Entertainment Weekly's New Classics

[jbissell]

EW has come up with lists of the "New Classics" in film, music, TV, books, etc. (1983-2008).
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20207076_20207387_20207063,00.html

Now I recognize that any list put together by EW is going to be lame and maybe it's not even worth discussing but I'm beyond bored at work today so I'm throwing this up anyways.

The Hills is one of the top 100 TV shows of the last 25 years. Napoleon Dynamite is a better film than Back To The Future. Green Day and Amy Winehouse are responsible for 2 of the 10 greatest albums of the last 25 years. Radiohead has the #10 album (and it's not the one you'd guess).

So if anyone wants to discuss these things, let's give it a go...I'm not necessarily hoping for a total bashing of the list, but maybe an opportunity for a list of FOT New Classics.

[jamesp]

EW's problem with this list is that they write "The 100 best films/movies/albums/books from 1983 to 2008" yet focus a lot less on the quality of the selections and more on cultural impact. I think scanning the lists for the most part, I can agree with the selection at times but their ranks are just entirely outrageous.

Which list do you think FOT needs to revise the most? I think music looks like the worst. Then TV and followed by film.

[jbissell]

That seems like a pretty fair assessment to me.  It seems like they're trying to make these lists half quality/half cultural impact because it's the only reason I can see any list putting Titanic at #3 while still having something like Crumb at #14.

[KickTheBobo]

that was the 'Garden State' of top-100 music lists: it tried waaay too hard, hit a few good notes but ultimately failed due to it's naivite.

seriously: Postal Service & Interpol (i'm sure they are fine bands, people seem to like them) but no Zen Arcade? no Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables? anything from the Fugazi Limo Company?


edit: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables was released in 1980, my mistake.

[Stupornaut]

edit: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables was released in 1980, my mistake.

Also Entertainment Weekly is not frequently read by 14 year-olds

(still holding a grudge that Jello Biafra hates ELO)

[John Junk 2.0]

How the hell did the worst Cat Power record get in the Top 20??

Anyway: Knowing Me Knowing You w/ Alan Partridge is an obvious contender for a FOT classic television show.

[samir]

Anyway: Knowing Me Knowing You w/ Alan Partridge is an obvious contender for a FOT classic television show.

I'm Alan Partridge ahead of KM,KY would be my rec.

[Matthew_S]

Looking quickly over their music list, is it (are they all) limited to one album per band?

[jbissell]

Looking quickly over their music list, is it (are they all) limited to one album per band?

I don't think so, Radiohead has two on there.

[AaronC]

Nevermind doesn't even make the list.

[Son of Dorvid]

For the two of you that care - How about that list of plays and musicals?

Rent and Jersey Boys in the top 5?  Topdog/Underdog at 48?!  Nonsense. 
Good choice for number one, though.

[jbissell]

Topdog/Underdog at 48?!  Nonsense. 

Is this because you thought it shouldn't be on the list at all? or thought it should be higher? I never saw it, but I did read it and remember hearing good things about it (Mos Def & Jeffrey Wright?)

[yesno]

Anyway: Knowing Me Knowing You w/ Alan Partridge is an obvious contender for a FOT classic television show.

I could never get into it.  But I love Saxondale, so I ought to try again.

[Son of Dorvid]

Topdog/Underdog at 48?!  Nonsense. 

Is this because you thought it shouldn't be on the list at all? or thought it should be higher? I never saw it, but I did read it and remember hearing good things about it (Mos Def & Jeffrey Wright?)

It was originally Don Cheadle and Jeffrey Wright.  Mos Def replaced Cheadle later on. 
I think I'd put it at #2 behind Angels in America which, come to think of it, also featured Jeffrey Wright.

Jeffrey Wright is a god.  He's playing Colin Powell and Muddy Waters in two upcoming movies.  No matter how bad those movies might be, he's going to bring it.

[jamesp]

Topdog/Underdog at 48?!  Nonsense. 

Is this because you thought it shouldn't be on the list at all? or thought it should be higher? I never saw it, but I did read it and remember hearing good things about it (Mos Def & Jeffrey Wright?)

It was originally Don Cheadle and Jeffrey Wright.  Mos Def replaced Cheadle later on. 
I think I'd put it at #2 behind Angels in America which, come to think of it, also featured Jeffrey Wright.

Jeffrey Wright is a god.  He's playing Colin Powell and Muddy Waters in two upcoming movies.  No matter how bad those movies might be, he's going to bring it.

Jeffrey Wright also happens to be in EW's #19 best movie: Casino Royale! That might be the most unbeliavable choice on the list. And for a magazine like EW, I was shocked that they wouldn't put Juno or Little Miss Sunshine on their list. I didn't care for either but they seem like the type EW would include.

They also included 5 albums from 2007 on the top 100 music list, which seems to me to be too many, too soon.
9. Back to Black Amy Winehouse (2007)
10. In Rainbows Radiohead (2007)
33. As I Am Alicia Keys (2007)
50. Sounds of Silver LCD Soundsystem (2007)
52. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga Spoon (2007)

I also noticed that no Weezer made the list.