The absurd path of this silly and rather enjoyable animated movie is all the more startling because it turned out kind of…decent. It all started in 2010 when screenwriter and eventual co-director Scott Christian Sava wrote an innocuous family comedy about a man who saves his family’s circus with the help of some magic cookies that can turn people into animals. The journey to get it made was almost as strange: “Animal Crackers” scored investment from Harvey Weinstein three years later, a flotilla of Chinese firms agreed to put up the rest of the money, “Mulan” co-director Tony Bancroft came aboard to help steer the ship, and “Despicable Me” character designer Carter Goodrich was hired to help with the animation. With those pieces in play, a rather astonishing variety of famous voices came aboard to help bring the story to life.
John Krasinski — at that point still two years...
John Krasinski — at that point still two years...
- 7/22/2020
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Justin Timberlake, Dave Matthews Band, Ray Lamontagne, John Legend, Wiz Khalifa, Kiss, and OneRepublic are among the acts whose concerts you can watch for free as part of Yahoo and Live Nation’s new partnership that will feature one live concert a day for 365 days. The partnership, originally announced in April, released the first month’s line-up today. The series kicks off July 15 with Dave Matthews Band from its sold out show at Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. Live Nation has plenty of shows to choose from: the world’s largest promoter presents 23,000 concerts each year, said CEO Michael Rapino, in a statement. Kellogg has signed on as the sponsor of the series. Concerts will air on yahoo.com/live. Here’s the line-up for the first month: July 15 Dave Matthews Band July 16 The Fray July 17 The Neighbourhood July 18 Michael Franti &Spearhead July 19 Kiss July 20 Chevelle July 21 Common July...
- 7/11/2014
- by Melinda Newman
- Hitfix
If I have learned anything about the way our nation functions, it is this: When you filibuster, it’s all about the footwear. Exhibit A: Wendy Davis, whose eleven-hour filibuster in Texas to block a bill that would place even more restrictions on abortion because life isn’t hard enough for the ladies, wore hot pink sneakers. Damn, those were some beautiful sneakers. Exhibit B: Leslie Knope, in a story line inspired by Davis’s badassery, filibusters while wearing roller skates. She’s dressed for Ben’s birthday party, “an early nineties-themed roller skating bash.” “I have a thing for women in skates,” Ben reports while wearing a Toad the Wet Sprocket T-shirt. “As far as things go, it’s pretty innocuous … I like a woman in skates. A lot.”You know what he doesn’t like a lot? Disenfranchised voters! (Okay, that’s a stretch. It’s a double-header night.
- 11/15/2013
- by Jessica Goldstein
- Vulture
Alternative/acoustic rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket released ”New Constellation,” their first studio album in 16 years, this week, so I thought it might be a good time to stroll down ’90s memory lane and look at their impressive catalog of work, but instead of focusing on the hits (“All I Want,” “Fall Down,” “Good Intentions,” etc.), I thought it might be more interesting to talk about their lesser known songs.
In the early ’90s, while everyone else was listening to Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, I was listening to Genesis, Pink Floyd, Styx, and other oldies but goodies from the classic rock genre. There really wasn’t a modern band I was a fan of until Toad the Wet Sprocket came along. When I originally heard “Walk on the Ocean,” their first big hit, on the radio, I thought, “This doesn’t sound like anything else right now” (how I...
In the early ’90s, while everyone else was listening to Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, I was listening to Genesis, Pink Floyd, Styx, and other oldies but goodies from the classic rock genre. There really wasn’t a modern band I was a fan of until Toad the Wet Sprocket came along. When I originally heard “Walk on the Ocean,” their first big hit, on the radio, I thought, “This doesn’t sound like anything else right now” (how I...
- 10/17/2013
- by Michael Perone
- Obsessed with Film
Birthday shoutouts go to Brandon Routh (above), who is 34, Pj Harvey is 44, Guillermo del Toro is 49, Scott Bakula is 59, and Sharon Osbourne is 61.
Lea Michele talks about losing both Cory and Finn.
In ratings news, Supernatural had its highest rated season premiere since 2010. All hail Castiel!
Citing Russian Homophobia, NYC Shutters Moscow Tourism Office
Brant Daugherty finally listened to all of us, and on Monday night’s Dancing With The Stars, he gave us some shirtless salsa perfection (no matter what those two judges think).
