arts and entertainment weekly
student collaborative the art of the exhibition
IN PURSUIT OF ART The philosophy of the portrait
the long road to the canvas Eric Jones’ brush with fate
art glass
Fullerton loves handcrafted hookahs
and other non-”art” arts
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daily.titan
BUZZ 05.10.07
GOAL LINE STAND pg.4
NBC’S Friday Night Lights closes the season off with critical acclaim but with a contract yet to be renewed, the future of Friday is unclear.
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Jickie Torres
STUDENT-ART WORK pg.5
With a powerful body of work by Richard Marquis, Art Department students of exhibitioin and graphic design put together a lasting legacy.
THE POWERFUL PORTRAIT pg. 6
Eric Jones’ unhappiness with his life choices caused him to dwell on mistakes of his past. It wasn’t until a friend offered some wise words that he was able to look at his personal and career losses through a different set of eyes.
HOOKAH HEAVEN pg.8
CSUF professor and hookah shop owner Carla Ibrahim brings smells and smokes of the Middle East to Fullerton.
COMEDY CROWN pg. 9 With Comedy Juice coming to Brea and bringing its roster that incudes names like Dane Cook and Dave Chappelle, who knows what kings of comedy may come to town.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Adam Levy DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Emily Alford ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Beth Stirnaman PRODUCTION Jickie Tores ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Sarah Oak, Lesley Wu
The Daily Titan 714.278.3373 The Buzz Editorial 714.278.5426 thebuzz@dailytitan.com Editorial Fax 714.278.4473 The Buzz Advertising 714.278.3373 ads@dailytitan.com Advertising Fax 714.278.2702 The Buzz , a student publication, is a supplemental insert for the Cal State Fullerton Daily Titan. It is printed every Thursday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, College of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSU system. The Daily Titan has functioned as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated, advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial activities or ventures identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship, endorsement or investigation of such commercial enterprises. Copyright ©2006 Daily Titan
COVER SHOT: a portrait painting by Eric Jones. Phot by Reza Allah Bakhshi
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INTERSECTION:
ROYCROFT
BY CINDY CAFFERTY Daily Titan Staff Writer thebuzz@dailytitan.com
Sapient OC hipsters know better than to trek all the way to Melrose for cool castoffs, obscure music and multiethnic cuisine. After all, why bother when just up the street from sleepy Seal Beach is 2nd Street in Belmont Shores? Nestled in the southern most part of Long Beach, 2nd Street is lined with quaint boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops. Catering to the conventional and the chic, 2nd Street shops cover the gamut from Banana Republic to Buffalo Exchange. Of particular interest is the west end’s 2nd and Roycroft. The mainstream can keep on moving because this corner is home to Fingerprints, Buffalo
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Exchange and Polly’s Pies. Fingerprints offers the widest variety of CDs and LPs in Long Beach – possibly in the entire L.A. / OC area, Amoeba Records notwithstanding – and what they don’t have, they’ll gladly order. Along with hard-to-find-music, Fingerprints is known for their intimate in-store performances, knowledgeable staff and overall cool vibe. Some of the bands that have buzzed in the Daily Titan this year had already played at Fingerprints before the media got a hold of them. Artists, fans and aficionados in the know head to the store regularly for their music fix.
Best place to get a naughty costume
Best place to get a priate costume
Best Lebanese food
Just north of 2nd Street on Livingston. Park and Livingston is usually a safe bet and a short walk to the west end of the boulevard – the best end of the street.
For a little more adventure and a lot more naughty, Rubbertree, located on the same side of the street on the west-end, offers the best selection and is a fantasy funfilled place. Head to Open Sesame in between Nieto and Corona on 2nd Street. There’s usually a wait but with so many shops nearby, passing the time is a breeze.
Serious rantings and pop culture complaints of the best (and worst) of the week’s events that can’t help but make you scream ... WHAT THE F!
2. When did a show filled with fabulous celebrities and the best in movies, television and entertainment get so unentertaining? Golden Globes, you were a bore. 3. Yes, juggling and doing a jig during your American Idol audition is a terrible idea, but judges take it easy on the weird kids and the misfits. It’s not their fault society left them behind.
4.Linsdsay Lohan is in rehab, she’s out of rehab. She in AA, she’s out of AA. All this back and forth is giving me a hangover. 5. VH1 gave Flava Flav’s wannabe ex, New York, her own dating show? Why are we rewarding the ultimate in psycho bitch behavior? 6. Cameron Diaz, it’s very cool that you surf and all, but honey that face! It’s called SPF; it’s like Creme De La Mer for regular people. 7. I know this is California and we’re used to being all beachy and what not, but
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Buffalo Exchange sits on the same side of the street, where a person can find vintage treasures, trendy thrifts or new accessories as well as sell or trade their spring-cleaning castoffs. For those in a charitable mood the Exchange also takes clothing donations to give the less fortunate Polly’s, right next door and a Long Beach fixture offers some of the best coffee in town. Their java is laced with a distinct flavor that comes from roasting their own beans. 2nd Street is lined with places to drop some dough down, more importantly though, it’s lined with parking meters and over-ambitious meter maids.
