It’s no question that we are a TV loving family. We’ve all got our shows that we love to watch.  Lately, though, Jake has been on a bit of a NETWORK kick.

Lately, if the TV is on and Jake is in the room, we are watching Game Show Network.

He loves the crazy antics of the Whammy during Press Your Luck.

He revels in the word play of Chain Reaction.

He delights in finding the number one answer on Family Feud.

He beams when he guesses the right answer on The $25,000 Pyramid (we pretend not to notice that the answer is already on the screen).

And if he ever catches Catch 21, forget it.  He’s doing math problems for the rest of the day. And since Alfonso Ribeiro is the host, I’ve got the Carlton Dance stuck in my head for the rest of the day.

We’ve even started playing mock games of Family Feud at the dinner table.  Jake comes up with the question, and then we all take turns guessing what number one is.  Tonight, he said “Name a dead singer”. We came up with John Denver, Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Buddy Holly and Luther Vandross (that was Dave’s).

Emma’s guess?  “Three!”

She has so much to learn.

Good thing Family Feud is on again tomorrow.

Jimmy Fallon no siempre logra ser cómico, pero a veces tiene unos momentos de genialidad indudables. El más reciente fue su cover de la canción de Fresh Prince of Bell Air, pero como si fuera Neil Young en los setenta.

Si no se recuerdan acá va la original

Y si les suena raro es porque seguramente estuvieron acostumbrado a escucharla en español, en Venevisión, con el voice over de la muerte dando los nombres de los actores.

y de ñapa les dejo la versión gallega que nunca había escuchado JA!

I learn from the best:

WORD

farrago [fuh-rah-goh, -rey-] n. a confused mixture; hodgepodge; medley: a farrago of doubts, fears, hopes, and wishes

BIRTHDAY

Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor (1415), Louis Joliet (1645), H.G. Wells (1866), Larry Hagman (1931), Leonard Cohen (1934), Henry Gibson (1935), Jerry Bruckheimer (1945), Stephen King (1947), Bill Murray (1950), Bruce Arena (1951), Ethan Coen (1957), Nancy Travis (1961), Rob Morrow (1962), Cheryl Hines (1965), Faith Hill (1967), Ricki Lake (1968), Alfonso Ribeiro (1971), Luke Wilson (1971), Liam Gallagher (1971), Nicole Richie (1981)

STANDPOINT

I got nothing to report today. All of this medical treatment has turned my sleeping patterns into much of a debacle.

Some things are in the works, though.

Is 2009 the year of celebrity deaths? Maybe. Maybe not.

What I’ve figured out about my relationship with the suburbs. And, no, all you Facebook friends, it’s got nothing to do with all the damn spiders.

Lastly, I’m working on a piece about the modern dating scene and I think more than a few of you will be curious to see what I’ve discovered.

Until then, come back for some more.

QUOTATION

It’s so much easier for me to talk about my life in front of two thousand people than it is one-on-one. I’m a real defensive person, because if you were sensitive in my neighborhood you were something to eat. ← Richard Pryor

TUNE

Watching the SNL rerun this past Saturday, I came to the conclusion everything Green Day has done in the past several years is just simply mediocre. I mean, “Jesus of Suburbia” (Great lyrics: “And there’s nothing wrong with me/This is how I’m supposed to be/In a land of make believe/That don’t believe in me.”) is a really great song but I’m done thinking bands who reshape its music to appeal to the lowest common denominator (AKA the musically lazy who make up just about every dim-witted person who make “American Idol” a runaway hit show). I’m here to tell you “J.A.R. (Jason Andrew Felva)” was the last truly good song Green Day released. Disagree? Too bad. You’re exactly who I’m talking about.

GALLIMAUFRY

→ Something that’s truly sad about…well, life in general…sometimes is when you find program on television that truly appeals to you. It’s smart and funny and entertaining. Comedy Central used to air this game show called “Beat the Geeks.” And I loved it. So did my buddy Tim. We would watch it for hours On-Demand. But then it went away. And the world was reduced accordingly.

