2008/The Year In TV

Bushwood Board Of Directors (The Cream Of The Crop)
-LOST : as strong as ever in Season IV, revitalized by the flash-forwards

-It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia : for ‘day-bow-bow’ alone, but also for Wild Card Charlie, Mac's Duster, Dennis and his Steve Winwood CD, Frank describing his life in the ways of Rambo and that big bird herself, Sweet Dee

-Friday Night Lights : as a non-Direct TV viewer Season III cannot come soon enough - maybe the best show going

-The Office : when will Toby snap? Also, bring back Holly. With apologies to Jim & Pam, Michael & Holly were the more entertaining couple

-Flight Of The Conchords : Murray Hewitt MVP

-Chuck : even better in Season II

-Pushing Daisies : if you think too long about smart and visually impressive shows like this getting cancelled while ABC keeps dreck like Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practive and Dancing with the Leftovers on the air your head will explode

-The Life And Times Of Tim : picking up where Larry David leaves off, but with a calm and ease amid the chaos

-The Soup : essential weekly commentary

-The Daily Show/The Colbert Report : required viewing this year

-Austin City Limits : WILCO and My Morning Jacket appearing recently is reason enough

-Hockey Night In Canada : the best hockey coverage out there (not that they have much competition)...the Hot Stove is always a highlight...thanks to NHL Network for carrying it this year

Bushwood Members (I Like Their Style)
-Fringe : another effective Abrams product, good cliffhangers and surprsingly funny

-Breaking Bad : better than expected, Cranston gives a strong performance

-Big Bang Theory : rapidly becoming the best comedy on Monday night

-How I Met Your Mother : Barney, Marshall and Canada-centric Robin plots make up for the perpetual drag that is Ted Mosby

-Worst Week : solid rookie entry, but it is early - will the premise hold?

-30 Rock : I think I am in the minority in preferring Season I to the following two

-True Blood : not a masterpiece by any means but highly entertaining and great cliffhangers

-Reaper : funny, clever and employs the great Ray Wise

-Life On Mars : off to a good start, and even the at times cringe-worthy scenes (the Ice Ice Baby rap jumps to mind) leave you wanting more

-Summer Heights High : for Jonah mostly

-My Boys : Gaffigan action

-Long Way Down : Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman ride motorcycles from Scotland to South Africa in this fascinating travelogue

-Real Time with Bill Maher : weak monologues but interesting guests and New Rules

-Letterman/Kimmel/Ferguson/Conan : Letterman for his interviews and bits (Top 10/Fun Facts/Great Moments In Presidential Speeches and a special nod to Lyle the Intern); Kimmel for his interviews, strong support staff (Uncle Frank, Guillermo and Cousin Sal) and the always great Unnecessary Censorship; Ferguson for his monologues, email and interviews (often the best of the group); Conan for his bits more than his interviews.

Bushwood Staff (Solid Contributors)
-Two And A Half Men : the dirtiest show on network?

-Dirty Sexy Money : so bad it’s bad, but still fun

-Survivor : the man that is Probst holds together this consistent veteran

-The Amazing Race : best reality show?

-Saturday Night Live : by no means consistent, but some good skits and solid musical guests this year

Not Bushwood Material (Honorable Mention)
-South Park : erratic, but has its moments

-The Sarah Silverman Program : good work from Mr. Show alum Jay Johnstone and Sarah’s neighbors, Brian Posehn and Steve Agee

Caddyshack II (Yes, That Bad)
-Heroes : how many shows have fallen so far so fast - nearly a comedy at this point