Best place to park for free
Party Props, another Long Beach institution. For the coolest costumes, wigs and a few things naughty, Party Props is the place to be.
1. Apple anounces its latest step towards world domination with the iPhone. But we hipster technophiles have to wait till June?!? WTF!?
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BUZZ 05.10.07
it’s freaking 40 degrees people, not the middle of Siberia. 8. The Trump/ O’Donnel bout continues. One person we all don’t care about versus another person we all don’t care about. 9. AMP magazine got busted for selling adspace in exchange for positive reviews. C’mon man, now no one will ever take entertainment journalism seriously. 10. A judge recently froze OJ Simpson’s assets and reprimanded his spending. WTF? We can punish him for shopping but we can’t get him in jail for murder?
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BUZZ 01.22.07
TV BY THE NUMBERS As the school season winds down, The Buzz crunches the numbers and takes a look at the mathematics of the last television season
9 -7+-1 -3 -2 -7 --
Percentage of ratings drop after Sanjaya was voted off American Idol Number of brains eaten by Sylar on Heroes Number of Lightsabers used on Dancing with the Stars Number of men with a lone letter T in thier name on I Love New York Number of times WWE champ FU slams K-fed Number of seasons Gilmore girls survived cancellation - Orion Tippens/Daily Titan Staff Writer
daily.titan
The Future of Fridays A talk with the cast of NBC’s Friday Night Lights reveals some interesting beginnings and with an unrenewed contract, a yet-to-be-determined future by Richard Tinoco For the Daily Titan
thebuzz@dailytitan.com
Football season may be over for NBC’s critically acclaimed family drama, Friday Night Lights, which had its season finale in April. But despite low viewership, the series scored a touchdown with its audience. The Museum of Radio and Television huddled creator Peter Berg, writer Jason Katims, and the “Friday” cast to tackle issues like low ratings and glowing reviews while answering questions from fans. This isn’t the Friday Night Lights feature film, but a television series inspired by the movie and book. It stars Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor, the coach of the Dillon Panthers high school football team, and his wife Tami, played by Connie Britton. The characters aren’t the same, but Berg, who wrote and directed the film, was able to translate the film into television. Berg said the network was always supportive, giving the series much publicity in the wake of Sunday Night Football’s move to NBC. As the season progressed though, the drama distanced itself from mere
sports play, and with a weekly series Berg could explore deeper issues like racism and family values. The movie’s only returning star was Britton, who plays the aforementioned coach’s wife, mother and Dillon High’s guidance counselor. Britton is grateful that the writers “mix it up,” as she said, for her as an actress, but she was hesitant about her new co-star. Britton jokingly said, “Really? Kyle Chandler?” Then added, “That’s no Billy Bob [Thornton, her husband in the feature], but I’ll do it anyway.” The way Chandler and Britton bounce off one another is evidence of the much talked about chemistry they have as husband and wife on the series. Both actors agree that the pair just clicked “in a great way” and that everyday on set is always “fun and exciting.” Fresh off exploding on “Grey’s Anatomy’s” Super Bowl episode, casting Chandler as the football coach might seem like a no-brainer now, but the decision wasn’t always as clear during auditions. “Early Edition? Are you kidding me?,” jested Berg. “I rolled the dice
[with Chandler].” But as the auditions progressed, Berg found “so much heart and soul” within Chandler’s performance, he had to cast him. Aside from Chandler and Britton, the series boasts a cast of relatively unknown actors, but they all earned their spot on the team. Not even a Friday-the-13th audition day scared off Aimee Teegarden, who plays the Taylors’ daughter, Julie. She admitted to never watching the movie and only doing the audition as a favor to her agent. Even though Teegarden was under 18, the casting directors kept asking her to come back. During the audition, casting asked Teegarden what made her angry. Her answer: “Gas prices.” She forgot to mention she “didn’t even drive.” Scott Porter, who plays starquarterback-turned-handicappedteen Jason Street, saw the movie three times and immediately jumped at the role, which he described as “amazing, dark and gory.” Happenstance struck Zach Gilford, who portrays jittery backup SEE LIGHTS - PAGE 12
Student Specials
Day Spa
(must mention your are a CSUF student when booking)
Complete Day Spa and Nail Salon featuring: • Full waxing studio including female Bikini and Brazilian (all bare down there) • Manicure / Pedicure $25 • Gel Nails - Encourages natural nail growth, strong beautiful nails without the odor $24, with tips $28 • Massage Therapy Full hour only $49 • Signature Facial only $49 • Eyelash Extensions $90 OFF full set • Eyelash perming and tinting 20% OFF • Coming Soon Tanning Services
