Some may be surprised that Schwab was still even working at ESPN with him on air in limited portions. Still, the sports whiz didn’t take being laid off kindly and spoke his thoughts on Facebook:

After 26 years at ESPN, I am extremely disappointed to say farewell. I have been proud of my association and my work during my tenure. I was a loyal employee, displayed respect for others, worked with numerous charities, represented the company well. I always did everything asked of me and more. What did I get in return today … word that I should get lost. The only thing that mattered was my salary, which in my view was the lone reason I lost my job.

The most recent project that Schwab worked on was “Stump the Schwab Leading Off Game,” a tournament held on ESPNU’s midnight show, “UNITE.” It was announced earlier this year that UNITE would get the axe this summer.

More popular recently, Deadspin ran an article back in January of Schwab and Dick Vitale taking a picture in what appears to be a club. Schwab confirmed on Twitter what the real story was behind the picture.

We were staying at the hotel and were asked by a few people to take pictures, which we obliged. I am alive and well, thanks…Howie Schwab

— Howie Schwab (@howieschwab) January 26, 2013

Hopefully this isn’t the end for one of the most knowledgeable guys in sports. Maybe the new Fox Sports network will have an opening for him.

May 2, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) takes a shot during the first half against the Chicago Bulls in game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The Brooklyn Nets fought off elimination for the second straight game and have forced the first Game Seven of the 2013 NBA Playoffs with their 95-92 win Thursday evening.

After losing all four road contests in Chicago this season (playoffs included), the Nets refused to be denied this go-round.

Brooklyn was determined from the start and took advantage of the injury-riddled Bulls. Chicago received news before the game that Luol Deng (Illness) and Kirk Hinrich (Bruised Calf) would not be able to play. Nate Robinson also had flu-like symptoms which slowed him down a bit as well. Nets’ point guard Deron Williams benefited from the absence of Hinrich and had a solid game, tallying 17 points and 11 assists.

Brooklyn controlled the pace of the game for most of the first half but Chicago turned up their defense after the half-time break.

The Bulls cut the lead to one with nineteen seconds left and were counting on Andray Blatche to miss two huge free throws to have a chance to win the game. Unfortunately for Chicago, Blatche made both of the attempts.

Chicago had an opportunity to tie the game but Marco Belinelli missed a clean look from downtown followed by a turnover from Joakim Noah which sealed the victory for the Nets.

Game Seven will played on Saturday May 4th on TNT.

Who do you think will win Game Seven? Sound off in the comment section below.

May 1, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Boston Celtics shooting guard Jason Terry (4) cheers against the New York Knicks during the first half in game five of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

We have a series folks. The Boston Celtics survived the storm and beat the New York Knicks 92-86 Wednesday night to make things interesting in the series.

The Knicks started the game sizzling and took an early 11-0 lead, but Boston was not going to let their season end tonight. Boston’s perimeter defense was the difference in the game, forcing New York to take questionable shots all game long. After J.R. Smith made some interesting comments earlier this week, he was a non-factor until late in the game. However, it was too late.

Boston struggled on the offensive side of the ball but New York’s lack of ball movement helped them keep the lead. J.R. Smith hit a three-point shot to cut the deficit to five but Boston countered with a huge shot of their own by Kevin Garnett.

It seemed as if there was a lid on the hoop for the Knicks. New York had another terrible night from three-point range, shooting only 5-22 from downtown.

New York will have to find ways to score easy baskets and move away from ISO-heavy basketball or they could be facing history as the only team to lose a series after winning the first three games.

Game Six will be played in Boston on Friday, May 3rd.

Do you think Boston has a chance to come back and win this series? Sound off in the comment section below.

You might be rolling your eyes at the idea of seeing a movie by Steven Spielberg. You might see him as yet another cynical Hollywood suit. After all, Spielberg is more often an eminence grise than the driving force behind the camera. Let’s be fair. For every Gremlins 2 and 1941 and Always and A.I., there are labors of love like cinematic memefest that is The Animaniacs. He bought the freedom to make shows like that by dint of nearly every movie that packed a theater from the mid-eighties to the end of the twentieth century having his thumbprint on it somehow, somewhere.

Okay, you are probably thinking, that’s all fine and good but still, why the fuss over Jurassic Park? Why in the world, with summer coming up and all of the shiny new toys, would you want to see a twenty year old movie full of CGI megafauna? The simple answer is the storytelling. This is a chance to see Steven Spielberg do what he does best, give you a viewing experience that almost makes you forget you’re safe and sound in a theater instead of running for your life from a shark or the FBI or a dinosaur.

Jurassic Park represented a return to form for Spielberg. Almost two decades before that, he had directed Jaws, a big, screamworthy campfire yarn of a movie that dared to be fun at a time when cinema was all about relevance and making a statement, often at the expense of telling a good story. In the intervening years, audiences had seen plenty of movies produced by Spielberg that seemed to fit his brand and yet they always managed to fall to the side of the near perfection of Jaws or Close Encounters of the Third Kind or E.T. or Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Because of that twelve-year stretch from Raiders to Jurassic Park, the latter was initially dismissed by many critics as “yet another Hollywood product”. The excessive cross promotion didn’t inspire a lot of confidence. In fact, the flurry of swag nearly overwhelmed the movie.

That was then, this is now. We are not suffering from any sort of irony deficiency that requires us to miss out on Sam Neill getting weak in the knees at the prospect of seeing a tyrannosaurus. We need the shared experience of holding our collective breath as dinosaurs walk past and yelping when they seem to pop out of an unexpected corner. We really, really need the fun of Jurassic Park, a movie that truly fits the overused trope of being a thrill ride on film.

The acting is pitch perfect, the script and art direction are amazing, and the direction is tight. Have I mentioned that this movie is devoid of a single F-bomb? Yeah, you can take older kids to this one without worrying about them repeating something to Grandma that leaves you with a lot of explaining to do.