→ Often, I’ve wondered just how many days Bill Murray’s character spent running around Punxsutawney in Groundhog Day. Luckily, someone took the time to figure it all out. In what may be too much detail.

→ My buddy Dave Frees, a solidly good guy in his own right, has a son in Victor’s Lament. Check out the music. Kind of a Mighty Mighty Bosstones vibe to it, but probably better. Check out “Living for Today.”

 Oh dear sweet baby Jesus.  My life is complete with this clip. ALFONSO, YOU LUCKY BASTARD.

Probably my favorite clip this month

Watch me become a worldclass bgirl in two weeks.  Flat.

Alfonso Ribeiro a.k.a Carlton from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, started off his career has a dancer. He came out with this book of the most radical dance moves ever!!

Carlton also co-starred in a Pepsi commercial with Michael Jackson. Carlton sports a red jacket, and gets his in this throwback yet incredible ad.

Here is the dance that we all have come to know and love by Carlton.
Alfonso Ribeiro, dancing his way through his career.

Pues si niños, Michael Jackson , Wacko Jacko, el rey del pop y el pequeño de los Jackson 5 han muerto, si, todos ellos a la vez.

Y este post es un sentido homenaje al hombre que encarnó a todos ellos, a uno de los mas grandes sordidos de todos los tiempos, luego explicare porqué.

¿Y porque empiezo así?

Porque en las pocas horas que lleva fallecido ya he podido comprobar como todos los medios y la blogosfera entera se han llenado de “homenajes” reportajes” y “biografias” del popular y mitico cantante/compositor/bailarin/coreografo.

Solo con ojear un poco me han dado bastante risa, todas ellas cuentan lo mismo, de la misma manera, repetitiva y machaconamente, cuentan la supuesta vida de un hombre plano, en dos facetas: El Michael Jackson de Thriller/ el Michael Jackson de los juicios por pederastia.

Dada la personalidad, el talento y la tremenda trayectoria vital de este personaje, resulta un autentico insulto reducir la vida de Jacko a una burla así: Un ser tan plano y anodino como el que representan, tan plano y anodino como aquellos que lo representan, que al intentar retratarlo no consiguen mas que retratarse a ellos mismos.

Por eso no os voy a contar su biografia oficial, no voy a hablar de sus grandes exitos que todo el mundo conoce, no voy a colgar sus famosisimas canciones, seria un pobre homenaje a un genio tan grande y sordido.

Voy a hablar de esas cosas que poca gente conoce, de esos recovecos, esas anecdotas tan poco definitorias, en apariencia, de la vida de una persona, pero que te dan mejor idea de conjunto de su vida que los sucesos grandilocuentes que tanto nos gusta relatar.

No es una gran guia, son solo 4 anecdotas, pero que a mi me hablan mucho de la vida y el talento de Michael.

Como ya habreis a estas alturas oido unas 50 veces, Michael era el pequeño de 9 hermanos , hijos de un obrero  muy aficionado al soul, que decidio montar con 5 de ellos un grupo: “Los Jackson 5″, a este grupo, en el que originalmente no participaba, se unió el pequeño Michael en el año 69.

Producidos por la Motown inicialmente fueron un gran exito, y tuvieron una serie propia de dibujos animados, llamados como ellos, los sabados a la mañana en la  cadena ABC y que duró dos años (del 71 al 73).

Esta era la intro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbC8Jx2WLpk&feature=related

Logicamente, al ser un grupo musical, en todos los capitulos salian de sus aventuras gracias al poder de su musica, este quiza sea el videoclip mas famoso de aquella serie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYI8M3aJzR8&feature=related

¿Mola, eh?