Boogaloos Day Spa
217 N. Harbor Downtown Fullerton, CA 92832 714-992-4544 Open on weekends and late Thursday nights
$10 OFF Brazilian Waxing - or 20% OFF All other waxing
daily.titan
BUZZ 05.10.07
The Arts in Collaboration
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For students of exhibition and graphic design, the Marquis Exhibit is more than the art of just one man
Daily Titan Staff Writer thebuzz@dailytitan.com
With a campus as large as Cal State Fullerton, it is easy for some of the most thought-provoking and simply entertaining attractions to go unnoticed. The Main Gallery of the Art Department is always teeming with eccentric exhibits of both students and professional artists. In either case, a student is always contributing. The most recent exhibit, “The Way of the Artist: Reflections on Creativity and the Life, Home, Art and Collections of Richard Marquis,” features the work of Richard Marquis, a glass blower with over 40 years in the medium, with commentary on the artist’s influence by the exhibit’s curator, Dr. Barry Behrstock. Marquis’ exhibit, which is running through May 18, contains work inspired by everyday objects, such as glass teapots, soapbox racers, meat grinders, anvils, hats, oil cans and boxing gloves. But none of this would have been possible without the students from the Art Department’s exhibition design and graphic design classes. Exhibition class students are in charge of choosing the artist and
creating the venue the art is to be accompanying book, graphic design housed in, said Larry Johnson, chair students were able to contribute to a of the Art Department. significant creative piece. “They select the artist and choose For the exhibit, students took the the best design space to show the eccentric and out-of-the-ordinary art work,” Johnson said. from Marquis’ personal collection In the case of Marquis, the exhibit and created an exhibit to reflect not idea came to the students. Marilyn only his work, but the way he sees Moore, assistant to gallery director and lives life. Mike McGee said that Behrstock, “It’s designed so we’re able to see his a pediatrician and glassmaker, life through his work,” Johnson said. took an interest Exhibition in Marquis and students then take If a person were to come in the theme of the art wanted to not only curate an exhibit of here everyday of the exhibit, and create an exhibit his work, but create they would see something they reflecting the same a companion book didn’t see or from a completely tone from his or her with his reflections different angle than the day work. In Marquis’ on Marquis’ art before. case, the overlying Larry johnson theme was art from and life, the art of Art Department Chair everyday glassblowing and items, Behrstock’s personal in other words, philosophies on simplicity. life. “Marquis uses In spite of being turned down by other things we take for granted in our galleries, Behrstock was determined to everyday lives, things we don’t look find a venue. One day, the parent of at as something to inspire art,” one of his patients mentioned he knew Johnson said. McGee, CSUF’s gallery director. And Students ran with that idea, the exhibit and book, “The Way of the making sure to convey that message Artist” was born. with white walls, dim lighting, and Johnson said the collaboration on this bright display areas projected at particular exhibit was broad. Exhibition different angles to make sure viewers students were given the opportunity to were able to get a complete view. create a unique exhibit and, with the
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by Michelle Ascencio
“If a person were to come in here everyday of the exhibit, they would see something they didn’t see or from a completely different angle than the day before,” Johnson said. Stephanie Taniguchi, art major, said she enjoyed viewing the exhibit. “You can tell they spent a lot of time on this,” Taniguchi said. “I really liked it.” The companion book, took graphic design students several semesters to complete. The end result was the 182-page, cloth-bound The Way of the Artist. The book displays photographs of Marquis’ work and Behrstock’s insights into Marquis’ art and his “life well lived.” “The book is beautiful,” Moore said. “The students really outdid
themselves with this project.” Moore said when the project was said and done, McGee estimated that roughly 200 students contributed over the life of the assignment. Johnson said the end products of this collaboration are important for the students’ future careers. “Exhibition students get the experience of creating art exhibitions and the design students get to work on something that will become a collectible,” he said. “It benefits both the artist and the student.” Students involved with this project took on a hefty load, Johnson said, but he could not be happier with the results. “I’m always impressed with the work our students produce,” he said.
