Blog Post
TV Spotlight: Broad City
by manz
Four and three and two and one. The hilarious Comedy Central show Broad City follows two best friends in their twenties living in New York City. Low on money and high on friendship, shenanigans and crazy situations, Abbi and Ilana never leave you starving for a laugh.
Bed Bath & Beyond lover Abbi is a struggling artist working as a custodian in a gym where she longs to be a trainer. Ilana is a crop-top wearing slacker who “works” at a nondescript office where she naps in the bathroom and does nothing but annoy her office-mate. Between jobs, relationships and partying there's plenty of time for big dreams and wacky schemes every day of the week in the big city.
The show initially started as a web series and was created by the show’s stars Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson who met while taking classes at Upright Citizens Brigade. Season three begins in February, so get yourself caught up with these mad funny women.
Blog Post
Wayne State University Press E-books Are Here!
by lucroe
We are extremely pleased to offer e-books from Wayne State University Press.
Library patrons can download these e-books (they are in PDF format) after logging in to our website. Enjoy titles such as Coney Detroit and, find out how Detroit became the coney hotdog capital of the world! Interested in Detroit music history, check out MC5: Sonically Speaking, A Revolution of Rock'n'Roll or Techno Rebels : The Renegades of Electronic Funk Or how about some Michigan history, specifically young women, try Great Girls in Michigan History or the automotive variety, Reuther Brothers : Walter, Roy, and Victor. Or how about a study on a tv show, like Doctor Who, Deadwood, or the Sopranos, to name a few.
There are more titles to choose from so check out the list here and start downloading today!
Blog Post
Golden Globe Award Winners
by manz
Last night the 73rd Golden Globe Award winners were announced in top categories for motion pictures and television from the past year. It’s always fun to see the winners and speculate who will also win at the Oscars.
Best Motion Picture – Drama went to The Revenant, which is in theaters now (also winning Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture for Leonardo DiCaprio and Best Director for Alejandro Iñárritu), Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy went to The Martian (also winning Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture for Matt Damon), Best Motion Picture – Animated went to Inside Out, and Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language went to Son of Saul.
As for TV Series… Best Television Series – Drama went to Mr. Robot, Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy went to Mozart in the Jungle, and Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television went to Wolf Hall.
Be sure to check out the full list of winners to see who won in all categories.
Blog Post
New TV Shows @ AADL
by manz
The library is always acquiring additional TV shows and new seasons of them, be they hot and new, or oldies but goodies. Here are some new-to-AADL series:
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret
Follows the awkward misadventures of an American office temp and convenient liar named Todd Margaret. Margaret bluffs his way into a senior sales position heading up the London office for the new energy drink Thunder Muscle. His out-of-control farce reaches epic proportions when his gaffes and misfortunes wreak havoc on the city of London.
Shetland, Seasons 1 & 2
Follows DI Jimmy Perez and his team as they investigate crime within the close knit island community. In this isolated and sometimes inhospitable environment, the team have to rely on a uniquely resourceful style of policing.
Unreal, Season 1
A behind-the-scenes look at the chaos surrounding the production of a dating competition program.
The Soul Man, Season 1 & 2
Boyce 'The Voice' Ballantine was an R&B star living the life, until he got 'the calling' to become a preacher. Relocating from Las Vegas to St. Louis with his family, Reverend Boyce and his family have to get used to some changes. Not quite ready to give up their superstar lifestyles, wife Lolli and daughter Lyric have some trouble settling down.
For more TV shows, be sure to check out AADL’s lists for HOT TV shows, as well as NEW TV shows.
Blog Post
TV Spotlight: Sherlock the Abominable Bride
by manz
This past weekend the much anticipated Sherlock: The Abominable Bride aired on PBS with much buzz! For those that missed the 90 minute special, it will air again on January 10, and you can always add yourself to the list of holds if you need to see it again and again… because Sherlock!
This new episode takes Sherlock and Watson to 221 B Baker Street in the 1890s with new mysteries to solve, the big one being a murder involving the abominable bride. It was fantastic to see Sherlock, Holmes, Mrs. Hudson and the gang back together again. And it was a riot to see them during a different time period! You might be wondering how they can just go back in time and be themselves, but it all works swimmingly and is super fun! And as always, it's a great idea to view seasons 1-3 again.
Blog Post
TV Spotlight: Mr. Show With Bob & David
by manz
Mr. Show starred David Cross and Bob Odenkirk and lasted four seasons, airing from 1995-1998. This was Bob and David before Arrested Development and Breaking Bad. The show features a series of sketches, each one linking slightly to the next one and offering ridiculous comedy.
This show was around during the prime 1990s sketch comedy era. You had amazing shows like Ben Stiller Show, The State, Upright Citizens Brigade, In Living Color, and Kids in the Hall, keeping you up late and laughing your face off as they launched the careers of many.
