Fry-Fry Chicky-Chick

If you haven’t seen self-described fried chicken obsessive Aziz Ansari break down his unique food lingo on Parks and Recreation, please break away from the coverage of Osama bin Laden’s death for 30 seconds to watch this clip. You’ll never look at eggs or rice the same way again.

Somewhere Don Draper is Getting Drunk

From a barn to the 27th floor to that sweet skyscraper in the sky.

There’s good news and bad news circulating in TV Land today. First, let’s rip the Band-Aid off with the Youvegottabeforgettingkiddingme–inducing announcement that AMC is postponing Season 5 of Mad Men amid contract negotiations. The new tentative air date: early 2012. EARLY 2012?! So just as the world is preparing to end in an apocalyptic Mayan blaze, we may (or may not) find comfort in one last hoorah with Don Draper, Betty (well, not Betty but maybe Megan…or at least Sally), and the liquor-swilling employees of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce? If that’s the case, then please, Matthew Weiner, for the love of all saints, bring back Sal Romano and the ghost of Ida “Neil Armstrong” Blankenship!

And now the good news (which, I admit, is more new-ish than new): Season 3 of Eastbound & Down will bring Kenny Powers to Myrtle Beach. Though Kenny worked hard to get “clean and soebs” in Season 2, something tells me he might be getting Myrtle Beach drunk in the not too distant future. What’s Myrtle Beach drunk, you say? Well, I’m glad you asked…

http://blip.tv/file/4625137?utm_source=player_embedded

Snapshots from the Grammys

Lots of Southern folks in attendance at the Grammys last night: Kings of Leon, the Avett Brothers (including the stand-up bass player they won’t officially let into the band), Usher, Lady Antebellum, and the belle of the ball, Cee Lo Green (accompanied by some creepy faux-muppets).

The Wildest Show on TV

Check out my interview with The Wild Within host Steven Rinella. If you haven’t seen this new show on the Travel Channel, add it to your DVR/TiVo queue asap.

Funny Southern People

It’s no secret that I love Southern comedians. Just look at the post I did for Southern in the City yesterday. But Zach Galifianakis is one of my absolute favorites. I love his stand-up. I love his movies. I love him in the white wine homage that is Bored to Death.  I even love his twin brother Seth. He’s a true gem. Just listen to this NPR interview and I’m sure you’ll agree.

Justin Timberlake on the History of Rap

http://www.hulu.com/watch/181945

I know this has already gone viral, but if you haven’t seen Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon rap like they’re not white, please watch it. It’s hilarious.

BBQ in the News

I'll forsake personal vanity here because I'm so proud to be in the company of Rodney Scott.

ABC’s Nightline did a Labor Day–inspired segment on BBQ, and who should appear front and center but Hemingway, South Carolina’s own Scott’s Bar-B-Que. I met pitmaster Rodney Scott at a party at Billy Reid’s Bond Street store after the Big Apple BBQ Block Party this past summer, but I had been a fan of his family’s establishment for much longer. Check out the video, featuring Southern Foodways pioneer John T. Edge, here.

This Week’s Festivities

Official tour poster.

A few things for the calendar this week(end):

1. Aziz Ansari is performing at Town Hall in mid-town tomorrow night. Tickets are sold out via Ticketmaster, but there seem to be some floating around Craigslist.

2. Friday marks the Third Annual Arkansas Razorbacks BBQ at Overlook Bar. $25 buys all-you-can-eat pork, burgers, dogs, grilled corn, cheese grits, barbeque beans and fried okra with all the fix-ins. For an extra $30, you can partake in the four-hour open bar of Bud Light drafts.

3. Football this Saturday: Arkansas vs. Georgia, Auburn vs. Clemson, LSU vs. Mississippi State, Ole Miss vs. Tulane, Florida vs. Tennessee, and more.

On the horizon: Eastbound & Down returns (next Sunday!!!). My Morning Jacket (yay) plays Terminal 5 (boo) October 18, 19, 21, 22, and 23. And the South rises in the theater with A Free Man of Color depicting a colorful pre-Purchase Louisiana (opening Nov. 18, Vivian Beaumont Theater, Lincoln Center); Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, starring Southerner Benjamin Walker, on Broadway (opening Oct. 13, Jacobs Theater); and The Little Foxes, about a circa 1900 aristocratic Southern family, opening September 21 at the New York Theater Workshop.

90210: A Date That Will Live in Infamy

I think I'll make like Luke Perry and stick with white jeans. Timeless.

Yes, that’s right, the day we thought would never come is finally here. No, I’m not just talking about the beginning of college football season (though that’s undoubtedly an important annual milestone on every Southerner’s calendar). The date I’m referring to is today, September 2, 2010, or for all children of the 80’s/90’s: 90210 (duh nuh nuh . . .). My brother-in-law and sister-in-law are attending a 90210-themed football-watching party tonight–the best of both worlds! If you’re so inclined, feel free to let your inner Dylan, Brenda, Brandon, Kelly, Donna, or David run wild (just please, no annoying Andrea’s).

Also, if you haven’t checked out my new blog for Garden & Gun, please  head over there now.

I Wanna Revolution

. . . No matter what they do they cant break your stride
Revolution is a thing that starts inside
throw your hands up cuz ur frisked with pride
hold your head high no need to hide . . .

A Mississippi native by the name of Lavell Crump, known professionally as David Banner, wrote, produced and arranged this insanely catchy song for Gatorade’s new Revolution Ad. Kermit Quinn’s old school, raspy vocals make me so happy. It’s like listening to Otis Redding at a church revival. I’m not one to shill for corporate advertising, but this could be the song of the summer.