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daily.titan
BUZZ 05.10.07
A Capture on Canvas
Self described abstract realist, Eric Jones, with dry brush in hand, puts people in paint by Carol Rojas Daily Titan StaffWriter thebuzz@dailytitan.com
For Eric Jones, painting is a conversation between himself and God. Once disheartened with the artist life he chose for himself, today Jones has come full circle in rediscovering what his lifelong passion of the art world has really been about. Jones began his foray into the visual arts at the tender age of 6 after moving from his home state of Utah to Georgia, where he spent most of his life. Encouraged by his first-grade teacher to enter a drawing contest on the topic of fire prevention, he tapped into his artistic talent at full force in elementary school and has not stopped since. “In my first drawing contest ever, I got first place,” Jones said giggling. “Ironically it was the one and only time I ever got a first place anything
After being involved in the for my artwork.” Today, the 30-year-old Cal State art community for over two Fullerton painting and drawing decades, Jones is going back to the basics to find master’s what’s really s t u d e n t important to resides at him in life and C S U F ’ s in art. Jones G r a n d says his biggest C e n t r a l challenge Arts Center. is trying to Leading what stay true to he calls “the himself. typical life “I think the of an artist,” hardest thing for Jones’ days me is trying to are filled be sincere with with trying to my artwork,” survive off of Jones said. his art, going “It’s hard not to Church to get caught and spending up in what’s countless getting the most n i g h t s devoting his By reza allah bakhshi /Daily Titan Staff attention at the time. Ultimately energy to the two portraits - As a portrait artist you have to stay canvas. Jones’ aims to convey the essence of his subjects
paint master - Cal State Fullerton student Eric Jones resides at CSUF’s Grand Central Art S
strong and stand your ground.” Initially influenced by the works
of Caravaggio and DaVinci, the figure and portrait artist has found
daily.titan
BUZZ 05.10.07
By reza allah bakhshi /Daily Titan Staff Station. His acclaimed work exemplies his mastery in the dry brush technique.
his own calling in the world of art bringing his experiences of living
in Georgia onto his canvas. Through capturing people on canvas, he aims to
convey the essence of who they are. metaphor for life. Now, Jones is redefining painting. “In dry-brush painting, the brush By reconnecting with God through sometimes leaves imperfect streaks his pieces he is learning about on the canvas,” Jones said. “Those himself in the process. imperfect streaks are like the choices In “Obliteration,” a painting the I’ve made in the past and God is artist created for his latest series, he has taking all those things I did wrong in attempted to reconstruct the human my life and he is making them right.” condition by focusing on life’s failures The self-described half-abstract as an opportunity for growth. and half-realistic artist became “Before, disillusioned I used to be with his own so worried choices in about making his personal mistakes in life and with painting and his artistic that was the integrity in the case in my creation of his personal life art work. After too,” Jones said. a whirlwind “I was scared of heartbreak of making bad and artistic decisions and setbacks, Jones I was actually found himself scared of struggling to making any find what he decisions.” loved so much In talking about art in about his latest the first place. series, Jones “For a long described time it just By reza allah bakhshi /Daily Titan Staff wasn’t his new fun r e l a t i o n s h i p dry brush - Jones, 30, a painting a n y m o r e ,” with God on and drawing masters student likes the Jones said. “It imperfections that surface with the dry brush the canvas as a technique. was just work.
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One day I just got tired of it. I got tired and I said I just can’t do this anymore.” Jones unhappiness with his life choices caused him to dwell on mistakes of his past. It wasn’t until a friend offered some wise words that he was able to look at his personal and career losses through a different set of eyes. “She told me that God liked my paintings,” Jones said about the friend that reinspired him to paint. “After that I started painting differently, and being open through the paintings I’ve really come to understand who God is.” Today, the artist has come to embrace all the decisions he’s made in his life noting that it’s the choices he’s made, both good and bad, that have led him on the path of discovering himself. “Human beings make mistakes and there’s beauty in that,” Jones said. “Those mistakes are necessary steps you need in life. Ultimately you learn from the mistakes you make and then you’re stronger for it.” As far as what the future holds, Jones is sure of one thing. “I don’t know what legacy I’ll leave,” Jones said. “I just know that whatever happens, I want to keep painting for the rest of my life.”