In a great interview with Out, Josh Hutcherson talks about how guys of his generation are more ambiguous about sexuality than older generations. “Maybe I could say right now I’m 100% straight,” he says. “But who knows? In a f*cking year, I could meet a guy and be like, Whoa, I’m attracted to this person.” Oh, and he doesn’t deny that the...
Lea Michele talks about losing both Cory and Finn.
In ratings news, Supernatural had its highest rated season premiere since 2010. All hail Castiel!
Citing Russian Homophobia, NYC Shutters Moscow Tourism Office
Brant Daugherty finally listened to all of us, and on Monday night’s Dancing With The Stars, he gave us some shirtless salsa perfection (no matter what those two judges think).
In a great interview with Out, Josh Hutcherson talks about how guys of his generation are more ambiguous about sexuality than older generations. “Maybe I could say right now I’m 100% straight,” he says. “But who knows? In a f*cking year, I could meet a guy and be like, Whoa, I’m attracted to this person.” Oh, and he doesn’t deny that the...
- 10/9/2013
- by snicks
- The Backlot
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Toad the Wet Sprocket wants you to know they’re happy. On “New Constellation,” their first studio album in 16 years (and also their only album named after a song, not counting their best-of compilation “P.S.: A Toad Retrospective,” and I don’t), Glen Phillips, the lead singer/rhythm guitarist/main songwriter sings about happy accidents, love lost but then quickly regained, and just plain love of everything. (The chorus of the title track, which was once featured on the website of “Rolling Stone,” affirms, “Declare my love to all creation!”) Even on the country-tinged “California Wasted,” when he sings, “I still make the same mistakes,” he sounds downright enthusiastic. And unlike their last studio album, “Coil,” which featured a song with the line, “Life is suffering,” there’s actually a song on “New Constellation” titled “Life Is Beautiful,” sung and cowritten by lead guitarist Todd Nichols.
Toad the Wet Sprocket wants you to know they’re happy. On “New Constellation,” their first studio album in 16 years (and also their only album named after a song, not counting their best-of compilation “P.S.: A Toad Retrospective,” and I don’t), Glen Phillips, the lead singer/rhythm guitarist/main songwriter sings about happy accidents, love lost but then quickly regained, and just plain love of everything. (The chorus of the title track, which was once featured on the website of “Rolling Stone,” affirms, “Declare my love to all creation!”) Even on the country-tinged “California Wasted,” when he sings, “I still make the same mistakes,” he sounds downright enthusiastic. And unlike their last studio album, “Coil,” which featured a song with the line, “Life is suffering,” there’s actually a song on “New Constellation” titled “Life Is Beautiful,” sung and cowritten by lead guitarist Todd Nichols.
- 9/10/2013
- by Michael Perone
- Obsessed with Film
Great news fans of 1991 ... Toad The Wet Sprocket Is Back!!!!TMZ just received a news release from the band ... announcing an official release date for a new Ttws album (October 15). Apparently, the band split up in 1998 ... after releasing a string of hit ... but felt compelled to reunite after a Kickstarter campaign raised more than $260k. And there's more ... in case you're craving some live Sprocket ... which is really the only way to hear them ... the...
- 8/23/2013
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
June 3: Game-show host Chuck Barris ("The Gong Show") is 83. Singer Ian Hunter is 73. Singer Eddie Holman is 66. Bassist Too Slim of Riders in the Sky is 64. Singer Suzi Quatro is 62. Singer Deniece Williams is 61. Singer Dan Hill is 58. Actor Scott Valentine ("Family Ties") is 54. Guitarist Kerry King of Slayer is 48. Singer Mike Gordon of Phish is 47. Newsman Anderson Cooper is 45. Country singer Jamie O'Neal is 44. Singers Ariel and Gabriel Hernandez of No Mercy are 41. Actor Vik Sahay ("Chuck") is 41. Actress Lalaine Dupree ("Lizzie McGuire") is 25.
June 4: Actor Bruce Dern is 76. Singer-actress Michelle Phillips (The Mamas and The Papas) is 68. Bassist Danny Brown of The Fixx is 61. Actor Parker Stevenson is 60. Singer El DeBarge is 51. Singer Al B. Sure! is 44. Actor Scott Wolf ("Party of Five") is 44. Ron Huebel ("What to Expect When You're Expecting") is 43. Comedian Horatio Sanz ("Saturday Night Live") is 43. Actor Noah Wyle ("ER") is 41. Bassist...