So go before it’s off the marquee and before the usual juggernauts blast through and drown out this treasure of an adventure film.

Well, there is that detail about it being based on a true story. Still not a terrible thing until you read the articles in the Miami New Times that served as the basis for the film. Then the reality hits that this is a story based on an event that had a body count, destroyed families, and left some of the people involved serving long prison terms or counting their days on death row.

Looking at it from that perspective, there is a big disconnect between the exploits of a trio of cuddly good guys who just want to stick it to the man and the grimmer reality of what actually happened. It presents critics with an interesting dilemma.

Given that the real life events happened less than twenty years ago, many of the key players, their families, and friends are still around. One has to wonder if this is painful for anyone connected to the story on either side to see it played out for entertainment.

Of course this isn’t the first time real life and art have come to cross purposes. Ron Howard’s 2005 biopic of Jim “Cinderella Man” Braddock left many boxing enthusiasts unhappy with the director’s decision to cast Max Baer, Sr. as the villain. Accusations ranging from lazy research to antisemitism dogged the movie’s initial theatrical run.

Like Cinderella Man, Pain and Gain has much to offer in terms of cinematic merit. It is well written, well acted, and visually arresting. Seen at a distance from the source material, it would stand as the perfect keeper of an action flick alongside the likes of Speed and the Die Hard franchise.

Will moviegoers give it a chance? It will be interesting to see how the question of timing versus entertainment value plays out.

Make sure to follow the show on Twitter ( @TheOddservation), email the show questions@oddservation.com and make sure to subscribe to the show on iTunes.

OddservationsEp2

Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Kenny Vaccaro (Texas) is introduced as the number fifteen overall pick to the New Orleans Saints during the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Saints drafted Texas Safety Kenny Vaccaro with the fifteenth pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The Saints needed help on the defensive side of the ball, especially at safety.

Coming from the University of Texas that is known for producing NFL safeties, Vaccaro is the best safety in this year’s draft.

Vaccaro fits well in the Saints’ new system and covers the deep ball well. He will be a great fit playing next to Malcolm Jenkins.

Draft Grade: B+

Apr 25, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Miami Heat guard Ray Allen drives for the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova during game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Heat are one win away from advancing to the Second Round of the NBA Playoffs.

On a night where Ray Allen broke Reggie Miller’s All-Time Playoff Three Point record, the Heat bounced back from a sloppy first half and trounced the Bucks to take a 3-0 series lead. The Bucks led the Heat at halftime 50-48, but the defending champions proved to be too much in the second half.

The Bucks were ahead of the Heat for most of the first half, but squandered momentum thanks to Ray Allen’s two big three-pointers that cut the lead to two. Miami, who was the league’s worst rebounding team during the regular season, out-rebounded Milwaukee for the third straight game (43-38).

Dwyane Wade struggled on the offensive side of the ball but found other ways to impact the game. Miami’s bench, led by Ray Allen’s 23 points and 5 three pointers, was again a huge key to Miami’s win. They tallied 43 points and gave the “Big 3″ fresh legs for most of the game.

Miami’s defense bothered Milwaukee guards Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. They were forced to take contested jumpers and could not make an impact. Jennings and Ellis were a combined 7-24 and finished with only 23 points.

Game Four will air Sunday April 28th at 3:30 PM ET on ABC.

Apr 23, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Kosta Koufos (41) and Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) watch as small forward Harrison Barnes (40) attempts to keep the ball in play in the second quarter during game two in the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

No David Lee. No problem.

The Golden State Warriors silenced their critics with a 131-117 win over the Denver Nuggets. Stephen Curry finished the game with 30 points and 13 assists, whom the Nuggets had no answer for.

Heading into Game Two, not many gave Golden State a chance to upset the Nuggets due to the injury to David Lee. Lee tore his hip flexor in Game One which will force him to miss the rest of the post-season.

Denver’s loss was only their fourth home loss of the entire year.

Warriors’ Head Coach Mark Jackson decided to insert Jarrett Jack into the starting lineup and moved Harrison Barnes to the Power Forward position. It turned out to be a great move.

Jack and Barnes played a huge role in the Warriors win, hitting timely baskets toward the home stretch. Jack finished with 26 points on 10/15 shooting and Barnes chipped in with 24 of his own. Both players looked comfortable in their new roles, which will play a huge part in the remaining games of the series.

Denver went up but early but could not stop Golden State from scoring. The Warriors shot lights-out from the field (64.6%) and always found an answer to Denver’s runs. When the Nuggets would cut the deficit to ten or under, Golden State would respond with a run of their own to keep the momentum.

As the series shifts to Golden State, this series could possibly go seven games.

Game Three will be played on Friday, April 26th at 10:30 PM on ESPN2.

Even though Rockwell missed out on wearing the now iconic red and gold mecha-ensemble, he did make an appearance in the second Iron Man movie as Tony Stark’s arch-nemesis, Justin Hammer. You have seen his work in The Green Mile, Galaxy Quest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cowboys and Aliens, and yes, he was the voice of one of the guinea pigs in G Force. While many directors have made use of his trademark oddness to add quirk to their casts, there have been directors who figured out exactly how to use his skills set to carry a movie.  Listed below are three performances you shouldn’t miss:

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002 Miramax)  The biography of television gadfly Chuck Barris as directed by George Clooney and scripted by Charlie Kaufman looks like a fever dream. They never really answer the lingering questions of how much of it is true.

Frankly, that sort of inquiry would have pithed the story of much of it’s fun.  Instead, they present the world according to Chuck.  As the title character, Rockwell leads everyone down a proverbial rabbit hole of crime fighting intrigue and television production.

His Barris is the ultimate unreliable narrator, a mix of hyperkinetic weirdness and con man with a tender streak to go along with his personal body count.

