Category Archives: Video

Tone Loc not doing nearly enough stuff

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A Twitter exchange with @RobertJamis today led to the realization that rapper-actor Tone Loc has been more or less inactive for the past five years. He’s done some voice acting and he played himself in a 2006 made-for-TV movie written by Neal Brennan (of Chappelle’s Show fame) and Ken Tremendous, but that’s pretty much it.

So I hereby lobby the world (and Tone Loc) for way more Tone Loc. I’d definitely go see a Tone Loc feature movie. Perhaps an Ace Ventura spinoff focused on Tone Loc’s character and what he’s doing now, 16 years later (ed. note: holy crap, it’s been 16 years?).

Anyway, until that happens, enjoy this excellent bit of Tone Loc voice-work, from some movie called Fern Gully from 1992, featuring a vaguely euphemistic Tone Loc song:

Being Derek Jeter

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I know I shouldn’t post this video here because it only perpetuates this type of stuff, and that there’s not much left to be said about the weirdness of paparazzi culture. But if you ever want to feel sympathy for a rich, famous, handsome Hall of Famer and his rich, famous beautiful actress girlfriend, watch this.

It’s not that the videographer is particularly aggressive or anything like that. He pretty much just stands there filming, then asks Jeter about whatever movie he just saw. Plus I realize that part of the bargain of being a celebrity — and dating celebrities — is sacrificing a good deal of your privacy.

So maybe I shouldn’t feel bad for them at all. But there’s something about Jeter’s brief, disgusted glance at the camera from the car that makes him seem way more human than he ever does during Yankee games (even when he’s diving in vain for groundballs).

Murph speaks

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Nothing overwhelmingly interesting from Murphy since I’m not sure a player’s self-assessment is worth much. But he does get at least a little specific, saying that he feels his range is fine and he needs work on the pivot and rhythm of double plays.

That seems to fit with what we know about Murphy defensively. For all his epic errors, he appeared to have better than adequate — and maybe even downright good — range at first base by the eye and the stats (though it was hardly an adequate sample).

Again, there’s not enough in his history for us to say for sure that he will be able to handle second base defensively. But this much is true: I’m rooting for the guy. If he can handle the keystone, he gives the Mets an inexpensive, decent-hitting middle infielder under their control through 2014. That’s very valuable.

Presumably Sandy Alderson and his crew recognize that and will give Murphy plenty of reps at second to show what he can or can’t do.

Also, though it doesn’t help them win baseball games, it’s cool that he’s a homegrown fan favorite with an awesome at-bat song.

Ridiculous cast, excellent McCartney imitation

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I was discussing Paul McCartney with former roommate and maverick economist Ted Burke, and he reminded me of the following sketch from The Dana Carvey Show.

Check out the cast: That’s Robert Smigel (of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog/TV Funhouse/Just about everything funny that’s ever happened fame) as Ringo, and a certain future Comedy Central pundit as George Harrison.

Also, Carvey’s short-lived show (which switched presenting sponsors every week and was briefly The Taco Bell Dana Carvey Show) counted the following among its writers: Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., Charlie Kaufman and Smigel. I should probably acquire the DVD.

Part 2 here. EASTER EGG: A sandwich.