The British are a gift that keeps on giving and to top that, they are ridiculously hilarious (Little Britain, The Office, Extras, Monty Python, Black Books, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, etc…). The comedic outfit known as The Mighty Boosh is no exception and now, for the first time on American DVD players, we can watch Howard Moon (Julian Barratt) and Vince Noir (Noel Fielding) “crimp,” quip (which I am using as a verb for the sake of alliteration), and cause trouble, only to be saved by the enigmatic Shaman, Naboo (Michael Fielding) and his familiar, Bollo (Dave Brown), a talking gorilla, while vocabulary-deficient Bob Fossil (Rich Fulcher) does some ridiculously funny stuff. Each episode features an amazing original musical production written by Barratt.

American fans have either had to watch the show in parts on YouTube under a phonetic spelling (thanks, lauraschantz, whose account was sadly suspended for that exact reason) or settle on poorly edited versions on Adult Swim (at times I still never manage to find).

Having made first-time US appearances this July at Comic-Con, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Chelsea Lately, Amoeba Music (which I happened to attend), and the Roxy, my favorite Brits have been busy and are not dispelling rumors of a tentative MB movie.

While the individual DVDs have been out since July 21^st, a super special box set is scheduled to be released on October 13^th, 2009. But lucky for you, if you cannot wait, our dear friends at Netflix have Season 1 available for you to rent (Seasons 2 and 3 still have an “unknown” availability status).

Watch This!

Special thanks to my good friend, Alison, who brought this show to my attention two years ago.

-Lya Edwards

About two years ago, my friend Anthony sent me a link to watch a cartoon rap music video about our nation’s first president. By the opening stanza, I wanted whoever created this historically inaccurately accurate tour de force to be my boyfriend.

I must tell you that whenever I find (or in this case, am shown) a show or book or song or a comedic outfit that manages to be as vulgar as it is smart, I am instantly sold. So when I discovered that there was more of this brilliance—and in storyline form, I knew I was in love. Enter: “The Professor Brothers,” “I am Baby Cakes,” “China, IL,” and many more.

In addition to comics, in 2004, Neely released “Wizard People, Dear Reader,” an unauthorized supplemental dialog/narrative to the second Harry Potter film, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” While I have yet to experience this magnificence, I am sure it is just that.

So, to address my initial conclusion, there’s nothing more attractive than someone who is equally smart, witty, talented, and uncouth. And now, with my help, you too can follow the creative goings on of the love of my life. Call me sometime, Brad.*

www.youtube.com/user/TheRealBradNeely

www.creasedcomics.com

May I recommend:

George Washington

China, IL

Brad Pitt: God Substitute

Aside from the interweb, Neely’s work can also been seen, though I never have, on Adult Swim.

*In jest, married men are not my type.

-Lya Edwards

Congratulations are in order to sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy who, a few weeks ago, won the oh so coveted Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Award for Womenswear for Rodarte. These two women are no joke. Take two sisters from California, no formal fashion or business training, put them in a car headed to NYC with just a few handmade dresses and coats, get them on the scene, and just 5 years later you have one serious fashion line. And the most fascinating part about it is that Rodarte exists purely because of it’s talented creators. No famous parents, no Master’s Degree from Central Saint Martins. I like to think of it as fashion justice for two bad ass bitches.

This autumn, British accessory brand Jimmy Choo will bring its international glamour and covetable shoes and bags to 200 selected H&M stores across the world, starting November 14. It’s the first time that H&M is collaborating with an accessories brand–to celebrate Jimmy Choo will extend its design vision for this collection to women’s clothing to complement the accessories. In addition, this collaboration will also include a men’s collection of shoes, bags and accessories.

“We adore Jimmy Choo’s shoes and bags. They are glamorous and sexy, and they add instant style to the simplest of outfits. I like the way we have worked with clothes to accessorize the shoes and bags rather than the other way around. This collaboration is particularly exciting because it’s our first shoe designer collection. It’s a joy to be able to offer top end designer shoes and bags of excellent quality to our customers,” shares Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor, H&M.

Tamara Mellon, Founder and President, Jimmy Choo adds: “We are privileged to be among the fashion greats who have been affiliated with H&M so far, and to be designing a collection appealing to fashion savvy, street smart women, and to be including some great pieces for men, too. Jimmy Choo will bring to H&M a sophisticated, fashion forward, accessible and glamorous collection – the perfect party pieces to buy now and then wear out that night!”