-VH1's Reality Lineup : real live crazy people

Comments

*CONCERT LOG*

  • DATE/HEADLINER/OPENING ACT(S)/VENUE/LOCATION
  • 5.24.19: Chromatics/Desire/In Mirrors/Higher Ground/Burlington, VT
  • 4.13.18: Julien Baker/Tancred/Hangar Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 2.13.18: Jason Isbell/James McMurtry/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 7.16.17/Willie Nelson, MMJ, Sheryl Crow +/Lakeview Amphitheater/Syracuse, NY
  • 10.6.16/Jason Isbell/Josh Ritter/Landmark Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 8.24.16/Offerman+Mullally/Crouse Hinds Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 8.14.16/The Tragically Hip/Air Canada Center/Toronto, ON
  • 7.14.16/Milk Carton Kids/Colin Hay/Smith Opera House/Geneva, NY
  • 11.20.15/Guster/Darryl Rahn+Lost Souls/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.1.15/Carly Rae Jepsen/(St. Lucia)/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.23.15/WILCO/William Tyler/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 5.20.15/Brit Floyd/Crouse Hinds Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 5.1.15/Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.24.14/Tweedy/(Hospitality)/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 2.22.14/Band Of Horses/(Sera Cahoone)/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.29.13/Neko Case/Karen Elson/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.27.13/Okkervil River/Torres/The Haunt/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.13.13/Yo La Tengo/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 8.6.13/Explosions In The Sky/(Black Throat Wind)/Westcott Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 7.21.13/Americanarama Festival (Dylan/Wilco/MMJ)/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 6.14.13/Patterson Hood/(T. Hardy Morris)/The Haunt/Ithaca, NY
  • 5.16.13/The National/People Get Ready/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 4.18.13/Aimee Mann/Ted Leo/Club Helsinki/Hudson, NY
  • 10.6.12/Great Lake Swimmers/Snowblink/The Haunt/Ithaca, NY
  • 7.28.12/WILCO/Lee Ranaldo Band/Ommegang Brewery/Cooperstown, NY
  • 6.8.12/Lindsey Buckingham/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 3.22.12/Brit Floyd/Landmark Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 11.16.11/Drive-By Truckers/The Felice Brothers/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.9.11/Okkervil River/New Villager/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.3.11/Great Lake Swimmers/Kin Ship/Delilah's On Cayuga/Ithaca, NY
  • 5.21.11/Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit/Maria Taylor/The Haunt/Ithaca, NY
  • 5.6.11/The Walkmen/Wavves/Ithaca College/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.6.10/Roger Waters [The Wall/Live]/Madison Square Garden/New York, NY
  • 10.24.10/Louis CK/Todd Glass/Bailey Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.17.10/Phoenix/Jenny & Johnny/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.24.10/The National/Owen Pallett/Wellmont Theater/Montclair, NJ
  • 8.28.10/My Morning Jacket/The New Pornographers/CMAC/Canandaigua, NY
  • 8.25.10/Titus Andronicus/Free Energy/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 8.20.10/My Morning Jacket/Grace Potter & The Nocturnals/Champlain Valley Expo/Essex Junction, VT
  • 8.13.10->8.15.10/WILCO Solid Sound Festival/North Adams, MA
  • 8.5.10/The Gaslight Anthem/Frank Turner/William Elliott Whitmore/The Stone Pony (Summer Stage)/Asbury Park, NJ
  • 8.2.10/The Gaslight Anthem/Tim Barry/Chamberlain/House Of Blues/Boston, MA
  • 7.30.10->8.1.10/Newport Folk Festival/Newport, RI
  • 6.26.10/Great Lake Swimmers/Ian Coristine/Clayton Opera House/Clayton, NY
  • 6.5.10/The Midnight Ramble [Levon Helm Band/Drive-By Truckers]/Levon Helm Studios/Woodstock, NY
  • 5.18.10/Midlake/Jason Lytle/John Grant/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 5.9.10/Deer Tick/Caution Children/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 4.18.10/The Flaming Lips/Stardeath/White Dwarfs/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 4.3.10/WILCO/Wellmont Theater/Montclair, NJ
  • 2.17.10/John Prine/Sara Watkins/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.21.09/The Midnight Ramble [Levon Helm Band/Nitty Gritty Dirt Band/Eric Church]/Levon Helm Studios/Woodstock, NY