Como grupo tuvieron grandes temazos como “Blame it on the boogie”, que todos conocemos aquí, gracias principalmente a la versión que en los 80 hizo en castellano “La decada prodigiosa”:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjW1iq4IO2k

Al terminar la decada (los 70, situemonos) Michael Jackson tenia ya 19 años y se habia pasado los ultimos 10 demostrando hasta que punto llegaba su talento y versatilidad como artista, llegados a este punto, comenzó su carrera en solitario, por mucho que digan su primer gran exito como Michael Jackson (y no el pequeño de los Jackson 5), derivó de su participación en un muy etnico musical del año 79 que en su momento fue tremendamente popular y que curisosamente hoy casi nadie recuerda: La versión afroamericana del “El Mago de Oz” en la que hacia del espantajaros, junto con Diana Ross (Dorothy) y Richard Ryor (el mago). La peli se titulaba “The Wizz” y este es su trailer:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=256gTEKX2DE

La banda sonora de vendio mucho mas que la peli, eso si.

Bien, luego llegaron sus grandes exitos, como Thriller, pero de eso no vamos a hablar, en lugar de eso, ahi vá una anecdota curiosisima, atentos, os vá a encantar:

El señor Michael Jackson fue el hombre que inició, junto con Pepsi, la moda de los artistas patrocinados por marcas comerciales (si, fue el, no la sabiais, ¿eh?), uno de sus primeros  y mas famosos spots fue este: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd15YVb2M6M

Majo el chavalín de la chaqueta roja, ¿eh?, pues era todo un profesional del breakdance, de hecho, a raiz de su popularidad por este anuncio se dedico a vender videos: “Aprende a bailar Breakdance con Alfonso Ribeiro”.

Aqui esta el anuncio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXBqQvkd-0w

Sé que a mas de uno o una (sobre todo una) se le habran desplegado la orejas y estará sonriendo de oreja a oreja nada mas leer el nombre Alfonso Ribeiro, ¿sabeis porqué?. Porque el gran Alfonso Ribeiro es………………………nada mas y nada menos que……………………: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiwLYMExzi8

SI!! EL GRAN CARLTON BANKS!!!

Me encantaba este tio, en España solo le conocemos de su papel secundario en esa serie, pero en EEUU es toda una estrella, y todo comenzó con aquel anuncio.

Otros rostros despues muy famosos tambien comenzaron a ser conocidos por pequeños papeles o extras en videos de Michael Jackson, el caso mas famoso: Wesley Snipes en “Bad”, es el jefe de la banda rival, aqui le vereis bien, es la versión integra del videoclip, atentos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACPsfcsg4ZE

A partir de este video al bueno de Wesley le empezaron a reconocer en su casa.

Como tampoco quiero eternizarme, os dejo el ultimo video de este post´:

¿Sabiais que el video de la canción “They don´t really care about us” tenia dos versiones?

Se crearon dos, el primero en unas favelas de Rio de Janeiro, que fue el publicado y otro rodado en una carcel norteamericana y mucho mas duro y acido  con la sociedad norteamericana (empieza directamente con el famoso video de la paliza a Rodney King), que no fue hecho publico en un principio por Sony, por motivos de imagen (o eso decian ellos), a mi es el que mas me gusta, le da otro tono a la canción, mas combativo, mas rabioso:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvWMLAWrEjU

Ale, acabando vamos, solo digo que cualquier persona que tenga una trayectoria vital de este pelo y que haya sido capaz de enfocar todo ese talento, de un modo tan variado y sobre todo tan original en cada cosa que hizo, se merece por derecho propio un puesto de honor en el olimpo de los sordidos.

Alguien que imagina una coreografia de muertos vivientes, una bravata entre bandas cantada, un videoclip de 40 minutos, un original guiño a Fred Astaire (Smooth criminal)……………..cosas que cualquier artista sensato desecharia por raro, poco comercial, friki o feista………………..el las hizo realidad, convenciendo a propios y extraños, demostrando que el limite de la innovación está donde la imaginación te lleve.

Personalmente creo que jamas creció, que fue un moderno Peter Pan, alla donde estuvo siempre miró el mundo por el filtro y el ingenio de aquel niño delgadito y de pelo a lo afro que parecia un champiñon, de los videos de los Jackson 5.

Porque el era así, precursor e innovador en todo momento, donde los demas veian sordidez, el veia creación y eso era lo que le convertia en lo que fue: UN GENIO.