Moon (2009 Sony Pictures)  Imagine spending three years in an isolated work station on the Moon. Corporate astronaut Sam Bell is nearing the end of his three year tour of duty when everything starts to unravel.  It’s hard to write about Rockwell’s acting without giving too much away.  As an actor he does a lot of heavy lifting and the result is an emotionally complex performance that will stay with you long after the movie is over.

Duncan Jones wrote and directed this atmospheric movie that loops the audience in to the claustrophobic isolation that has to come with such an experience.  So, it may sound odd, but the interludes of ensemble acting are stunning and the casting is inspired.  Any science fiction fan will find it hard not to compare Sam Bell and GERTY (Kevin Spacey) with Keir Dullea’s duets with Douglas Rain as HAL 9000.

Even if you’re not into the chromed charms of futuristic storytelling, the emotional punch and narrative twists and turns will keep you hooked.

Seven Psychopaths (2012 Film4/BFI) I’m not an actor. but I can’t think of anything that would be as simultaneously exciting and thankless as sharing a screen with Christopher Walken, Tom Waits, Colin Farrell, and Woody Harrelson.   Rockwell fits right in with the whole twitchy, quirky bunch as Billy Bickle, one half of the dognapping team who steals Bonny, a shih tzu owned by an infamously deadly guy named Charlie Costello.

Martin McDonagh’s story is the hellishly clever love child of caper comedies and gangster movies.  The humor is as dark as an 85% bar with cacao nibs.  Somehow, among all of that toothsome, gritty darkness is a sweet note.

In this case, it’s Billy’s relationship with Bonny the Shih Tzu. (And while Charlie Costello might insist Bonny is a boy, in real life she is every inch a girly girl.) As maladjusted and scarily immune to the almost ambient carnage as he is, Bickle is the vulnerable guy who should never play poker.

Every rejection and triumph is telegraphed, giving the story some much-needed heart to go along with the snark

All of these features are in print and available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and most streaming services.  Don’t miss out.  (And hey, let me know what you think!)

Apr 20, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Chicago Bulls small forward Jimmy Butler (21) takes a shot over Brooklyn Nets center Andray Blatche (0) during the second half of game one of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the Barclays Center. The Nets won the game 106-89. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls got shellacked in Game One of their series against the Brooklyn Nets.

Game Two was a different story…

Chicago evened the series with the Nets and stole Game Two with a 90-82 victory. The Bulls’ defense was the difference in the game, shutting down Brooklyn Point Guard Deron Williams.

In Game One, Head Coach Tom Thibodeau threw many different looks at Williams but decided to keep Kirk Hinrich on him for the duration of Game Two. Hinrich’s defense bothered Williams all night and forced him to shoot 1-9 from the field. Williams finished with only 8 points.

Another big component to the Bulls’ success was the return of All-Star Center Joakim Noah. Noah returned from his injury and made an impact right away. He had a huge tip-in shot and blocked Brook Lopez’s shot attempt with a under a minute left in the game to seal the win.

Brooklyn could not find any answers to the intense defense of Chicago. They struggled in all facets, especially from downtown. Not one starter for the Nets had a positive +/- rating.

Game Three will be a pivotal game for the Nets as the next two games will be played at the United Center in Chicago.

Game Three will be played on Thursday, April 25th on NBA TV.

The NBA Playoffs are finally upon us.

I know you are just as excited as I am. There are many headlines and great match-ups.

Let’s not wait any longer as we break down the first round match-ups as well as my predictions on who will advance to the Second Round of the NBA Playoffs.

Eastern Conference

(1) Miami Heat vs.  (8) Milwaukee Bucks

Well, Brandon Jennings got what he asked for.

The Heat walk into Sunday’s Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks as the perennial favorites to win the NBA Title for the second straight year. Earlier this season, the Bucks Point Guard made some interesting comments regarding the Heat:

“The two games that we played Miami so far, we matched up well against them. If you ask me, that’s who I would want to play first round, Miami.”

“I don’t know if it’s because they’re the champs or what, but we always play harder against Miami.”

Be careful what you wish for, Brandon.

LeBron James and the Heat are as focused as ever to win their second straight NBA Title. Don’t expect the Heat to let their guard down. After the teams split their first two meetings, the Heat defeated the Bucks 107-94 and most recently 94-83. The last time these two tangoed, the Heat were without stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh but still cruised to victory behind LeBron’s twenty-eight points.

Expect a game or two to be close until the fourth quarter. But don’t expect the Bucks to even steal a game this series.

Prediction: Heat in 4

(4) Brooklyn Nets vs. (5) Chicago Bulls

My prediction on this series is solely based on the unknown question everyone keeps asking? Will Derrick Rose return to the Bulls for the Playoffs?

The 2011 MVP has been cleared to play for over a month now but can’t get past the mental hurdles that are keeping him from stepping back onto the court.

However, even without Rose, this series has the ingredients to be a classic one. The Nets have hit their stride as of late while the Bulls limp into the playoffs. Out of the four regular season meetings, three of them were decided by four points or less.

The Bulls will surely be competitive because of their stifling defense but I just cannot envision them winning a seven game series against a team that has more offensive weapons.

This series will come down to Game Seven, where the Nets will pull away late and advance to the Second Round.

Prediction: Nets in 7

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks

The Pacers have all the tools to give the Hawks fits.

They have two competent big men in David West and Roy Hibbert, which should allow Indiana to contain Al Horford and Josh Smith. The most important factor is the Pacers Defense. They are No.1 in Defensive Rating and can cause teams havoc with their toughness and length. Indiana’s Head Coach Frank Vogel has assembled a defensive-minded team and the Pacers are playoff-tested. It seems like the Hawks are stuck in the NBA purgatory….just good enough to make the playoffs but can’t seem to make any noise.