June 4: Actor Bruce Dern is 76. Singer-actress Michelle Phillips (The Mamas and The Papas) is 68. Bassist Danny Brown of The Fixx is 61. Actor Parker Stevenson is 60. Singer El DeBarge is 51. Singer Al B. Sure! is 44. Actor Scott Wolf ("Party of Five") is 44. Ron Huebel ("What to Expect When You're Expecting") is 43. Comedian Horatio Sanz ("Saturday Night Live") is 43. Actor Noah Wyle ("ER") is 41. Bassist...
- 5/31/2012
- by AP
- Huffington Post
If there are any filmmakers who’ve worked their way through record stores as much as folks like Quentin Tarantino or even Wes Anderson, it would have to be John Hughes and Allan Moyle. So perhaps it’s no real surprise that on annual Record Store Day, where you can come out and support your local independent record stores on April 21st this year, there will be soundtrack reissues from both filmmakers.
First is Hughes’ “The Breakfast Club,” which will surely find many record enthusiasts doing some Judd Hirsch-style fist pumping as they pick up their all-white 12-inch vinyl pressing of the album. It’s hard to capture an entire mood of a film with a single soundtrack, especially when that film lingers on a dreary Saturday spent in detention with a few high school students looking to find themselves like in “The Breakfast Club,” but between the seminal...
First is Hughes’ “The Breakfast Club,” which will surely find many record enthusiasts doing some Judd Hirsch-style fist pumping as they pick up their all-white 12-inch vinyl pressing of the album. It’s hard to capture an entire mood of a film with a single soundtrack, especially when that film lingers on a dreary Saturday spent in detention with a few high school students looking to find themselves like in “The Breakfast Club,” but between the seminal...
- 4/6/2012
- by Benjamin Wright
- The Playlist
7. Empire Records
It hurts me to even imply there's something that might not be perfect about this movie I love so much, but if I'm being honest, without Edwyn Collins, The Cranberries and Dire Straits (not to mention my beloved Toad the Wet Sprocket), this movie is just a lot of whiny teenagers and some quarters glued to the floor (though I'd love it dearly stll--i don't feel that I need to explain my art to you, Warren). I made special effort to disclude movies that would be absolutely nothing without their soundtracks (Singles, The Harder They Come) and this didn't fall in that realm for me, but even I, ardent lover I am, have to admit the soundtrack weighs more heavily on the scale than content.
6. Lost in Translation
I'm sorry. I know this to be one of the most divisive movies in 'jibaland. But dear Christ did it pretentch me into nothingness.
It hurts me to even imply there's something that might not be perfect about this movie I love so much, but if I'm being honest, without Edwyn Collins, The Cranberries and Dire Straits (not to mention my beloved Toad the Wet Sprocket), this movie is just a lot of whiny teenagers and some quarters glued to the floor (though I'd love it dearly stll--i don't feel that I need to explain my art to you, Warren). I made special effort to disclude movies that would be absolutely nothing without their soundtracks (Singles, The Harder They Come) and this didn't fall in that realm for me, but even I, ardent lover I am, have to admit the soundtrack weighs more heavily on the scale than content.
6. Lost in Translation
I'm sorry. I know this to be one of the most divisive movies in 'jibaland. But dear Christ did it pretentch me into nothingness.
- 7/7/2011
- by Courtney Enlow
Are you crying? We're crying.
Tuesday's Season 8 finale of "One Tree Hill" was not the series finale -- just hours before airtime, The CW officially picked up a 13-episode Season 9. That said, it could have easily served as a satisfying end to the series. Though Mark Schwahn shot several cliffhangers to end the season on in case Season 9 got the green light, he ultimately decided to end with some closure.
The season ender spanned a year - so much time that Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush) went from having just learned of her pregnancy to giving birth to twin boys, Davis and Jude. With Davis, Brooke and Julian (Austin Nichols) stuck with the Tree Hill trend of naming their kids after their mothers' maiden names, while Jude's name came from "Hey Jude," which John Lennon wrote for his son, Julian.
She was also enjoying the successful reopening of Karen's Cafe, which...
Tuesday's Season 8 finale of "One Tree Hill" was not the series finale -- just hours before airtime, The CW officially picked up a 13-episode Season 9. That said, it could have easily served as a satisfying end to the series. Though Mark Schwahn shot several cliffhangers to end the season on in case Season 9 got the green light, he ultimately decided to end with some closure.
