Bryan Rice: Blue Mountain State

Bryan's review of the wildly controversial Spike TV show "Blue Mountain State" goes well with what I myself think about the show. 

Bryan does a great job at giving you a history lesson of what the show is really all about and that is a very helpful for someone who is wanting to watch this show but really doesn't know much about it. Providing video links into his review of BMS is also a great add as people can view clips of the show before they watch it. This show is available on Netflix which has every episode from every season. Once I found this out it didn't take me long to watch all these episodes again. Ahhh good times, good times. Blue Mountain State Tralier

I loved this show when it aired on Spike TV back in 2010-2011. It was a very entertaining show that kept my interest every week. Bryan and I share the same views of this show, we both think this is a very funny show that isn't for everyone but is very entertaining. Alex Morran has to be my favorite character from the show because he is person who really doesnt care about anything but in the end gets rewarded for doing absolutely nothing. I know Bryan and I could probably quote almost every major scene from this show and i am not quite sure if that is a good or a bad thing in the long run. Blue Mountain State Recruitment Video

International TV show: Luther

Luther is a British crime drama series that debuted on television on May 4, 2010 for a six episode 1 hour long series. The show finished its third season in 2013. However in November of 2014 it was announced that a 2 episode special series would take place in 2015. The show was very popular and one of the most watched shows in the country of England. The show focuses on John Luther who is a Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) working for the Serious Crime Unit in series one, and the new Serious and Serial Crime Unit in series two and three. A dedicated police officer, Mr Luther is obsessive, possessed, and sometimes dangerous in the violence of his fixations. However, Luther has paid a heavy price for his dedication; he has never been able to prevent himself from being consumed by the darkness of the crimes with which he deals. For Luther, the job always comes first. His dedication is a curse and a blessing, both for him and those close to him. He is unable to arrest Alice Morgan, the murderer in the first episode, and for the rest of the first series she becomes his confidante, giving him an insight into the motivations of other criminals.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmy62bTeakg

The show has gained very positive reviews since its very first episode back in 2010. Rotten Tomatoes gave this show a 95% approval rating. IMDB rated the show an 8.6 out of 10. Metacritic gave the show a 83% approval rating overall. And Common Sense Media gave the show a 4 out of 5 star review. 

This show seems to me like a great action packed drama that can hold my attention for a while. This show has a sense of one show that I do watch which is "The Blacklist" As I watch more and more trailers of this show I can see this show being picked back up permanently and eventually being picked up by an American TV station. This is a very interesting and great show that for some reason got dropped in 2013 but I think it is great that the British TV company is picking it back up for a special series 

Instagram is now apart of our daily lives

In 2010 two gentlemen by the name of Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger created Instagram. This is a mobile and web application that allows mobile photo sharing, video sharing, and a social networking service that allows you to share your photos on such social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, and Flickr. By April 2012 Instagram had gained huge popularity by gaining 100 million active users. And as of December of 2014 it had over 300 million active users. The application was accuired by Facebook in April of 2012 for $1 billion in cash and stock. One of Instagrams most successful years was in 2013 when they grew 23% while Facebook only grew 3%. You can download the Instagram App on both Apple and Android devices for free.

From the very get go Instagram was suppose to be used as a way to capture beatiful pictures in the world and share them with everyone. But as time has gone on it has gained popularity with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Everyone from famous movie actors/actresses, musical artists, and sports stars have grown to use Instagram. There are a few basic terms that you must abide by when creating a new Instagram account. You must be at least the age of 13 to create an account, there are restrictions against posting violent, nude, partialily nude, and sexually suggesstive photos. 

There are many trends that can be found on Instagram throughout a given week. Here are just a few of the more popular trends on Instagram: On Monday's its #MCM which is Man Crush Monday, Wednesday's are #WCW which is Woman Crush Wednesday, and Thursday's its #TBT which is Throwback Thursday. 

In my opinion Instagram has become more popular than Facebook in recent years. I myself find myself checking Instagram more throughout the day more than Facebook. I know for sure that I can say that Instagram is probably my favorite social media account that I have. It does have its flaws though because it just is a service that posts pictures but sometimes thats all you need to tell a story. Whats the old say a picture is worth a thousand words. 

