Jacko Tribute Non Sequitur of the Day: Who the Hell is McFly?

For every English band that successfully crosses over to the States, there's at least one that never makes the jump across the pond. I never understood Cliff Richard, Robbie Williams is still wondering what happened, and pre-packaged boy band McFly nicked a Michael J. Fox movie character for its name, and gives us our Jacko cover tribute for the day:

Non Sequitur of the Day: The Longest Day Edition

D-Day +65 years.



But, gee, why p.o. the Queen?

Susan Boyle: There are no more fairy tales, especially in 2009

Susan Boyle, in a vote of U.K. viewers, lost her televised talent competition.

She will be starting a twelve-step group with Adam Lambert first thing Monday.

Susan's last performance:



And she lost to these folks:

Non Sequitur of the Day: Tax Day Edition

"Should five per cent appear too small /

Be thankful I don’t take it all /

‘Cos I’m the Taxman"

The first Octo-mom joke, other than, you know, Octo-mom herself

From the U.K.'s Popbitch:

New on breakfast menus: the OctoMom Omelette. It has 14 eggs, no sausage and the party at the next table gets to pay for it.

I'm sorry.

Non Sequitur of the Day: New Romantic BritPop Edition

"Your reason for living's / Your reason for leaving / Don't ask me what it means."

Fun with Pictures: Happy Boxing Day Edition

No:

No:


Maybe No:


No:


Ideally, yes:

More background here and here and here.

Enjoy the weekend.

Alexandra Silber: A Birmingham Songress in London Doing Quite Well, Thank You

I mentioned a few months ago about how our old neighbor on Fairway, Alexandra Silber, was working her way down the British Isle in previews for a revival in London's West End of what Time called the greatest show of the 20th century, "Carousel."

So, the show's opened in London, and the reviews are pretty uniformly great, with good being the worst. The same for Al, who is the second female lead to Lesley Garrett, who is big in the U.K. The best U.S. analogy I can come up with for her place in U.K. pop culture is if you put Beverly Sills on Broadway in her heyday -- so Dame Lesley's kind of a big deal.

This is London summarizes many of the reviews, and will sell you some tickets, too.

What's On Stage does the same.

And, finally, Alex has blogged about it a bit.

Get caught up as Dame Lesley chats up the show:



Dame Lesley and Alex and cast do a promo appearance on one of the world's most watched TV shows (which you probably don't know about), Eurovision 2008:



And a montage from opening night:



Understand, this is pretty big, and damn cool for Birmingham -- the girl's a Groves grad. Our family loves Alex Silber and her parents, and we are so proud of her, and she is going to be huge, mark my words.

Christmas Non Sequitur of the Day: Band Aids

"Do they know it's Christmastime at all?"

The original from 1984:



One I didn't even know existed: BandAid2, from 1989-ish. I'm not sure I recognize anyone other that Lisa Stansfield and Bananarama:



Lastly, the most recent, BandAid20, with a few more A-List performers:

Non Sequitur of the Day: Thatcherism in Today's America Edition

"Money's too tight to mention /

Cut-back!

Mo-ney mo-ney mo-ney mon-ey."

It Sounds Like the Matt Millen of Premiership, Only Worse

If Michael Jordan went to coach the Clippers, then didn't attend practice and only communicated with management via text, including his resignation, that would be like Roy Keane's career as manager for Sunderland in the English Premiere League.

And we thought Matt Millen was distant.

Admittedly, Roy was a bit on the emotional side:

Timewaster of the Day: Double-Oh Edition

Make yourself a Bond Baddie.

Man, those Brits sure do love James Bond, except for when they don't. This time, it's the theme song; judge for yourself, with Alicia Keyes and Jack White:

Looks Like Hank Paulson Better Join Adcraft

Hello? Congress?

While relaxing this holiday weekend from all your exhausting posturing to look all fiscally responsible hypocritical by stiffing America's auto manufacturing industry, thank you for sending your latest weekend overnight blank check to Citi.

It makes this sports fan's heart all warm knowing that the Mets' $400M new stadium licensing deal is intact, thanks to taxpayer handouts.

Perhaps you might want to evolve the name of Citi Field, just to be, you know, sensitive to the situation.

This deal's fiscal irresponsibility ranks right up there with my favorite Premiership team, Newcastle United, still bearing the sponsorship of the now-defunct, government-owned Northern Rock.

Oy.

Happy Birthday to the Acme of British Journalism (NSFW)

Happy #38, Page 3.

Be careful when you lean over those candles.

W: Still Just a Privileged Frat Boy, Cribbing Off Someone Else's Paper

After weeks of false starts driven by discredited conservative ideology and straight-up GOP political whoring, the U.S. now realizes that this Euro-socialism thing might actually work here, and adopts the U.K.'s approach of direct equity investment in its private banks.

"Wudgu git on #1 there, Gordie?" >>

Today, we are all Swedes.