Por mucho que cambiara su cara, esta siempre fué la foto de su alma.

Descansa ya, chavalín.

De “King of Pop” is niet meer. Michael Jackson overleed op 50-jarige leeftijd en heeft een belangrijke plaats in de muziekgeschiedenis ingenomen.

De eerste, en volgens mij ook enige keer dat Michael Jackson meewerkte aan een commercial was in 1984. Pepsi verleidde hem met enkele miljoenen om de hoofdrol te spelen. Het spotje werd gemaakt door het reclamebureau BBDO uit New York.

De rol van de kleine Michael Jackson werd vertolkt door de 13-jarige Alfonso Ribeiro. Deze naam zegt je misschien niets maar op latere leeftijd werd deze acteur wereldberoemd als Carlton Banks in de televisieserie The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Ook in enkele printcampagnes stond Wacko Jacko centraal. Een jaar geleden ontwikkelde DDB Barcelona een advertentie voor L’Illa Diagonal, een winkelcentrum in de Catalaanse hoofdstad. Met de slogan “Accessories are everything” werd de link gelegd met de wereldberoemde popster.

Tot slot dook Michael Jackson ook op in een campagne van Volkswagen, samen met Freddie Mercury en John Travolta. Deze creaties waren het werk van DDB Duitsland.

Não lembra do nome?

Faz uma forcinha.

Ele mesmo, Carlton Banks do seriado “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” ou “Um Maluco no Pedaço”.

Alfonso Ribeiro nasceu em 21 de setembro de 1971, em Nova Iorque. Sua primeira aparição na TV foi em 1979.

É, Alfonso era uma daquelas crianças prodígio. Desde pequeno, ele atua, canta e dança. Depois que cresceu, virou diretor e roteirista (E ainda atua, canta e dança).

Em 1984, participou de um comercial da Pepsi, junto ao rei Michael Jackson.

Como nada passa batido, assistam ao comercial:

MUITO BOM!

Alfonso, ainda em 1984, fez parte da série “Silver Spoons”, onde interpretou o personagem Alfonso Spears. Em 1990, fez parte de uma das melhores séries de comédia de todos os tempos, onde atingiu o auge de sua carreira. O pequeno Alfonso deu vida ao pequeno Carlton Banks, primo de Will Smith, na série “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”. Além de atuar, ele também dirigiu um episódio (Confirmado, não tenho certeza de outros) da série. O nome do episódio é “I, ooh, baby, baby”, de 1995.

"Let my people go..."

Após o fim da série que o consagrou, Alfonso dublou o personagem Roland Jackson no desenho animado “Extreme Ghostbusters”, conhecido no Brasil como “Os Novos Caça-Fantasmas” (Foi exibido pela Globo e pela Record). Ao longo de sua carreira, Alfonso outros personagens em desenhos animados, atuou em várias séries, apresentou programas de TV e participou de Reality Shows.

Entre seus trabalhos como diretor, estão as séries “All Of Us” (2004 a 2007), “In The House” (1997 a 1998), “One On One” (2005 a 2006) e outras.

Em 2007, participou de clipe “Glamorous”, da cantora Fergie (Aquela do Black-Eyed Peas).

Hoje ele está assim:

Essa foto é demais. Foi tirada na estréia do filme “Sete Vidas” (2008, “Seven Pounds”, no título original), estrelado por Will Smith.

Carlton Banks virou um ícone, graças a Alfonso Ribeiro.  Até hoje, ele faz aquela dancinha.

Eu quero.

Pra quem não sabe, a música que embalou a dança de Carlton em alguns episódios se chama “It’s Not Unusual”, do cantor Tom Jones.

(O episódio em que Tom Jones aparece é demais)

- jun

What a weekend: Caught dress rehearsal for Searching for SuperGirl Thursday, The Moving Architects’ Stops on the Line Friday, saw the AIC’s new Modern Wing and two works by Hubbard Street and heard Teddy’s kickass Orientale Saturday, and spent this morning and afternoon reviewing the first showings of eight works in progress at Thodos Dance Chicago, washed down by the surprisingly-engaging futbol flick Rudo y Cursi (which, I’ll admit, I walked into solely for the opportunity to gaze upon the face of Gael Garcia Bernal).