Since its launch in 1996, Jimmy Choo has been such a phenomenal success that the brand name has become part of popular culture–say the words “Jimmy Choo”, and you know you mean shoes.  With their tall heels and strappy designs, Jimmy Choo shoes epitomize red-carpet glamour In Hollywood, Jimmy Choo shoes have become a red-carpet essential from the Oscars to the MTV Video Music Awards. Everyone has a pair and now you can own more than just your hand-me-down (I love my hot pink stilettos from 2001, thanks sis!) or secondhand purchase ( Go to Tokyo Joe on 11th Street in NYC). So step on it people as soon as it hits stores or step off.

-Colette Prosper

Put the pork rinds down. Contemplate a life of actually doing something.

New York

“Francis Bacon: A Centenary Retrospective”. This is not your run of the mill rich British gay kid turned cross dressing ex-pat turned interior designer turned influential 20th century painter. Bacon’s art is grotesque and heartbreaking. With the screaming popes and the male on male eroticism, the show borders on the homoerotic, the hysterical, and the totally horrifying. Think Picasso stuck in Nightmare on Elm Street. And the imagery is completely visceral - most likely you will either hate it or love it (like anything worth looking at twice) . “Francis Bacon: A Centenary Retrospective” is showing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art through Aug 16.

Chicago

I will be honest. Sometimes art can be too artsy for me. Too lofty, if you will. “Take Your Time”, the Olafur Eliasson exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art is on this level. I have no idea about what any of it means, only that the shit is off the wall, super cool, light orgasm, spectacular. Everything is sensory - your eyes, your ears, your nose - everything on your body is basically drowning in A.R.T (capital letters, of course). But there is no loftiness with Eliasson, mainly because his works are too expansive for much pretension. Bring some shades. And a hot dog.

London

Camden People’s Theatre is celebrating the world’s oldest profession. No. Not prostitution (get your head out of the gutter), I’m talking about acting!!!! OK, fine, maybe it’s not exactly the oldest profession, but it is old. Pretty, pretty, old. And the 12th annual Sprint Festival is not your Homer’s theatre extravaganza. The event is all about new work: visionary young writers, daring actors, experimental theatre companies, and hopefully lots of profanity and nudity (finger’s crossed).

Now put your pants on!!!!

Are you tired of talking about the cultural significance of Perez Hilton? Sick of trying to figure out the difference between a Taco and a Chalupa? Gained 20 pounds this Winter? If you checked yes to any one of these questions, it’s time to get up off the futon and get in touch with your inner cultural ho!

NYC

If you haven’t been to the Big Bright Box that is The New Museum, head down to check out “The Generational: Younger Than Jesus” exhibit. Besides having a pretty great name, the exhibition includes artists from around the world all under the age of 33. Though the artwork may not be as spectacular as turning water into wine (Jesus: 1 New Museum: 0), it does give a glimpse of some pretty phenomenal young artists. And a pretty good glimpse at their mediocre peers as well. Don’t feel like spending your hard earned / unemployment check cash? Head over to the Brooklyn Public Library for the MoMA Lecture series. Catch “Introduction to Contemporary Art” at the Central Library (Saturday 6 at 4:30pm), and “Art in NY: Jackson Pollock to Andy Warhol” (June 18 at 4:30pm) at the Saratoga branch. It’s a good way to impress rich people who can afford actual art classes. The lectures are not only free but you get a free ticket to the MoMA as well. Save the cash for binge drinking.

LA

If pics of Rita Hayworth and Bette Davis still give you a boner, go the distance to the California Heritage Museum in Santa Monica and view the work of famed Hollywood photographer George Hurrell. You probably couldn’t count on both hands how many of these starlettes Hurrell tried to bang, but it might be worth it to try. Also, see if you can spot a hot, half naked, Governor Schwarzenegger! Too old school for you? Then check out the new Annenberg Space for Photography and its inaugural exhibition “L8S ANG3LES” - featuring 11 of Los Angeles finest photogs.

Paris

I say fuck Andy Warhol. The Musée Maillol is paying homage to the late, great Belgian pop artist of the 20th century Guy Peellaert. The iconic illustrator was the brains behind great album covers like David Bowie’s “Diamond Dogs” and the film posters for “Taxi Driver” and “Short Cuts”. Soup cans? Give me Tina Turner making love to a microphone over cans of soup any day. The exhibit ends September 28 so don’t miss it. Want something a little more real? The Galerie Basia Embiricos is showcasing the work of Xavier Martin entitled “You said paparazzi?” (”Vous avez dit paparazzi ?”) Try not to get too jealous when you see the intimate pictures of the ultra rich and famous. And beautiful. And did I mention rich? The retrospective is open from June 9 to the 30th.

Now get off the laptop. Make some love. Do some shit.