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BUZZ 05.10.07
SMOKE
daily.titan
TRADERS Husband and wife store-owners, Carla and Ali Ibrahim, bring exotic treats from the far reaches of Egypt for local Fullertonites to sample, smell and smoke door, a fruit cocktail of smells swims around you. Traditional flavors For the Daily Titan thebuzz@dailytitan.com such as strawberry and banana are available, along with not-so-familiar If you swing open the tinted glass flavors like choco-mint and silver door at Caravan Trading in Fullerton, fox. You can even try the relatively Ali or Carleen Ibrahim will surely new tobacco-free herbal hookah. welcome you into their cluttered That’s right. All ages can enjoy shop with a warm handshake and an the aroma and taste of the hookah smoke with no tobacco, nicotine or even warmer smile. But don’t let the small front room tar to worry about. The specialty store offers almost that displays a few strewn-about exclusively Egyptian products, hookahs deceive you. Soon you will practically all of which are be given a tour of the back room, handmade. Ali’s family has been and you’ll wonder if you will ever in the hookah business for four need to set foot in another smoke generations. He makes trips to his shop again. The shop, hometown of a l m o s t Cairo to pick up hidden along parts and other Commonwealth crafted Egyptian Avenue is home goods at least to seemingly once a year. e n d l e s s Middle Eastern possibilities for lutes, drums, hookahcreations. silver charms, The dark and jewelry, handmusty shelves blown perfume can’t conceal the bottles, exotic colorful shine belly dancing of the countless costumes and diverse glass detailed chess sets shapes and artistic are all brought designs. Boxes back from across upon boxes are the world to filled with any Fullerton. parts you could Carleen has By daniel suzuki/For the Daily Titan ever need for a doubled as a Cal smoke prep - Ali Ibrahim, smooth-running owner of Caravan Hookah in Fullerton State University s m o k e - f i l l e d prepares the hookah for fresh tobacco Fullerton get-together. teacher for eight The bubbly Carleen explained, years. She is currently employed at “Here they can wander around the the school part time and teaches shelves and they can pick out their the courses Liberal Studies 301 and glass, hose and then shaft. They Comparative Literature 325. She really enjoy that.” often gives away Egyptian goodies to This mix-and-match option allows the winning members of the group for a greater variety in hookahs that activities in her liberal arts class. can be brought home by customers Ali and Carleen are not only than the average smoke shop. business partners; they also are “When you pick a hookah, it is husband and wife. The couple met like picking a cake,” Ali beamed. From the moment you enter the SEE HOOKAH - PAGE 12 by Beth Stirnaman
By daniel suzuki/For the Daily Titan
handcrafted hookahs - The collection of handblown glass hookahs at Caravan Trading are imported from
Egypt. Carla and Ali Ibrahim have been in the hookah buisness for four years but Ali’s family has been in the trade for generations.
daily.titan
BUZZ 05.10.07
Ready by erin tobin
Daily Titan Staff Writer thebuzz@dailytitan.com
Things have been changing for two brothers from Walnut, Calif. First Dave, 19, and Ryan Trautz, 21, both Cal State Fullerton students, had to bid goodbye to the third member of their band, ...Fire!, when the keyboard player decided to focus on school. Then they had to say goodbye to ...Fire! when it was decided the name made the band too hard to promote. “It was too hard to search ...Fire! on the Internet and come up with the band,” Ryan said. Yet the duo, now under the moniker of The Ready Aim Fire! isn’t slowing down. They are busy planning a cross-country summer tour and writing a new album.
“My brother’s always at home writing music, and I’m out booking gigs,” Ryan said, adding that he puts together the band’s press kits and portfolios. The Trautz brothers have been working together in a variety of bands for the last four years. A year ago The Ready Aim Fire! was simply a side project while they were in what Ryan described as a “more serious band.” Dave started playing around with an old synthesizer, and the result intrigued him. “I just programmed in the drums and it came out all glitchy. It really caught my attention,” he said. Then in the end Dave, now the group’s songwriter, decided to combine that bit of electronica with the personal lyrics that have become popular with bands like Bright Eyes and Postal Service.
Fire!
Currently Donavan Foy, owner of The Wire in Upland, has replaced the synthesizer’s drums with real ones by sitting in as the band’s parttime drummer. Since the band’s start, Dave feels he has grown as a songwriter. “I used to make up a lot of fictional stuff for songs, but now, each song is like a direct point from my life,” Dave said. The songs of The Ready Aim Fire! have also found meaning for the group’s fans. “The Ready Aim Fire! is different from what I’ve heard before and Dave’s vocals are amazing,” said Sandra Woloshuk, 21, a business administration major at CSUF. “It’s sort of like you become hypnotized when you hear him sing.” Through the use of MySpace, Purevolume and other Internet tools
An off-again on-again band of local brothers take on college life, cross-country touring and making good music that many independent bands have come to rely on, the band has come to develop a solid fan base. Foy noticed the strength of that following when the group played at The Wire. “The fans were singing along with every word. It was the first time we had that kind of response at The Wire,” Foy said. “It was something you would only see at a huge concert.” While Orange County has reacted well to the band, they say their biggest fans are in Texas. “It’s pretty grassroots. We traveled 1,500 miles to play a show in Texas. It was a dangerous small town near the border,” Ryan said. “But the kids in Texas were great. There was a lot of anticipation and a huge crowd.” The group plans on returning to Texas this summer and has also booked an event in Atlanta, Ga. While they enjoy the widespread
fame, both the Trautz brothers said they wish they could have more fans from their hometown. “We have fans from Texas, Florida and Washington, in little pockets all around,” Dave said. “It’s kinda strange how that works. Everyone knows us, except for our hometown. It’s kinda embarrassing.” Foy said he doesn’t think it will be long before more people will know the name The Ready, Aim, Fire! “They’re one of those bands that might blow up. They have loyal fans and they’re getting more,” Foy said. Dave said even if the band’s music does catch on he would like to hold on to personal aspects of the underground scene. “Just go to our Web site and download our music. Make a CD and hand it out to your friends,” he said.