  • 11.11.09/Lyle Lovett & His Large Band/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.23.09/Sufjan Stevens/Cryptacize/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.6.09/The Positive Jam [The Hold Steady/The Felice Brothers/Deer Tick/The Rural Alberta Advantage]/Stewart Park/Ithaca, NY
  • 8.25.09/Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 7.27.09/Coldplay/Elbow & Kitty, Daisy and Lewis/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 7.26.09/The Tragically Hip/The Green/Shelburne, VT
  • 7.25.09/Frightened Rabbit/The Antlers/Iron Horse/Northampton, MA
  • 7.11.09/WILCO/Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band/LeLacheur Park/Lowell, MA
  • 7.10.09/WILCO/Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band/Frawley Stadium/Wilmington, DE
  • 6.14.09/The Hold Steady/Right On Dynamite/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 5.9.09/The Gaslight Anthem/Pela & Good Old War/The Stone Pony/Asbury Park, NJ
  • 5.8.09/The Tragically Hip/Nokia Theater/NYC
  • 4.25.09/The Pains of Being Pure at Heart/Caution Children/Risley Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 4.20.09/Neko Case/Crooked Fingers/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 4.18.09/Flight Of The Conchords/Kristen Schaal/Tower Theater/Philadelphia, PA
  • 4.11.09/Rhett Miller/Jennifer O'Connor/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 3.28.09/Jeff Tweedy/Pete Seeger & Classroom 12/Beacon High Auditorium/Beacon, NY
  • 3.10.09/AC Newman/Dent May/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 2.5.09/Cowboy Junkies/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 12.6.08/WILCO/Jennifer O'Connor/Auditorium Theater/Rochester, NY
  • 11.9.08/Decemberists/Walkmen/Loch Lomond/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.4.08/Andrew Bird/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.28.08/Bill Maher/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.26.08/Ryan Adams & The Cardinals/Landmark Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 9.12.08/A.A. Bondy/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 8.21.08/My Morning Jacket/The Black Keys/Red Rocks/Denver, CO
  • 8.16.08/My Morning Jacket/Lousiville Leopard Percussionists/Waterfront Park/Louisville, KY
  • 8.12.08/WILCO/Andrew Bird/Tanglewood/Lenox, MA
  • 8.7.08/The New Pornographers/Grizzly Bear/Calvin Theater/Northampton, MA
  • 8.6.08/Radiohead/Grizzly Bear/Parc Jean Drapeau/Montreal, QC
  • 7.15.08/Stone Temple Pilots/Secret Machines/ CMAC/Canandaigua, NY
  • 7.5.08/Rush/None/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 5.3.08/The National/None/Messiah College/Grantham, PA
  • 4.13.08/The New Pornographers/Okkervil River/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 2.24.08/Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt/None/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 2.16.08/The National/Doveman/Hamilton/Clinton, NY
  • 1.26.08/Neko Case/Eric Bachmann/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.11.07/Broken Social Scene/Yo La Tengo/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.2.07/The Tragically Hip/Joel Plaskett/Auditorium Theater/Rochester, NY
  • 11.1.07/The Tragically Hip/Joel Plaskett/Landmark Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 10.26.07/Stephen Colbert/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.20.07/The Mammals/None/Edwards Opera House/Edwards, NY
  • 10.7.07/The National/Doveman/Le National/Montreal, QC
  • 9.20.07/ZZ Top/None/Turning Stone/Verona, NY
  • 8.25.07/The National/White Rabbits/Arts Quad (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 7.12.07/Roger Waters/None/Six Flags PAC/Darien Lake, NY
  • 6.29.07/WILCO/Low/The Green/Shelburne, VT
  • 6.24.07/WILCO/Low/Pines Theater/Northampton, MA
  • 5.11.07/The Tragically Hip/Wintersleep/House Of Blues/Chicago, Il
  • 5.4.07/Leo Kottke/None/Ithaca HS/Ithaca, NY
  • 3.21.07/The Hold Steady/Ra Ra Riot/Syracuse U/Syracuse, NY
  • 11.6.06/Secret Machines/Magic Hour/Syracuse U/Syracuse, NY
  • 10.14.06/Drive-By Truckers/The Drams/House Of Blues/Cleveland, OH
  • 10.6.06/Secret Machines/None/Higher Ground/Burlington, VT
  • 9.17.06/The Strokes/Calm To Chaos/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.1.06/Flaming Lips/Sonic Youth & Ween & Magic Numbers/NYS Fair/Syracuse, NY
  • 8.9.06/Guster/Ray Lamontagne & Rogue Wave/High Falls/Rochester, NY
  • 7.30.06/Black Crowes/Drive-By Truckers & Robert Randolph/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 7.16.06/WILCO/Autumn Defense/Pines Theater/Northampton, MA