Reviews, impressions, blather and musing to follow in the coming days. In the meantime, enjoy the following two items: Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Italian architect Renzo Piano photographed by yours truly, and Carlton Banks imploring tweens circa 1985 to bug their parents to buy them a book that will teach them how to King Tut.

I was just watching this show after a long long time. Man, I love it! I coined the title this way because this show is indeed a breath of fresh air. You end up laughing hysterically every second of the episode.

For those who’ve never watched it, here’s the gist:
Will (Will Smith) is a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to live with his affluent relatives in a Bel Air mansion. The story is about how his carefree and madcap ways clash with their sophisticated and uptight lives.

Will dancing, Jazz on the drums

The best part of the show is the characterization. My favorite character is Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro), the geek who thinks so highly of himself.

Carlton Banks

Do check out the show if you get a chance. (you can catch it on youtube).

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Country: United States

Original Channel: NBC

Run: September 10, 1990 – May 20, 1996

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American sitcom about Will Smith (played by Will Smith); an African-American teenager from Philidelphia who moves in with the Banks family’s (consisting of his aunt, uncle, and his 3 cousins) mansion in Bel-Air, California. Phillip (played by James Avery) is Will’s uncle and a lawyer (turned judge later in the series). Vivian (played by Janet Hubert-Whitten and Daphne Maxwell Reid) is Will’s aunt. Hillary (played by Karyn Parsons) is Will’s oldest cousin in the family who is a weather girl, later a talk show host, who is obsessed with fashion. Carlton (played by Alfonso Ribeiro) is Will’s cousin who is in the same school as Will. One of Carlton’s most memorable things is whenever he did the ”Carlton Dance” to the song, It’s Not Unusual by Tom Jones. Ashley (played by Tatyana Ali) is Will’s youngest cousin out of the Banks and Geoffrey (played by Joseph Marcell) is the butler. The show is hilarious and amazing.

Star Rating: 5 stars

2icarly3 Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) – Mild drug references

Links:

http://abcfamily.go.com/abcfamily/path/section_Shows+Fresh-Prince-of-Bel-Air/page_Detail – The official page of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on ABCFamily.com.

http://www.nickatnite.com/shows/freshprince/index.jhtml- The official page of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on NickAtNite.com.

http://www.the-n.com/ntv/shows/index.php?id=431 - The official page of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on The-N.com.

US Channels That Air The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air:

• ABC Family
• Nick at Nite (block on Nickelodeon)
• The N
• TBS

Thanks for reading!

BEFORE:

DURING:

AFTER:

A shadow of his former self

I don’t think the skinny white girl next to him does him any favours…

An awesome Pepsi ad from 1984 when Michael Jackson was the coolest motherfucker on the planet and Alfonso Ribeiro was just a kid who could dance and not the nerdy conservative Carlton Banks who lacked any sort of dance skills. Ah, those were the days.

More Alfonso: MTV advert

Grown-up Alfonso: The Carlton Dance from Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Bom, vamos começar apresentando a série.

Título Original: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Gênero: Comédia

Lançamento: 2002

Como vocês vão ver, alguns atores não mudaram tanto, também não faz tanto tempo assim. Mas tem alguns que mudaram um pouco a aparência e outras amadureceram criaram peitinhos.

Fotos antes e depois:

Carlton Banks - Alfonso Ribeiro :

Clique aqui para ver mais uma foto.

Will Smith – Will Smith :

Clique aqui e aqui para ver mais fotos.

Hillary Banks – Karyn Parsons :

Philip Banks - James Avery :

Vivian Smith Banks  - Janet Hubert Whitten e Daphne Reid :

Ashley Banks - Tatyana Ali :

Clique aqui, aqui e aqui pra ver mais fotos.