Skip Bayless: Love him or Hate him

Skip Bayless is a very accomplished journalist in the world of sports. Skip has won newmours awards and have had many honors bestowed onto him throughout his career. In 2008 Bayless was selected to the Oklahoma City Wall of Fame reconizing outstanding alumni of Oklahoma City Public schools. In 2009 Bayless was selected as a part of the inagural class of the Vanderbilt Student Media Hall of Fame. And was even nominated for a Sports Emmy Award in 2012 in the categories Outstanding Sports personality and studio analyst. Bayless is even an accomplished author writing three books over his career about his beloved Dallas Cowboys. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6xm3MGlLgs

Skip is now known for his regular role on the show "First Take" that airs on ESPN 2. He has been on and even hosted numerous shows throughout the family of ESPN channels. In 1989 he joined the show "Sports Reporters" on ESPN, a show in which he would keep a regular role on for the next decade. In 1992 he joined the ESPN NFL Prime Monday "Knights Roundtable" show. Has appeared on shows for the Golf Channel, appearances on Jim Rome's Fox Sports Net show "The Last Word", and when Rome joined ESPN in 2003, Bayless was a fixture on Rome's new show "Rome is Burning". Bayless was hired full time by ESPN in 2004 to join Woody Paige on the show called "1st and 10". The show was quickly rebranded in 2007 to it's current name "First Take" with co host Stephen A Smith.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6x-O3kb1sI

Bayless is without a doubt one of if not my favorite sports journalist/figure head. He knows how to catch my attention anytime I watch his show. His debates with Stephen A are legendary. The fact that he is a Christian shows me a lot as a fellow Christian myself is something I can relate to with Skip. And the fact that he is a Tim Tebow and Dallas Cowboys fan helps that too. 

30 for 30: Brian and The Boz

If there would be one word to describe Brian Bosworth it would have to be intense. In the mid 1980's College Football was at it's peak and one of the powerhouse school's was the University of Oklahoma. In 1984 head football coach Barry Switzer recruited one of the nation's highly touted linebackers named Brian Bosworth. The relationship between the two was a natural success. But a few bumps in the road along the way made the two separate towards the end of their relationship. 

In late 2014 as a part of their 30 for 30 sports documentary series ESPN came out with the episode called Brian and The Boz. Which follows Brian Bosworth's career at Oklahoma and his short lived career in the NFL. All the problems and struggles that he went though throughout his career and the demons that he had to face when busted for PED's. Not to mention his alter ego kicked in called "The Boz." http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11734535

This documentary was such a great piece put on by ESPN. In the first part of the documentary it takes a look at a young Bosworth growing up in Texas and turns out to be a stand out linebacker in High School. His relationship with his father though was not the best in the world. Throughout the documentary it shows Brian and his teenage son Max at an Austin, Texas storage unit looking at old football memories of the Boz. Brian had recruiting offers from almost every college in the nation such as Texas, SMU, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, etc. He ended up signing with the Oklahoma Sooners after head coach Barry Switzer came into his high school lunch room and talked to him one day durning his Senior year of school. 

Brian really didnt gain national prominence until his Sophmore year of 1985 where he helped Oklahoma win its first National Championship in 10 years thanks to his speed and agression he played with at linebacker.But by the time his Sophmore year ended he became more cocky, flamboyent, and out spoken. Brian started shaving the sides of his head, wrting messeages on his gear, and telling reporters just how he felt of opposing teams. The media loved his alter ego that he had created called "The Boz" Fans and the media loved this side of Brian, while his teammates, officials, and opposing players did not. One part of the documentary shows a game between Oklahoma and Colorado. Throughout the game fans started throwing trash at Boz on the field for his ego and ruff style of play. Boz had enough and threw up the middle finger at the Colorado fans. Fans reacted back by throwing more trash, one such trash being a beer bottle that struck a cheerleader in the head and injuring her. That's the type of person he had become. Someone you loved to hate and hated to love him. 

