EVERY DAY! And then come drinking with us.


Richard Wilkins Award for poor research: Richard Wilkins. On Today on the morning of Michael Jackson's death, Dicky reported an internet rumour about Jeff Goldblum dying as fact. Oops.

Award for franchise about vampires that we saw coming a mile off but it still exceeded belief: Twilight.

Couple who are clearly a couple but deny it: Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. They are soooooooooo together. Totes.

Worst celebrity couple of 2009
Scott: Rihanna and Chris Brown
Carolyn: I hate everything about Katy Perry and Russell Brand and I can’t even tell you why. Oh hang on, yes I can: because they’re gawdawful!

Taylor of the Year
Carolyn: Swift.
Scott: Roger. (HA!)

Tweeter of the Year
Scott: John Mayer (I think I mean this)
Carolyn: Lindsay Lohan because she’s meltdown-tastic (and because Scott stole John Mayer and I don’t want this list to be too samey)

Worst Tweeter of the Year
Scott: It can only be Diddy. (I have to forgive Spencer Pratt because he unexpectedly started following me - his single redeeming feature!)
Carolyn: I agree. I have deleted Diddy for that very reason... but still his never-ending Tweets continue to appear. How? Damn you, Diddy! I also got rid of Anderson Cooper? Gone. So, let this be a warning to you, warbling Aaron Carter, you're the next to go...
Scott: I totally ditched AC (Aaron Carter, that is)!

Tweet of the Year
Carolyn: @greggrunberg: I don't understand Ashton when he Tweets in English, let alone in French.
Scott: @sarahksilverman: What a fun day! Today was the best anniversary of my family's murder EVER!

Person who has re-conquered TV and has to release some awesome new music now please: Dannii Minogue. (Having Beven, Mark, Vince and Nelson in the video is optional)

Compelling Sports Story of the Year
Carolyn: Tiger Woods delivered EVERYTHING to non-sports fans around the world. Scratches on his face? A car accident IN his driveway? His wife hovering over him wielding a golf club? A mistress in every port? TICK! TICK! TICK! aaaaand TICK!
Scott: Agreed! Although Brendan Fevola and Wayne Carey continue to impress with their efforts.

Insincere Apology of the Year
Carolyn: Chris Brown’s YouTube plea following his bashing of Rihanna. Are you kidding me, dude?
Scott: Daryl Somers after the Hey! Hey! blackface debacle. "I'm sorry IF any people were offended ... blah blah self-promotion, great ratings, Harry Connick Jr loves me, blah, blah"

Unexpected Surprise of the Year:
Carolyn: I cried in Up! but please don’t tell anybody.
Scott: I didn't become a millionaire.

The 2009 Awesomest person on the Planet Award: Alyssa Milano. The 'Brain agree that Twitter has been a revolution if for no other reason than it has put us back in touch with our childhood pal (hey, pals can live in the television, so back off!) and this year selfless Alyssa - star of such faves as Who's The Boss?, Melrose Place, Charmed and the Sheer Cover infomercials - has devoted herself to teaching newbies how the social networking site works. As a reward, we're hoping her new mid-season show Romantically Challenged - which incidentally stars The 'Brain's bestest pal Josh Lawson - is a huge hit. Sadly that will give her less time to Tweet. Sigh. Still, congrats on a fab 2009 from everybody at The 'Brain, Miss 'Lyss!


--
Carolyn Stewart & Scott Keenan,
I want your ugly, I want your disease o'clock, December 26, 2009

VIDEO: It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia's Kitten Mittons

Sunny funnies:
This Christmas's must-have itemI cannot remember the last time I laughed so hard: it's Charlie Kelly's (Charlie Day) homemade informercial for his genius new product Kitten Mittons (he's illiterate) from last week's It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia! You know, in a world where the Snuggie is the year's new product success story, these could really catch on.

Finally there's an elegant, comfortable mitten for cats!

Just listen to how hysterical his voice is when he says "all the time". I love it.

Oh, and please excuse the "someone filmed the TV" cammando-style video. That said, thank you to the youtuber who filmed the TV!



PS: Charlie wasn't the only one coming up with genius marketing ideas last week; you can check out Mac and Dennis's Dick Towel infomercial here. (For prudish types, it's probably not safe for work)

Scott Keenan
Is your cat making too much noise all the time? o'clock

The return of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Sunny side up
The ballad of Danny DeVito

Sunnyboys (and girl): Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, Danny DeVito and Kaitlin Olson

For all the things The Unibrain agrees on, there is one that we agree on even more than some of the ones we agree on less: It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia is the funniest show on TV.

The awesome/all kinds of wrong series about Charlie, Mac, Dennis, Dee and Frank, five morally bereft pals who own an unsuccessful Irish pub in Philadelphia, has just returned to US screens with its fifth season and we couldn't be more stoked! (In Australia Seven seemed to have lost interest with its late-night screenings during season three, but luckily The Comedy Channel has jumped on board).

While the first new episode was a little bit … well, not one of the show’s best … I have no doubt it will get back to its best this week. Right?

The cast are currently touring the US performing a live stage show The Nightman Cometh, based on a musical written by Charlie in the season four finale. How I would love to see.

The Nightman Cometh

Starring as Frank Reynolds is Danny DeVito, who raised twins Dennis and Dee thinking they were his (they weren’t) and refuses to admit paternity of Charlie (who survived a failed abortion – yeah, the show is sick).

I am continually dazzled by the genius of Danny DeVito. Sure, I grew up watching his movies, and have a scary love for his Limoncello (and amazing theme song!) but it is through Sunny that I have realised how truly brilliant he is. When the show needs him to go there, he always goes there.

Danny is also a newbie to Twitter (hooray!) and tickled my fancy no end with the following tweet to his Twins and Junior co-star Arnold Shwarznegger:
@schwarzenegger dinner soon my Bro wanna buy a Sunny Tour T shirt? EXTRA LARGE of course!

Twitter time!

AND he linked to a hi-larious “blooper” from the new series of Sunny, which you can see below. Waddaguy!


Follow The'Brain on The Twit already!

Scott Keenan
Here comes the sun o'clock

Danny Devito drunk again?

It’s Always Drunky In Philadelphia

And this time there's no Limoncello to be seen!

One of The ‘Brain’s all-time favourite shows – and no discussion need to be entered into on that fact – is It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

The so-wrong-they’re-right antics of Charlie, Mac, Dennis, Dee and Frank make us endlessly happy, no matter how hateful.

So imagine our delight when this footage of a “drunk” Danny Devito turned up on the net. Danny (who plays Frank) was visited by a reporter as he – along with co-stars Charlie Day (Charlie) and Rob McElhenney (Mac) – filmed scenes for the fifth season of the show on location in Philadelphia. The whole time he was sipping from a beer can. With hilarious results!

While a lot of net viewers are convinced he was really drinking (a la his classic appearance on The View), we wouldn’t put it past these three to stage the whole thing.

Meanwhile, the new season of the show can’t arrive soon enough!

Scott Keenan

Time for yet another Sunny marathon o’clock