Geoffrey Barbara Butler - Joseph Marcell :

Clique aqui para ver mais uma foto.

Jazz Jeff - Jeffrey Townes :

Nossa, nossa, nossa. Como eles mudaram. A Ashley então, hahaha, o Carlton que engordou junto com o Jazz e os outros só envelheceram, né Will ?!

Alfonso Ribeiro and his daughter Sienna 6, were spotted walking through the security line at LAX yesterday.  She’s adorable.  Peep more beautiful pics of Alfonso and his daughter when you Click Here.

Real name: Alfonso Ribeiro

Known for: Playing Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Alfonso Spears on Silver Spoons

Brief: After starting his career as a noted 80s child-dancing star, being featured moonwalking in Michael Jackson’s 1984 Pepsi Generation commercial, Ribeiro was quickly cast as Alfonso on Silver Spoons in its third season. For 3 seasons, Ribeiro played the token black guy who befriends Ricky, the rich white kid (main character).

Following the end of Silver Spoons in 1987, Ribeiro doesn’t go far from his two previous roles when he is cast as Carlton Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. On this show, Banks plays an over-the-top white-washed rich black kid living in upper-class white society, Bel-Air, whose likes include wearing boat shoes, listening to Tom Jones and Barry Manilow, and doing his famed Carlton-Dance; On occasion, he calls back to his Pepsi days and does a great Michael Jackson dance routine.

Where is he now: Now Ribeiro can be found on GSN hosting the game show Catch-21.

Final Judgement: Great career. We will always remember the Carlton Dance. But nevertheless, D-LIST!

Fergie’s Mom Dishes On Daughter’s ‘Amazing’ Wedding To Josh Duhamel

Fergie’s mom, Terri Jackson, spilled the beans to Ryan Seacrest about her daughter’s weekend nuptials in Malibu, California. The Black Eyed Pea and her new hubby, “Transformers” star Josh Duhamel, held a star-studded reception on Saturday, where everyone from Kid Rock to Will.I.Am made an appearance.

“It was such a blast — 350, 375 people were there and that was keeping [the number of invitees] way down,” she revealed to the “American Idol” host on his radio show Monday morning (January 12). “So many people couldn’t bring a date unless they paid me money or something! It had to be someone you’re actually engaged to or something like that.”

She added, “[It was so much fun] you can hear it in my voice!” Jackson also said that there are probably a slew of other hoarse people out there after they performed for the newly married couple.

“Kid Rock was there, with Will.I.Am rapping,” she said. “It was an amazing show. It would cost you a fortune — and I’m sure it did — to see this show.”

There was also an unexpected performer that managed to secure a spot on the stage. ["Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" star Alfonso Ribeiro] was amazing,” Jackson said. “That guy can sing! Fergie and he have been friends for years.”

“I’ve never seen either of them look more beautiful,” she said about the couple. Describing her daughter as “amazing,” she also joked around about the rumors that Fergie and Duhamel are expecting a little bundle of joy. “Yeah, that’s it [she's pregnant]! Josh’s mother [is like], ‘Would she hurry up and have that elephant?’ “

Alfonso Ribeiro, born September 21, 1971 in New York City, began his career in one of Michael Jackson’s Pepsi television commercials as a dancer in 1984. Since then, he has acted and been part of the crew on many movies and TV shows.  Ribeiro has been cast as Rick Schroder’s best friend on the TV series Silver Spoons, was on LL Cool J’s show In the House and was the host of Your Big Break. However, to me, Alfonso is best known for his role as Carlton Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air which ran from 1990 to 1996.

Alfonso currently lives in Los Angeles and is dating WWE Diva, Taryn Terrell . In 2006, Ribeiro was a contestant on Fox’s new reality show Celebrity Duets which he went on to win. He is currently hosting his first game show, GSN’s Catch-21, which premiered July 21, 2008. Ribero will also be starring in Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em’s new show Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em: The Animated Series. He will be the only real human on the show, while the rest of the characters will be animated. The show premieres January 6, 2009, on Soulja Boy’s official website.