If the Hawks have any chance of upsetting the Pacers, they will need exceptional guard play from Jeff Teague and Josh Smith will need to prove he can make precise decisions during crunch time.

I do not expect the Pacers to lose this series. Sure it won’t be a sweep, but the Pacers will move on to face the winner of the Knicks/Boston series in the Second Round.

Prediction: Pacers in 6

(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) Boston Celtics

Two seasons ago, New York and Boston were in the exact opposite positions.

The Knicks aim to redeem themselves after being swept by the Celtics in first round of the 2011 Playoffs.

New York took the regular season series from the Celtics, winning three out of four games. Boston has the experience to give the Knicks trouble but  New York has too much fire-power and three point shooting for the Celtics to overcome. I believe this series will be 2-2 going into Game 5 but Carmelo Anthony will make sure the Knicks advance past the First Round of the playoffs for the second time in his career.

Prediction: Knicks in 6

Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Houston Rockets

Talk about headlines and fireworks….

In his first year as a Houston Rocket, James Harden will get the opportunity to oust his former team that decided to trade him this past off-season. Harden helped the Thunder advance to the NBA Finals last season but ultimately lost the championship series in five games to the Miami Heat. That is now history…

The Rockets have the offense to keep up with the Thunder but will struggle to defend. Houston has not shown they can consistently get defensive stops which is critical in post-season play. Harden a lone will help the Rockets steal a couple of games from OKC, but Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will prove to be too much for the Rockets.

Prediction: Thunder in 6

(4) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies

We may be able to call the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies rivals after this series…

The Clippers ended the Grizzlies season last year after winning Game Seven on Memphis’ home court in the first round of the 2012 Playoffs. The Grizzlies will try to avoid that from reoccurring this time around.

Memphis heads into the Playoffs as the No.1 rated defense in the NBA. Led by Defensive Player of the Year candidate Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies are allowing opponents to just 89.3 points per game. On the flip-side, the Clippers boast one of the premier offenses in the league.

A match-up to pay attention to is between the two Point Guards, Chris Paul and Mike Conley. Memphis will need to establish dominance in the paint and will have to eliminate the Clippers from fast-break opportunities.

This series is a complete toss-up but the fact that Memphis no longer has Rudy Gay along with the Clippers’ having home court advantage makes me tip the scale in the Clippers favor. However, this will be a very, very close series.

Prediction: Clippers in 7

(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Golden State Warriors

The Nuggets and Warriors will likely have viewers moving their heads left to right as both teams can run up and down the floor as well as any team.

Head Coach Mark Jackson has done an outstanding job leading this young Warriors team to the Playoffs for the first time since 2007. Stephen Curry–who should have been an All-Star–will need to have a huuuuuuge series if the Warriors have a shot of upsetting the Nuggets.

Denver will have the ultimate home court advantage, posting the best home record this season (38-3). Golden State will need to shoot lights out and play even better defense than they did in the regular season.

Nuggets’ Forward Kenneth Faried is expected to play in this series which is great news for Nuggets fans. Although Denver is banged up and has lost Danilo Gallinari for the season, they should end, what was a great 2012 campaign for the Warriors

Prediction: Nuggets in 6

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers

In my book, this is the most interesting first round Playoff Series.

With so much concern regarding Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli’s health, the Spurs have struggled recently, losing seven of their past ten games. One of those games came at the hands of the Kobe-less Lakers.

The Lakers march into the Playoffs, winners of five games in a row and eight out of nine. Without Kobe, the Lakers have turned to their two-headed monster down low. Pau Gasol has hushed critics with his stellar play and Dwight Howard has looked like the old Dwight Howard that we witnessed when he was with the Magic.

But not so fast….

San Antonio will hear all about how the Lakers will cause them trouble and how they have just as good of a chance as any to upset the Spurs in the first round. Greg Popovich is a master at game-planning and always finds different was to motivate his team. So, we all know he’s taking notes.

As concerning as Tony Parke’s health really is, the Spurs will find a way and will move on past the Lakers, ending a very disappointing season in Laker Land.

Prediction: Spurs in 6

Photo via MTV Movie Awards

Weird stuff happens at the MTV Movie Awards. Weird stuff is supposed to happen at the MTV Movie Awards (as long as no one lets a nipple out and the bad words get bleeped). But this year something weird happened that wasn’t supposed to happen. This year Aubrey Plaza happened. And for one brief moment the faux-anarchic MTV Movie Awards became genuinely maybe anarchic or possibly just more irritating than usual.

It began innocently enough. Will Ferrell took the stage to accept his lifetime achievement award (it has a special name but I don’t remember it). Everyone was like, “Hey it’s Will Ferrell. That’s cool that he got a lifetime award from the MTV Movie Awards. He has been funny for a long time and people like him. And he will never win an Oscar so I hope he is enjoying this. Dang I love that Ricky Bobby. What a hilarious movie. And Anchorman. Not so much the basketball one. Come to think of it, has he done anything else lately? It’s like he vanished.”

But then madness descended. In the form of Aubrey Plaza. You know, that chick from Parks and Rec (or Parks and Recreation as it’s known among people who don’t shorten words to be cool). The weird hot one who wears too much eye make-up because she’s damaged or maybe just self-conscious? She crashed the stage in the middle of Ferrell’s speech. Right in front of Peter Dinklage!!! And everyone was like, “Hold on a second, is that Aubrey Plaza? That’s her name right? Aubrey Plaza. Yeah. What is she doing up there? What is that written above her boobs?” (Cause she had some words scrawled across her chest in Sharpie or possibly blood.) “Is this a bit? Did they plan this? Oh my God she’s trying to steal Will Ferrell’s award. I don’t think this is a bit. Holy crap she is totally drunk right now. I don’t know whether to be disturbed or turned on. Yes you’re right. I am totally turned on.”