And since 1990s television shows are rebooting all over the place, sketch comedy is in on the game. W/ Bob and David is a new Netflix-only show that began in November and features four half-hour episodes including original cast members in new sketches, as well as a fifth episode acting as a behind-the-scenes.
Blog Post
New TV Shows @ AADL
by manz
The library is always acquiring additional TV shows and new seasons of them, be they hot and new, or oldies but goodies. Into comedy? Here are some new-to-AADL series:
Inside Amy Schumer, Seasons 1-3
Straight from Amy Schumer's provocative and hilariously wicked mind, Schumer explores sex, relationships and the general mix up that is life with sketches, stand-up comedy, and woman-on-the-street interviews.
The Bernie Mac show, Season 1
Bernie is a famous stand-up comedian living the good life in his Los Angeles home. Life was simple and sweet for the Mac-Man. Then one day Bernie's sister in Chicago is sent on a 'state-sponsored vacation' (rehab) and her three children: teenage adolescent Vanessa, asthmatic weaseling Jordan, and sweet, innocent Bryana, are taken into Bernie's custody. Raising kids is hard and these three are always giving poor Uncle Bernie trouble.
Girlfriends, Seasons 1-7
Meet four professional African-American women living in Los Angeles who are struggling with the weighty issues of life, including men, love, money, and more men. No matter what is going on in life, they rely on each other for support and humor.
For more TV shows, be sure to check out AADL’s lists for HOT TV shows, as well as NEW TV shows.
Blog Post
Crossover Graphic Novels- December edition special TV/Movie tie-in edition!
by gulickb
This month we're going to take a look at some of the great comics that have TV or movie tie-ins. Sometimes watching a show or a movie just isn't enough and you want more. Thankfully we live in a wonderful time where comic book companies have realizes this and provide us with sometimes hundreds of issues of our favorite movies and shows in comic form. So without further ado here are some great graphic novels that are wonderful for kids and adults alike!
With Star Wars Episode VII:The Force Awakens just a mere 10 days from release now is a great time to catch up on the Star Wars universes wonderful comics. From comics that are humourous (such as the Star Wars Jedi Academy series), to the continuation of the Star Wars Clone Wars Adventures, and even Manga style Empire Strikes Back. So while you count down the days until The Force Awakens why not read some excellent graphic novels.
The longest running animation in US history is The Simpsons and it's no surprise that they have been making Simpsons comics for quite a while now ( Bart even has his own series of comics if you can't get enough of his antics!). What is surprising is that the comics feel like the show and if you're familiar with the characters than it is entirely possible that you will read the comics in their voices! The comics keep the feel of the show without duplicating the actual episodes, so if you have seen all the episodes and still want more (or even if you haven't seen them all) then The Simpsons Comic is for you!!!
Teen Titans is a great show for fans of the DC comic world and their latest series "Teen Titans Go" is wonderful as well, but now in a move that turns your favorite comic book turned TV stars back into a comic you can read the first volume of the newly release Teen Titans Go comic. The artwork is identical to the cartoon and so if you need more Teen Titans in your life then Teen Titans Go Volume 1: Party Part! is just the comic for you!
Blog Post
New TV Shows @ AADL
by manz
The library is always acquiring additional TV shows and new seasons of them, be they hot and new, or oldies but goodies. Here are some new-to-AADL series:
Mr. Robot, Season 1
Follows a young computer programmer who suffers from social anxiety disorder and forms connections through hacking. He's recruited by a mysterious anarchist, who calls himself Mr. Robot.
12 Monkeys, Season 1
Follows the journey of Cole, a time traveler from the post-apocalyptic future who appears in present day on a mission to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will eventually decimate the human race.
Marco Polo, Season 1
In a world replete with greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry, the series is based on the famed explorer's adventures in Kublai Khan's court in thirteenth century China.
For more TV shows, be sure to check out AADL’s lists for HOT TV shows, as well as NEW TV shows.
Blog Post
TV Spotlight: Wayward Pines
by manz
Wayward Pines was recommended to me as a big fan of both Twin Peaks and The X-Files. I can see the connection, but Wayward Pines is a bit more scary.
In this ten episode and only season, Secret Service Agent Ethan Burke, played by Matt Dillon, wakes up in a hospital in a strange town in Idaho after a car accident, and he tries desperately to figure out where he is and how to get back home to is family, while at the same time trying to find two missing agents.
He meets the oddly behaved sheriff, head nurse, doctor and other suspicious local residents while seeking the truth. Finally he realizes he is not being told the truth and he tries to leave the town – only he can’t. There is a wall keeping residents in… Or is the wall keeping something else out? The suspense leads to a terrifying reality that cannot be believed.
The show is based on the novels by Blake Crouch and the first episode was directed by thrill master M. Night Shyamalan.