Big Names and Local Laughs
Boasting the likes of Dane Cook, Dave Chappelle and Sarah Silverman, Comedy Juice in Brea promises big events performers. The most notable include Dave Chappelle, Dane Daily Titan Staff Writer thebuzz@dailytitan.com Cook, Sarah Silverman, Carlos Mencia, Dave Attell, Harland Comedy Juice is now served Williams, Chris Rock, Bob Saget, locally at the Brea Improv Comedy Ralphie May and Jeffrey Ross. Club every Tuesday at 8 p.m. In addition, many up-andComedy Juice is a live comedy coming fresh faces are added to show featuring a variety of stand-up their proud roster of talent. performances from a pool of talent, both During its course of funny familiar and fresh. Weekly performances business, the show has developed are showcased at the Improv Comedy a sense of family among its Club locations throughout Southern members, where many of its California, which include Hollywood, comedians return for repeat Irvine and Brea. performances. “Expect nude When Dave Expect nude dancers, Chappelle went dancers, fireanimals, on hiatus in breathing animals, fire-breathing twisty beady twisty beady midgets, but if South Africa, midgets, but if you you expect them, you won’t after his exit from Comedy expect them, you get them. Central, his won’t get them,” – ben gleib first appearance said Ben Gleib, 28, Comedian back on the a regular comic for comedy scene the show’s troupe, And who is most was at Comedy recently part of Juice, where he NBC gag show The Real Wedding received a standing ovation. Crashers. “You will get a lineup of the “We build personal relationships best, funniest comics in the country with the comics. We become each week and expect to laugh your friends with them. They like playing our shows. If you are ass off from start to finish.” Comedy Juice has been a home good at promoting, the big comics to a variety of famous comedic will follow, and then the crowds by Orion Tippens
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will follow. And we still not only book the best, we book the people that are going to be the big stars of
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tomorrow,” said Scot Richardson, president and co-founder. Comedy Juice had its humble
SEE LAUGHS - PAGE 11
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daily.titan
BUZZ 05.10.07
music
photo courtesy of Psychopathic Records
by Grant Paulis For the Daily Titan
gpaulis@dailytitan.com
Not since 2002 has the underground music scene seen an event like this. In 2002 Insane Clown Posse embarked on the Hatchet Rising Tour which boasted a lineup that Juggalos (loosely translated: fans of ICP) have been talking about it ever since. Performing on that nationwide tour was: ICP, Twiztid, Blaze Ya Dead Homie and Anybody Killa, and the super-group Dark Lotus which features both ICP and Twiztid. Since then, Twiztid and ICP have only appeared on the same stage a handful of times. But the times they are a changing. In March ICP released their second album since completing their epic series “Joker’s Cards,” a saga that spanned over ten years. This album is of course “The Tempest,” and is a far superior offering than the album preceding it, “The Calm.” The best way to celebrate a new release is a
THEBUZZ
WHAT’S
massive tour, and Insane Clown Posse does not disappoint. They launched The Tempest Tour on April 26 and it has swept through 11 states. The Dark Carnival will be coming May 15 taking over the Grove of Anaheim. A Clown Show is a unique experience, unlike anything most people have ever seen. The energy that Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J bring to the stage is electric, and the excitement flowing from the crowd is always unparalleled. Their shows are spectacles in the truest sense of the word; incorporating elaborate sets, audience participation and soda. That’s right: soda. No Insane Clown Posse show is complete without hundreds of gallons of Faygo soda, but it’s not for drinking. During their performance the demented duo unleash two liters, water cannons and huge vats full of soda onto the willing crowd. It sounds goofy, but seeing all of these elements combined is really an experience.