No it was not a bit. Aubrey Plaza was not supposed to crash Will Ferrell’s speech. Aubrey Plaza did that all on her own without telling Will Ferrell or anyone else except maybe some people she texted right before. Why? Because she had a few too many of whatever it is she drinks to loosen up. And I guess because she wanted to promote her movie and thought this would be better than going on Leno. So she wrote the name of her movie above her boobs and crashed the stage. She Soy Bombed Will Ferrell. In the name of anarchy. And selling her movie. And then MTV did the most MTV thing in the world. They threw her out of the theater. Because MTV forgot what we built this city on (hint: not Snooki).

This was not the first time Aubrey Plaza did something weird while possibly (probably) under the influence of alcohol. If you follow her Twitter – and if you don’t you might as well kill yourself – you’ve seen plenty of weird. Like her obsession with Chris Bosh and her belief that she is Chris Bosh’s mother. The world still doesn’t understand the full meaning of this tweet:

BOSHH I KNOW YOU DID ITTTT#chrisbosh

— Aubrey Plaza (@evilhag) April 1, 2013

And I suspect the world never will understand. For who can comprehend the mind of Aubrey Plaza? Perhaps she is like the Joker. She wants to watch the world burn (while having “incestuous” sex with Chris Bosh; but that part isn’t like the Joker unless I totally misread The Dark Knight). Or maybe she is just like most of the other people on Twitter. Really bored and possibly smashed or suffering from low blood sugar or a combination of both.

This is the question we now must ask ourselves (because we are not Socrates; we are stupid and ask stupid questions). What is this Aubrey Plaza really all about? Is she merely another out-of-control drunk person – Amanda Bynes with sort of a brain and a charcoal-eyed sultry Mediterranean thing going on – or is there more happening with this chick? Is Plaza in fact a true show biz anarchist? James Franco with Emo face? A bringer of chaos? Kanye West re-imagined as a daffy white girl who needs to lay off the Cristal?

Let’s dig a little deeper and try to understand. Who is Aubrey Plaza and where does she come from? According to IMDb she is from Delaware. The state that gave us Joe Biden and Joe Flacco and many other people named Joe. She has starred in a handful of movies including the quirky indie comedy Safety Not Guaranteed (which is really funny and cool, you should totally Netflix that). She plays the broodingly weird and unflappable April on the great NBC sitcom Parks and Rec. Is “unflappable” even the right word? Nothing fazes her. I would call her “unfazeable” but I’m not sure that’s a word. How best to describe the enigmatic April? She just kind of stands there a lot and the only person she seems to like is that dopey guy Andy who I guess she ends up marrying (truth: I’m still on season 2)? And she is too cool for the room. Which probably means that deep down inside she is shy and afraid. But the most important thing? She is hot.

(Inscrutable. That’s the word. She’s inscrutable like an Asian guy in a racist old movie.)

But what can we really learn from delving into Plaza’s background? Are we any closer to solving the mystery? Perhaps a better question would be, “Huh? I mean seriously. Show biz anarchist? There is no such thing. If you’re show biz you can’t be an anarchist. You can only be James Franco. He was funny for a minute with his performance art anti-star thing but now he’s become a total up-his-own-butt boring asshat who just makes everyone roll their eyes. Enough with him. That amputee movie was good but the rest of it is bullcrap. What he did to Anne Hathaway at the Oscars was arrestable.”

In truth it is not a fair comparison. Aubrey Plaza is nothing like James Franco. Plaza is female and SMOKING HOT so when she does crazy (but nonetheless somewhat calculated) stuff it is insanely awesomely great. When she interrupts Will Ferrell on-stage it is not the least bit obnoxious or self-serving or Franco-esque. And don’t listen to your mother. Drunk girls aren’t desperate or secretly sad and full of daddy issues. They are great. If they are hot like Aubrey Plaza.

Oh wait, I forgot to mention the weirdest thing about Aubrey Plaza. She has a painting in her dining room of herself in the nude. She told Conan about it and there is a picture of it online. I would post it here but it’s a nude picture and frankly it’s kind of weird and gross. It’s not at all how I imagine Aubrey Plaza. If that’s what she really looks like naked then this whole thing is pretty much ruined. But I’m fairly certain that artist was just being artistic by making her kind of gross. Anyway that’s not the point. The point is, Aubrey Plaza has this thing hanging in her dining room where she eats. And her mom has seen it. Her mom has eaten in the same room with the painting. Her mom was eating spaghetti or whatever and the ass was there. Her own daughter’s ass. Right there.

I know what you’re thinking. “That’s one of those things that sounds like a good idea for a minute but you soon realize it’s stupid and put the painting away in a closet or trade it for drugs or just burn it.” But that’s not how Aubrey Plaza thinks. Her brain works on a different level than yours. She is drunk and cool and famous and a chick so she knows things. She knows why it’s awesome to hang a nude painting of herself in the same room where she eats broccoli with cheese sauce. She knows why Chris Bosh is sexy. She knows why it’s cool to interrupt Will Ferrell at the MTV Movie Awards. Why is it cool? You’ll have to ask her. Like I said, I don’t have the answers. My brain doesn’t work like hers. I am like you. A mere spectator. I am just enjoying the show like all the rest of the non-Plaza mortals who have normal pictures in their dining room or no pictures or no dining room because they live in a scummy two-room apartment and take their meals sitting at the same desk where they write their blog posts that no one will read. Leaving their desk covered in crumbs and little bits of crusty stuff they are always picking at with their chewed-down fingernails.

You are normal, Aubrey Plaza is not. That’s all you need to know. Oh and the name of her new movie. What was that again? I gotta look that up.

In this hilarious new ad for Old Spice, you’ll be introduced to a new kind of fruit, a basketball-watermelon hybrid. But wait, there’s more. This fruit bears a refreshing seed — New Old Spice Bar Soap is now available in scents like Fiji, Pure Sport and Swagger at stores near you.