The season ender spanned a year - so much time that Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush) went from having just learned of her pregnancy to giving birth to twin boys, Davis and Jude. With Davis, Brooke and Julian (Austin Nichols) stuck with the Tree Hill trend of naming their kids after their mothers' maiden names, while Jude's name came from "Hey Jude," which John Lennon wrote for his son, Julian.
She was also enjoying the successful reopening of Karen's Cafe, which...
- 5/18/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
There is a musical category we felt somehow got lost between all the Britney Spears’, Christina Aguileras and Backstreet Boys of the 90s. We know these artists have all resurfaced in the 21st Century, but we are emphasizing the late 90s because that is when ethereal pop-indie got caged away. We made up our own genre, but we can stereotype the tunes of the Gin Blossoms, Nathalie Imbruglia, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Cranberries and The Shins, as having all three elements, pop and indie with a toast of fancifulness. These epic 90s tunes are not lost in the history of music, but their defined genre can no longer prevail...
- 5/2/2011
- by lonnie
- ShockYa
Think what you will about the alternative rock revolution of the 1990s, but you can't deny that it made mainstream pop and rock slightly more interesting. A mainstream radio band — the old versions of something like Maroon 5 or the Fray — could look a little bit shaggy and sound a little bit dirty. It split the difference nicely, and while bands like Gin Blossoms are often remembered as mild diversions, they actually sounded way more rocking than anybody remembers.
For the sake of shortcuts, let's call it "Friends" rock, as just about all the bands who fall into that category (including Hootie and the Blowfish, the Rembrandts, Barenaked Ladies and the like) appeared on the soundtrack to "Friends" (and would have been enjoyed by fans of the long-running sitcom). Toad the Wet Sprocket also falls into that category, and though the California quartet (who recently reunited for a full-time return...
For the sake of shortcuts, let's call it "Friends" rock, as just about all the bands who fall into that category (including Hootie and the Blowfish, the Rembrandts, Barenaked Ladies and the like) appeared on the soundtrack to "Friends" (and would have been enjoyed by fans of the long-running sitcom). Toad the Wet Sprocket also falls into that category, and though the California quartet (who recently reunited for a full-time return...
- 2/9/2011
- by Kyle Anderson
- MTV Newsroom
In a recent impassioned essay at Wired entitled “Wake Up, Geek Culture. Time to Die,” comedian and geek philosopher Patton Oswalt explains how, now that geek culture has been coopted by the mainstream: Boba Fett’s helmet emblazoned on sleeveless T-shirts worn by gym douches hefting dumbbells. The Glee kids performing the songs from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. And Toad the Wet Sprocket, a band that took its name from a Monty Python riff, joining the permanent soundtrack of a night out at Bennigan’s. and the Internet has turned nerdery into something that anyone can acquire in much the same way that immersion courses can teach one a foreign language:...
- 1/10/2011
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
I listened to a lot of embarrassing music back in 1995: Toad the Wet Sprocket, Gin Blossoms, The Cranberries, Sponge, The Lemonheads, and basically half of what's on the Empire Records soundtrack. Empire Records is a fairly good representation of the popular, watered-down, R.E.M.-wannabe alt music of the era. Like the music, Empire Records was crap then, and it's crap now, but nostalgia has had a funny way of shining down on it. It's all very affectionately shameful. It's pure cheese, but it's aged well, like a nice gruyere -- sweet, but not overpowering. And great for fondue!
It's also a very unexpected cult classic among a certain age group. It only made $303,000 in its theatrical release, and reviews for the film were largely negative (it still possesses only a 24 percent over on RottenTomatoes). It's unexpected because there was nothing particularly original, ahead of its time, or inventive about Empire Records.
It's also a very unexpected cult classic among a certain age group. It only made $303,000 in its theatrical release, and reviews for the film were largely negative (it still possesses only a 24 percent over on RottenTomatoes). It's unexpected because there was nothing particularly original, ahead of its time, or inventive about Empire Records.
- 8/10/2010
- by Dustin Rowles
This one goes out to those bummed that there wasn't any Kenny Loggins in the Ten Most Inexplicably Inspirational '80s Soundtrack Anthems list the other day. This one's dedicated to you, Tk.
Have a great weekend, y'all.