like song that spurs memories of electronica, however the kind any Emmure kid could make on a program like Victory Records Garage Band. File under: Vomit in stereo The album is filled with repetitive mechanics. With Emmure’s Goodbye to the Gallows breakdown after breakdown and is the bands first full-length album, the monotony eventually leads the and you can tell. listener to zone out. The CD player rejected the It is impossible to listen to this album 3 times before it would get it to play and CD all the into iTunes. way through. The CD The saving opens up grace of the with a 50album is that second intro it is only 29:30 of retardedness long. Take that goes the advice of straight into the last song “10 Signs You – “When Should Leave” Ever ything which is the Goes Wrong, same exact Take the Easy song. Way Out” M a n y – and turn the photo courtesy of victory records albums have CD off. intros that lead into songs, and songs that fade - Reza Allah-Bakhshi into others, but what really stands Daily Titan Staff Writer out on Emmure’s album is the fact that the first five songs are exactly Michael Buble the same, they just have different Reprise Records names. File under: Smooth & Sexiest Finally after blaring the first Crooner of All Time half of the CD, song six showcases the name “Travis Bickle” who is Call Me Irresponsible, Michael the main character in the movie Buble’s latest album released last week Taxi Driver, a classic Martin should be titled Call Me Irresistible. Scorsese flick. However, the name Buble’s voice makes hearts melt, has nothing to do with the song, whether you’re in love or want to possibly some sampling of lines be. Buble gives us two original songs in the movie could be used to add and an array of covers from Elvis to credibility, but alas, there was none. Clapton in this album. It was more, in effect, a trance‘Everything’ an original track by
? Buble, Alan Chang & Amy FosterGillies was inspired by Buble’s current girlfriend Emily Blunt. Listening to it makes you feel like you’ve just been passionately kissed by your true love. “Lost,” a standout track written by Buble and Jann Arden is what the artist calls getting through a past relationship where both of you’ve moved on but you each still hold a special place for one another in your heart. His voice is intimate and romantic as he adds his style to tracks like “I’m Your Man” written by Leonard Cohen and soul classic “Me And Mrs. Jones” “It Had Better Be Tonight” written by Henry Mancini, has a salsa touch, full of pizzazz and makes you want to get up and dance. The album wouldn’t be complete without “Comin’ Home Tonight” featuring backing vocals by Robert Dorough and Benjiman Tucker from the legendary Boyz II Men. This album has quite an act to follow since Buble’s previous C.D. It’s Time released in 2005 went multi-platinum and in 2006 broke the record for the highest number of weeks at No. 1 by any artist. His original hit track ‘Home’ was No. 1 on charts in more than 10 countries. What is left to desire about this album is more original work by Buble. There is nothing hotter than a romantic sexy man who can sing his heart out and write his own music. We know you can do it Buble and we will be patiently waiting with our hearts pounding. - Raquel Stratton Daily Titan Staff Writer
daily.titan
THEBUZZ
WHAT’S MOVIES
BUZZ 05.10.07
?
Spider-Man 3
Columbia Pictures File Under: Silly but Dramatic Comic Book Movie Without being a die-hard Spiderman fan, the third film of the trilogy was quite impressive. The previous films set a high bar that 3 just didn’t reach, however the movie was still well worth its ticket price. With the same pair of leading actors Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man) and Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson) continue their on-again, off-again romance interrupted by villains, celebrity and overall drama. After the numerous Batman movies, The Hulk, The Fantastic Four (with the Silver Surfer coming soon) and the awesome X-Men trilogy, the spider-man series goes down as sort of soap opera of the comic book movies. The focus was familiar: villains created by science projects gone wrong and extraterrestrial meteorites. and there was the usual cameo by Spider-Man creator Stan Lee. Despite the occasional overdramatic acting, Spider-Man 3 did have a gifted team of special effects artists. The Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) was a great character to illustrate the wonders of effects. There isn’t a whole lot that can be done with sand, but the creators of this movie used all the elements (i.e. water, fire and wind) to help destruct and rebuild this sandy creature. As for Venom (Topher Grace), the scariest part of him
photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures
was his teeth and even those weren’t terribly exciting. Both Church and Grace started their careers in sitcoms. Church starred in “Wings” and Grace starred in “That 70s Show” as funny, but sappy characters so it was hard to buy the “bad boy” images. “Evil” Peter Parker potrayed like a lost Good Charlotte fan, was laughable. At itmes it felt like Spiderman 3: Spidey Goes Emo. However, the films major fault was the Batman-esqu villain teamup. Sandman, Hobgoblin and Venom? Venom would have been awesome on his own but he was over shadowed by the Sandman and the Green Goblin’s son Harry Osborn (James Franco). What they did was make him look pathetic. Overall, it was a good movie – not the best comic book movie ever, but
photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures
it would be worth a second watch -Jackie Kimmel Daily Titan News Editor
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laughs: brea Comedy
(From page 9)
beginnings six years ago, when Richardson and a partner started a live college show at the Laugh Factory. After much hard work passing out free tickets, the show grew to greater heights, hosting new and famous faces. Eventually taking on the brand name, Richardson moved the show to the Hollywood Improv where it eventually branched out to its other locations. Today, Richardson considers the comics he works with close friends and attributes its success to that bond. One of Richardson’s close friends on the circuit is Gleib, a comedian and comedy writer whose influences are George Carlin, Johnny Carson and Chevy Chase. Richardson worked with Gleib on other projects including The Gleib Show, a comedy show for the National
Lampoon college network. Gleib is currently working on a top-secret show currently in production for NBC and continues to work with Richardson on making Richardson’s show a success as a weekly performer. “You know you made it, when you’re a comic on the Comedy Juice lineup,” said Gleib. Gleib comments on the atmosphere of the show in relation to its audience. “The crowds are always hot.” Dan Godfrey, the general manager of the Brea Improv also expressed excitement on the opening night of Comedy Juice. He looks forward to future shows and drawing a new crowd. “The show is half price with a student I.D,” said Godfrey. “That’s better than a movie!”