Check out youtube.com/OldSpice for more.

Well, looky here.  Someone has rediscovered his soul – and here’s a hint: it’s Rick.

The slow trudge toward Rick’s demise that started when he killed Shane has become the most tedious part of an already tedious season.  But Sunday’s episode restored my faith in the Walking Dead, and even suggested that perhaps the writers of the show actually DO know what they’re doing.

Mercifully leaving the Woodbury drama behind for an entire episode, Rick treks out into the wilderness with Carl and Michonne.  Realizing that Daryl’s crossbow, Michonne’s katana and the three little guns they have left will not protect them against Woodbury’s veritable army of semi-automatics, they head back to Rick and Carl’s hometown to raid the sheriff’s weapons arsenal.

As usual, Rick is inexplicably blithe about returning home – no one has shown any concern that this trip is a potential emotional minefield for someone whose grip on reality is clinging by a fingernail.

Even Rick, who has legitimately conversed with Lori’s ghost in recent episodes, has zero qualms about returning the place where they had their first date, their first apartment, where they were married, or even passing by their old house.  Seems like this whole situation has the word “TRIGGER” written all over it.   Luckily, the show continues its habit of ignoring the characters’ back stories completely if it doesn’t serve the plot they are selling.

At first, the homecoming seems like yet another attempt to “toughen” up poor Carl (who really doesn’t need it, considering he already had to shoot his own mother in the head).  First, Michonne speeds by the most pitiful hitchhiker ever seen, who practically flails himself in front of the car begging to be rescued, but is ignored.  When the car gets stuck and is overtaken by zombies, Rick shows absolutely zero concern for Carl’s well-being, other than to remind him to cover his ears before he shoots the gun.

Once they get to town, however, it’s a different story and Rick’s all about the worry for his son.  When they are shot at by the sniper, Rick tells Carl to hide by the car – a directive that Carl intelligently ignores and is able to save his dad’s ass, yet again.

Later, Carl uses the logic god gave a goat to outsmart his father and heads off to town.  Michonne seems to pick up on Carl’s subterfuge and goes with him.  His half-hearted attempt to shake her is unsuccessful – a classic pre-teen tactic of “leave me alone don’t leave me alone.”  Maybe Carl actually is an adolescent after all?

Rick’s cold heart begins to thaw when he realizes the sniper they were about to murder is Morgan – harkening way back to the first episode of the series (and, according to Rick, “last year” – god bless AMC and their messed up TV time).  Many of us had been waiting for Morgan to reappear, and (like me) had begun to lose hope that we’d ever see him again.  Our patience paid off – in spades.  Morgan has amassed a huge arsenal, cleaning out not only the sheriff’s stash but picking up quite a few extras along the way.

Like Rick, Morgan’s also gone from a softie who couldn’t shoot his zombie-fied wife to a hard hearted survivalist.  He doesn’t recognize Rick, and the months of solitude seem to have had a very negative affect on his mind.  He’s covered the walls of his hideout with gibberish and protected it with elaborate booby traps.

Luckily, it only takes Rick moments to get Morgan to recognize him and snap out of his stupor.  In fact, Morgan seems to have as equally positive an affect on Rick as Rick on him.  We see glimpses of the old Rick – the small town sheriff with a big heart, a strong moral code and humanitarian core.  But Morgan refuses Rick’s offer to join the group – wondering what good could come from three people who need so many guns.

The whole scene reminded me of an episode in the first season – after being bitten during a raid on the first camp, Jim slowly begins to turn.  Rick refuses to kill him despite the fact that he was most assuredly going to turn.  Granted, this was before they knew that everyone turned, but Rick was adamant – “we don’t kill the living” was his mantra for several episodes.

He’s come a long way since then – murdered his best friend, turned desperate people away, let the helpless fend for themselves.  It’s easy when those in question are strangers (or, in the case of Merle, big jerks) – but once he’s faced with someone he knows, Rick’s resolve wilts.

Meanwhile, Carl and Michonne take on a café full of walkers in order to rescue an old framed photo of the Grimes family.  With Lori gone and Rick apparently on his way out, Carl wants a souvenir to show his sister what it was like when both parents were around and sane.  Michonne actually manages to come across as warm, using her willful persona to strong-arming Carl into letting her help him.

The trio takes possession of the majority of Morgan’s guns and head back toward the prison where the Governor’s wrath is awaiting them.  As they pass along the highway, they see the hitchhiker’s mutilated remains.  It’s a bold choice to bring back the hitchhiker as a corpse – a reminder that no matter how far they might stray, and how they struggle to hold onto their humanity, the world is still a dangerous place, and they must do whatever they can to survive.

So Rick and company will survive another day – and are now adequately armed to hold off the Governor’s onslaught.  The reckoning, as they say, is coming

The Walking Dead’s superhero strength is its shockingly short memory.  With an apparently endless ability to move forward as if past episodes never happened, the characters exhibit such a lack of cumulative learning from their experiences that it’s not even jarring when someone makes a complete 180 from one episode to the next.  Why shouldn’t they?  The world is off its rocker, and so is everyone in it.

So that’s why it’s completely cool that everyone is still doing whatever Rick tells them to do, even after he ditched them all to have a little pow-wow with Lori in the woods.  All it took was some mass-zombie killing to put Rick back in good graces.  Only Carl seems to know that Rick’s reprieve is far from permanent, flat-out begging him to relinquish his leadership.