6a.Little Heaven, Toad the Wet Sprocket. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
6b. Wild Horse, by The Sundays. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
5. Time After Time, Cindy Lauper. Romy and MIchelle's High School Reunion
4. Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry. Back to the Future
3. Come Sail Away, by Styx. "Freaks and Geeks" (at 5:30)
2. If You Leave, by Omd. Pretty in Pink
1. Footloose, by Kenny Loggins. Footloose...
Have a great weekend, y'all.
6a.Little Heaven, Toad the Wet Sprocket. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
6b. Wild Horse, by The Sundays. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
5. Time After Time, Cindy Lauper. Romy and MIchelle's High School Reunion
4. Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry. Back to the Future
3. Come Sail Away, by Styx. "Freaks and Geeks" (at 5:30)
2. If You Leave, by Omd. Pretty in Pink
1. Footloose, by Kenny Loggins. Footloose...
- 6/11/2010
- by Dustin Rowles
I debated titling this recap "Testicle Festival," but since we never found out what caused the victim -- a rich poser at a rock & roll fantasy camp, murdered by a fellow camper -- to have a prosthetic gonad, it didn't feel right. For me, the fantasy camp fell a little flat -- I didn't know the guy playing famous guest guitarist Erik Dalton was Josh Todd from Buckcherry. I just sorta thought he looked like Carey Hart. Nor did I understand how cool it was that Michael Des Barres played the camp's frontman, Simon Graham, until I looked him up online.
- 4/30/2010
- by Mandi Bierly
- EW.com - PopWatch
As you might imagine, we listen to a lot of bands here in the MTV Newsroom. Some we know well, some we know less well and some are introduced to us when we open the envelope that contains the press release. This morning, MTV News' own Gil Kaufman received a press release from a band called Child Abuse, which he immediately declared as one of the most ridiculous band names of all time.
While Child Abuse is pretty bad, it probably wouldn't touch the top 50. What Kaufman doesn't realize is that the well of horrible band names is extremely deep. Here are the top 10.
Limp Bizkit
First, there's no such thing as a "bizkit." And even if you assume that it's merely a wacky variation on the word "biscuit," it still doesn't make any sense. What's a limp biscuit? Or a limp bizkit? The world still does not know.
Dogs...
While Child Abuse is pretty bad, it probably wouldn't touch the top 50. What Kaufman doesn't realize is that the well of horrible band names is extremely deep. Here are the top 10.
Limp Bizkit
First, there's no such thing as a "bizkit." And even if you assume that it's merely a wacky variation on the word "biscuit," it still doesn't make any sense. What's a limp biscuit? Or a limp bizkit? The world still does not know.
Dogs...
- 4/13/2010
- by Kyle Anderson
- MTV Newsroom
Marvin Etzioni Singer/songmaster and producer Marvin Etzioni was born in Brooklyn, the son of a carpenter. Upon relocating to Los Angeles as a child, Marvin fell in love with a mandolin given to him by his grandfather, then the Beatles, vintage country, and rock 'n' roll 45s cast their spell. Post high school, he founded The Model, championed by Springsteen producer Chuck Plotkin. Following some finger-bleeding, Etzioni became a driving force in the '80s alt-country punk phenom Lone Justice. After the band toured with U2 and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Etzioni went solo. Production credits include Toad The Wet Sprocket, Counting Crows, and Peter Case. Collaborations include Bob Dylan, Ron Wood, T-Bone Burnett, Keith Richards, Jimmy Smith, Jon Brion, and The Dixie Chicks. Etzioni's new 20-track collection includes duets with luminaries Steve Earle, Maria McKee, The...
- 8/28/2009
- by Phil Ramone and Danielle Evin
- Huffington Post
When we released Molly Jenson's debut album, "Maybe Tomorrow," in March, one of the first things we did was get her on the road, opening for a new act named Fiction Family, comprised of Jon Foreman of the rock band Switchfoot and Sean Watkins of the bluegrass band Nickel Creek. This fall she'll open across the U.S. for another band, Wpa, comprised of Watkins and Glen Philips, the singer of the '90's band, Toad The Wet Sprocket. But in between those gigs, Molly has discovered something very interesting: She's on the road on a multi-state tour playing in her fan's living rooms in a tour essentially booked by her fans. We have seen the democratization of many forms of media, but according to articles like these and others, we are now witnessing something very interesting happening as more and more...
- 8/5/2009
- by Mark Joseph
- Huffington Post
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