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daily.titan
BUZZ 05.10.07
Hookah: A Bit of Egypt in OC (From page 8) in Orange County when Carleen was working at a Chevrolet car dealership, while across the street Ali managed a gas station. “We came from different cultures, spoke different languages and practiced different religions,” the Los Angeles-raised Carleen remembers. Ali is also eight years older than his wife. Humor helped the odd couple overcome their cultural and age differences. Carleen recalled Ali being “absolutely hilarious.” After knowing each other for 11 months, the two started their journey of marriage that has lasted 26 years. They have owned Caravan Trading for over four years and send Egyptian products around the world. “Just last week we sent packages to Latvia, Portugal, the West Indies, England, France, Canada and across the country,” she said. “We sell both wholesale and retail, although our
retail prices are just about par with wholesale,” she continued. The couple’s skills dovetail to run their business efficiently. Carleen handles most of the computer tasks, including running their Web site, Myspace and E-bay accounts. Ali, with his infectious smile handles the customer service. 24-year-old George Jonson has been in business with Ali for three years purchasing products for his extensive retail hookah Web site. While sipping coffee at the Caravan Hookah shop he remembered seeing Ali years ago in the hookah market, but not knowing who he was. Ali chimed in with a curtain of shiny hookah hoses as his background and said, “He came in here like he found a treasure.” Jonson added, “It was quite a shock to come in here and see the variety and quantity that they have.” Jonson, whose business humbly started in his garage, boasts of being the founder of probably the second
By Daniel suzuki/For the Daily Titan
goods -
Besides hookahs the couple sells imported candles and colorful and delicate perfume bottles
Lights: Football Drama “I love Landry,” said his portrayer Jesse Plemons, because Landry is a quarterback Matt Saracan, when bit naive, buys into everything he he accidentally fell into the role. reads and is just “horrible,” but he Gilford remembered he was only makes everybody laugh. in the casting room because they So despite accolades of awards, a needed a new person to read lines. lauded cast and what critics deem After auditioning seven to eight solid writing, the times, no word word on season had come in. But two is “maybe.” The two weeks later network has ordered Gilford received six additional scripts word he had for season two, but gotten the job. Berg still urged For Taylor – fans to e-mail NBC Kitsch, who Friday Night Lights Universal President appears as the Jeff Zucker with the brooding drunk simple request of a running back Tim renewal. Riggins, the opportunity almost It’s not certain whether Friday never came. After appearing in teen Night Lights will be allowed a second flick, The Covenant, Kitsch figured season to play out more family“TV was not on the agenda.” It was teen drama, but Coach Taylor has only until he read the script for the a slogan, which might help: “With series, which Kitsch nonchalantly described as “pretty good,” did he bright eyes and full hearts, can’t lose!” sign up.
(From page 4)
bright “With eyes and full
“
hearts, can’t lose!
By Daniel suzuki/For the Daily Titan
MOUTH PEICE - The colorful hoses and wooden mouth peices get stored along with hundreds of other Egyptian goods. largest Web site for hookahs and their accessories. Ali has witnessed America becoming more aware of the society the hookah comes from. “The world is getting smaller. They are learning about the Middle Eastern culture,” he said with a thick accent.
He believes that the war in Iraq and Afghanistan has also played a part in the rise of hookah use in this country. “Hookah places are like Starbucks in the Middle East,” Ali said. He tells of how many of those in the military will have experienced smoking it while overseas and either bring back hookahs or buy them once they come home. The couple agreed that smoking hookah is much different from smoking cigarettes. Carleen said that many smoke for the social experience and as a way to relieve stress. “Our society is fast-paced. We don’t have a lot of opportunity to relax. Cigarette smokers can smoke on the go, but hookah forces you to
sit and relax,” she explained. “Whether you are part of the tobacco or the non-tobacco part, you are learning a lot from smoking the hookah,” she declared. She described the traditional way to smoke around a small, round table with little more than elbow room. Carleen believes that sharing the hoses and waiting your turn in “our give-me-now society” teaches patience and how to share. So when finals start to stress you out and you need a moment to relax with friends, or you start to feel like belly dancing might be your true calling, remember this: a few minutes from campus there is a store that holds unique Egyptian treasures.