Having helped to fend off the large portion of the Governor’s zombie attack, Merle and Daryl have rejoined the group.  Insisting that Merle not be initiated permanently, everyone seems to share the idea that it ain’t no thing for Daryl to have been reunited with his brother, a seemingly totally impossible eventuality given not only the world they live in but the fact that the last sign of him was a bloody handcuff left on a roof in Atlanta some years ago.  Even Carol, who still manages to deliver a modicum of normative behavior, has no problem advising Daryl that Merle is “no good” for him.  No really, Daryl, abandoning your brother is quite simple – just forget the fact that Merle has done nothing but protect you all your life and it’s easy!

Seriously, people.  Get a clue.

Meanwhile, it should be ridiculously easy for Andrea to walk away from Woodbury after everything she’s seen there.  I know it’s the equivalent of a Trump International Hotel and the prison is a HoJo on the New Jersey turnpike, but even a fleabag motel has got to be a better option than throwing your lot in with a literal psychopath who has tried to kill your friends.  But for Andrea, no decision is ever simple, and we’re guaranteed to be witness to a lot more hemming and hawing on her part before this plotline concludes.

I struggle to understand what exactly it is about Woodbury that seems trustworthy to her?  The Governor has lied about not going to the prison, then returned with injured guards, then blamed it on Rick.  Nothing in her experience of this man should make her trust him – she’s seen him pit brothers against each other, set up in zombie-human death matches for entertainment.  Andrea is officially the worst judge of character on the show, possibly on all of TV.

Instead, Andrea thinks that she can arrange an accord between the two factions.  Once she makes it back to the prison, she’s bizarrely appalled to discover that Shane and Lori didn’t make it (hello? Zombies that kill people attacking every day?) and even more shocked not to be welcomed back with open arms.  She is adamant that the Governor (“Phillip”, apparently) is peace-loving, and it comes down to Rick’s word against the Gov’s.  Andrea’s in deep at Woodbury: she’s been plied by hot showers and a warm bed … and a psycho to share it with.  You know, the American dream.

Out of nowhere, Carol advises Andrea to murder the Governor post-coitus.  It’s a logical move on Carol’s part, because someone who has come to arrange a treaty can probably be easily swayed to kill the other party involved.  It nearly happened that way at the Geneva Convention – look it up.

Without a clear indication as to which way she will swing, the group hands Andrea a loaded gun and allows her drive off in one of their vehicles.  She returns to Woodbury – drives right up to the gate (so much for all that secrecy she told Milton was so important), then rolls into the Governor’s house and confesses all.

In a feeble attempt to create some suspense, we shift back to the downtrodden group in the prison, and Beth sings a melancholy Tom Waits number into the dead air as they all sit pensively in the cellblock.  It’s tedious and boring, and mercifully it fades quickly into Tom Wait’s actual voice as we shift over to Woodbury, where naked Andrea climbs out of bed to retrieve her knife.  She stands next to the peacefully dreaming Governor for a long, painful moment before walking over to the window to gaze broodingly at the sky.  We know you can’t kill him, Andrea, there are still five episodes left.

The only true suspense in this episode, unsurprisingly, comes out of Tyreese’s arrival at Woodbury.  Introduced to the Governor just the same as Michonne and Andrea were, the small crew is given medical attention, hot showers and warm food.  It takes just moments for them to reveal their connection to the prison – and the Governor hops on it without delay.  One member of their group volunteers to attack Rick within seconds.  So much for holding your cards close to your chest, Allen.

But are Tyreese, Sasha, Allen (and the other one?) really spies sent from the prison? Will Rick step down from his eroding position as leader?  Will Carl’s head ever be big enough to manage that hat?

We’ll find out next time …

Chevy takes viewers on a tour of their best lineup of vehicles yet, with five spots in one  – showing off the Volt, Spark, Sonic, Impala and Corvette. Each car has its own mood and appeal, and we’re digging the Corvette’s high-speed Downtown LA chase scene.

Connect with Chevrolet fans at http://www.facebook.com/Chevrolet or follow @Chevrolet at http://www.Twitter.com/Chevrolet

So far this year, the Walking Dead has been a bit of a cluster.  Characters are acting out of, well, character – acting illogically, reacting far out of proportion with instigating events, or directly in conflict with their own stated intentions.

That said, this past week gave us a good dose of what we come to AMC to see: good, old fashioned zombie killing. The battle between the Governor and Rick’s group has been brewing all season long, and it finally sets off in a hail of gunfire.  But before we get to that, we have a lot of story to cover.

Rick is prowling around the woods outside the prison, having imaginary conversations with his dead wife, and nobody seems really to notice or care that much.  Only Glen calls it what it is – a trip to crazy town.

Daryl is off in the wilderness with Merle, and the chasm of ethics between the two is growing cumbersome.  Their moral compasses are proverbially pointing in opposite directions, but their kinship ties them together.   The last episode ended with Rick refusing to allow Merle into the group, forcing Daryl to choose between them.  Daryl of course chooses his brother – the brother he has spent the whole of the last two seasons thinking was dead.  Despite Merle’s questionable character, no one could expect Daryl to abandon him again.

The power of the group is teetering on the edge of a knife.  With Daryl gone and Rick steadfastly refusing to allow Tyreese and his crew to join their ranks, they are left with only two and half men to defend it (Glen, Rick and Carl … and for once, Rick is the one-half, his mind being 50% gone).  They are growing only more vulnerable, and the Governor is bringing all the muscle Woodbury can spare to take them out.

Andrea is finally starting to see her way out of her sex-haze and realize what a bag of crazy the Governor is (because, you know, him trying to kill her best friend was not at all telling).  Being so easily flattered by his insistence that she take over when he “abdicates”, she realizes too late that the Gov has left Woodbury.

Meanwhile, Glen convinces Michonne to take a preemptive strike against the Mayor – leaving the prison to attack him back at Woodbury.  It’s a valiant effort by a young man trying to fill the emptying shoes of their erstwhile leader, Rick, but a misguided one.  Maggie, psychologically scarred by her ordeal in Woodbury, is no longer a participating member of the group’s defense.  That leaves only Glen, Michonne, Carl and Carol as able-bodied defenders.  Despite these facts, which Glen himself acknowledges, he decides to abandon the prison and head off toward Woodbury.