  • 7.10.06/Pete Yorn/None/Water Street Music Hall/Rochester, NY
  • 5.12.06/Pearl Jam/My Morning Jacket/Pepsi Arena/Albany, NY
  • 4.9.06/Death Cab For Cutie/Franz Ferdinand/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.12.05/Jeff Tweedy/Glenn Kotche/Messiah College/Grantham, PA
  • 11.8.05/Guster/Matt Pond PA/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.1.05/Coldplay/Rilo Kiley/Six Flags PAC/Darien Lake, NY
  • 8.13.05/Def Leppard/The Tea Party/Corel Center/Ottawa, ON
  • 8.3.05/Kings Of Leon/Shout Out Louds & Helio Sequence/Kool Haus/Toronto, ON
  • 7.22.05/Ray Lamontagne/Rachel Yamagata/La Zona Rosa/Austin, TX
  • 7.13.05/Bruce Springsteen/None/Corel Center/Ottawa, ON
  • 6.28.05/WILCO/My Morning Jacket/Metropolis/Montreal, QC
  • 3.25.05/Lewis Black/Stephen Lynch & John Bowman/Clarkson/Potsdam, NY
  • 3.4.05/Jon Stewart/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 2.21.05/WILCO/Detholtz/Ovens Auditorium/Charlotte, NC
  • 2.19.05/WILCO/Head Of Femur/House Of Blues/Myrtle Beach, SC
  • 2.11.05/The Walkmen/Chin Up Chin Up/Appel Commons (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.20.04/The Mammals/The Hillbettys/A. Taylor Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.13.04/Arcade Fire/Hidden Cameras/Noyes (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.29.04/Bruce Cockburn/None/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.19.04/The Tragically Hip/Sam Roberts/Auditorium Theater/Rochester, NY
  • 10.8.04/WILCO/Unknown/Skidmore/Saratoga, NY
  • 9.4.04/Secret Machines/We Are The Arm/Noyes (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 8.6.04/WILCO/Cerberus Shoal/State Theater/Portland, ME
  • 7.23.04/The Tragically Hip/Idle Sons/Six Flags PAC/Darien Lake, NY
  • 4.17.04/The Mammals/Unknown/Wells/Aurora, NY
  • 3.14.04/Guster/Rufus Wainwright/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.16.03/Steven Wright/None/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 7.12.03/Pearl Jam/Sleater Kinney/Hershey Park/Hershey, PA
  • 7.4.03/Neil Young/Lucinda Williams/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 6.21.03/Guster/Unknown/Water Street Music Hall/Rochester, NY
  • 5.2.03/Pearl Jam/Sparta/HSBC Arena/Buffalo, NY
  • 11.9.02/Bob Dylan/None/Coach USA Center/Elmira, NY
  • 10.24.02/TOOL/Meshuggah/Broome County Arena/Binghamton, NY
  • 9.1.02/The Tragically Hip/Unkown/Six Flags PAC/Darien Lake, NY
  • 7.28.02/The Tragically Hip/Unknown/Somerville Theater/Boston, MA
  • 7.27.02/The Tragically Hip/Unknown/Somerville Theater/Boston, MA
  • 7.26.02/The Tragically Hip/Unknown/Somerville Theater/Boston, MA
  • 5.4.02/Guster/Rustic Overtones/SUNY Cortland/Cortland, NY
  • 8.27.01/Pearl Jam/Sonic Youth/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 6.2.01/U2/PJ Harvey/Pepsi Arena/Albany, NY
  • 4.23.01/Guster/Joe, Marc's Brother/Auditorium Theater/Rochester, NY
  • 10.3.00/The Tragically Hip/None/Landmark Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 10.2.00/The Tragically Hip/None/Auditorium Theater/Rochester, NY
  • 8.14.00/Counting Crows/Live/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 8.5.00/The Tragically Hip/Guster/Alpine Stage/Bolton Valley, VT
  • 4.29.00/Smashing Pumpkins/None/Tsongas Arena/Lowell, MA
  • 8.24.99/R.E.M./WILCO/Molson Amphitheater/Toronto, ON
  • 12.5.98/The Tragically Hip/Cracker/Orpheum Theater/Boston, MA
  • 10.10.98/The Tragically Hip/The Watchmen/Landmark Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 10.8.98/The Tragically Hip/The Watchmen/Dome Arena/Rochester, NY
  • 8.29.98/The Tragically Hip/Hayden/Sugarbush Mtn./Warren, VT
  • 7.26.98/Dave Matthews Band/Agents Of Good Root/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 5.29.98/Kenny Wayne Shepherd/House Band/House Of Blues/Myrtle Beach, SC
  • 4.5.98/Sarah McLachlan/Lisa Loeb/War Memorial/Rochester, NY
  • 10.26.97/U2/Third Eye Blind/SkyDome/Toronto, ON
  • 10.20.97/Adam Sandler/Unknown/SUNY Potsdam/Potsdam, NY
  • 6.6.97/Dave Matthews Band/Bela Fleck/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 10.15.96/Dave Matthews Band/Boxing Ghandis/War Memorial/Syracuse, NY
  • 5.22.96/The Tragically Hip/Unknown/Newbar/Raleigh, NC
  • 10.30.95/George Carlin/Unknown/SUNY Potsdam/Potsdam, NY
  • 5.6.95/Van Halen/Collective Soul/The Forum/Montreal, QC
  • 3.15.95/Live/Sponge/SUNY Potsdam/Potsdam, NY
  • 7.5.94/Pink Floyd/None/CNE Stadium/Toronto, ON
  • 7.4.93/Lynyrd Skynyrd/Unknown/Fort Drum/Watertown, NY