Daryl and Merle’s conflict comes to a head when they come upon a caravan of Spanish-speaking refugees overcome by walkers.  Daryl’s moral code dictates that he save them, but Merle’s mercenary attitude won’t let him get involved unless he can get something out of it.  Daryl has to literally turn his crossbow on his brother to get him to back away from the caravan.

Back at the prison, Hershel limply attempts to draw Rick back onto safe ground – until the Governor’s arrival on the scene sends them into defense mode.  The Governor and his men drive up and open fire – taking out Axel almost immediately.  The group is splintered and must take cover: Rick hiding in the tall grass, Carol using Axel’s body as protection.  Just as the Governor has the group on the ropes, he pulls his coup d’etat: an armored van drives through the gates and releases a cadre of walkers into the prison’s inner grounds.

With victory in his hands, the Governor inexplicably pulls back his forces and retreats back to Woodbury.  The group is able to take out the walkers and jerry rig the hobbled gates shut.  Merle and Daryl arrive to lend their strength to Rick’s aid, and Glen drives back into the compound  to rescue Hershel and Carl.

It’s a lucky break for the group, and an infuriating choice by the Governor.  Intent as the show is to drag out every story line, the showdown between Woodbury and the group could not be completed in just one meeting – no, we’ll have to squeeze this out over several more weeks.

At least the group has been reassembled , plus a few extra: Michonne, Merle and Tyreese’s crew will soon be accepted into the fold — the group needs them to provide defense against the Governor (and now that Axel is gone, they need a few minor characters to be free deaths).

Rick is still wavering on the edges of sanity, and I truly wonder if he’ll ever be coming back to full strength.  After all, Glen is stepping up, and we still have yet to meet the full brunt of Tyreese.  Could this be the sheriff’s last season? Taking bets now….

(Sponsored)

Colin Farrell (Seven Psychopaths) and Noomi Rapace (the original Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) star in a gritty, impactful action flick that mixes intrigue and heart pounding action. Check out the trailer above for a taste of the thrilling spectacle, all soundtracked by a killer cover of Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”

Dead Man Down hits theaters March 8th, 2013. Check out  Facebook.com/DeadManDown and DeadManDownMovie.com for more info.

You can have Johnny Depp taking a break from his Tim Burton bromance to play Tonto. The Lone Ranger is just an excuse for Disney to launch another popular theme park ride. You can have J.J. Abrams’ glorified Star Wars warm-up (even though Star Trek Into Darkness does look pretty damn good). You can have Fast and the Furious 137. I’ll take Tony Stark any day of the week, but especially on Super Bowl Sunday.

Iron Man has become as American as apple pie and athletes incessantly thanking god after winning games (I’m looking at you, Ray Lewis). America loves a comeback story, and even though the 49ers fell short of giving us one at Super Bowl XLVII, Robert Downey Jr. is in the midst of one of the greatest comebacks ever. Anywhere.

In this Iron Man 3 spot, a flying Shellhead has to rescue 13 passengers who are free-falling in the air after the back of a plane rips open. Problem is Jarvis informs Iron Man that he can only carry four at once. That’s when we’re left to ponder this predicament. Gotta love a cliffhanger.

This flick is going to be fantastic. Pumped about Kiss Kiss Bang Bang director and Lethal Weapon creator Shane Black taking over as director. The old director, Jon Favreau, still appears in the flick  as Happy Hogan, Stark’s valet. Awkward!

Check out the trailer…

What do you do when your kid asks that one question every parent fears answering? If you’re the owner of a 2014 Kia Sorento Limited, you allow it to take you to imaginative, new horizons. Kia’s new Game Day Ad answers the age-old question, “Where do babies come from?” by taking viewers to the distant planet of Babylandia – a planet full of baby boys, baby girls, baby dogs, baby pandas, baby everything.

The 2014 Kia Sorento “has an answer for everything.” It features sleek redesigned styling, an available all-new, 290-hp 3.3L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) V6 engine, and a new UVO eServices infotainment system with voice-command navigation system to help a nervous dad answer one tricky question.

Check out Kia’s YouTube Channel for more Game Day content: http://youtube.com/kia

Share your own wish on Twitter and Instagram with #WishGranted and check out Toyota on Facebook.

Nugent-Hopkins on the other hand reclaimed his stolen goal in OT and Edmonton took the W.

Clay Matthews is ready to tackle some of the hottest debates in the NFL, but it’s your opinion that can make all the difference. Watch Clay put to rest the debate over “Who’s the Most Handsome Linebacker” above, and learn how to add your two-cents in The Gillette No Debate Contest. There are prizes awarded each week to Clay’s and fans’ favorites, with the grand prize of tickets to Super Bowl XLVII.

Join in The Gillette No Debate Contest Here: https://www.facebook.com/gillette/app_234360426694611

Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Last week we were faced with the first ever Fansided picks tie. With the 49ers and Rams tying, everyone lost a game to the dreaded tie column, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t have movement. Despite turning in a so-so week, Sanchez was able to stay in second place but Allen is closing ground and very well could take second place after Week 11. Hill continued his dominance, but the season is far from over and week 11′s pivotal match ups could now go a long way in determining the FanSided NFL Pick ‘Em champion. Will someone be able to catch Hill, or is the battle for the picks a race for second?

Who does the FanSided panel have in this week’s games?

Weekly Results
Allen: 11-2
Hill: 11-2
Sanchez: 10-3

Last Week: 
Allen: 8-5-1
Hill: 10-3-1
Sanchez: 7-6-1

Overall Standings:
Allen: 85-58-1
Hill: 98-44-1
Sanchez: 88-54-1