Brian's antics had finally caught up to him when he was busted for steroids right before the 1987 Orange Bowl against Arkansas. Brian was banned from football because of it, but that didnt stop him from making an appearance on the sidelines. During the game Brian was shown wearing a shirt that read "National Communists Against Athletes". Which was his reference to the NCAA. Coach Switzer had notified Brian the he would now be declaring himself for the NFL draft because of that mishap. His NFL Career was short lived after dealing injuries and personal problems The Boz retired after the 1990 playoffs

I absolutely loved this documentary that ESPN put together about one of the greatest college football players of all time in Brian Bosworth. The way that they showed footage through out of Brian and his Son Max bonding and teaching his son the lessons that he learned was a great side of the Boz that many people never see. I was not alive yet to watch him play but the footage that ESPN put in this film of his career makes me say that he was a person that you wanted to watch each week because of the unpredictability about him. I have to give this film a 5 out of 5 stars rating. Very well done. 30 for 30: Brian and The Boz (Full Length Movie)

Never trust a criminal unless his name is Raymond Reddington

On September 23, 2013 NBC premiered a new show staring James Spader called "The Blacklist". The show is centered around the character Raymond "Red" Reddington (James Spader) a former U.S. Navy officer turned high profile criminal who has eluded capture for decades, voluntarily surrenders to the Assistant Director Harold Cooper at FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C. Reddington claims that he shares the same interest as the FBI in putting high profile criminals behind bars for good or even at best killing them.

He offers Cooper his knowledge and assistance into capturing these criminals only of two conditions, 1st being immunity from persecution and 2nd being that he works only with a rookie pro-filer by the name of Elizabeth Keen. These are criminals that even the FBI are unaware of that exist. After the first episode where Reddington and Keen help each other kill of the hardest terrorists to catch, Reddington unveils his criminal list called "The Blacklist" which is compiled of global criminals that he states he and the FBI share mutual interest in getting rid of for good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WYdUaK54fU

This has quickly become my favorite show on television based on the acting of James Spader. He does a great job of playing Reddington. So far I just finished the 4th episode and have been catching up on the series through Netflix. So far I have witnessed the captures or murders of a Russian Terrorists, an assassin who is into sex slavery, a high profile Chinese criminal, and a chemical expert who uses chemicals to dissolve his victims once they are dead. This is a very graphic at some points show that is very intense. Every time I watch this show I get hooked on every moment of every part of the show and I cant seem to quit watching it. This is a very fascinating show that will have you on the edge of your seat. Trust me this show is one that I can see having a long and successful run on NBC for many years to come.   

WWE Network will change wrestling forever.

On January 8, 2014 the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) announced that they would launch their own streaming service on February 24, 2014 called the WWE Network. Very similar to other streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, the WWE Network is the first of it's kind and is very over the top to an extent that other streaming services do not have. This was a risk that WWE CEO Vince McMahon was willing to take and so far it has succeeded.

Welcome to WWE Network

The network as I like to call it is full of wrestling content from as far back as the late 1970's all the way up until now. It allows you to watch very Pay Per View from the WWE, the defunct WCW (World Championship Wrestling) and the also defunct ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) ever created. Old shows such as Raw, Smackdown, NXT, WCW Nitro, Saturday Night's Main Event, Tribute To the Troops, Tough Enough and much much more. Plus the greatest and best thing about the network is that you get every new live pay per view that the WWE airs each month as well. The network only cost $9.99 per month which is a deal and a steal in my eyes. Now you can stream the network on just about any device that allows you such as XBOX, PlayStation, Smart TV's, streaming boxes, mobile devices and laptops.

I have been subscribed to the network since its launch in February 2014 and I absolutely love it. There isn't a day where I don't turn the network on and check out so classic wrestling content. At times I find myself getting so caught up in watching content that most of my day is gone because I watch so much of it. There are so many things about the Network that I love and there are very few things about the Network that I am not a fan of. Being able to get every live PPV every month from WWE is the best thing about this network. For years I was unable to watch the live monthly PPV's because they cost $55.99 per month. Now that I have the network I can watch all of these live PPV's every month for $9.99. Also with all the classic and new programming on this network it makes it a must have for every wrestling fan. The one thing that I do not like about the Network is the search engine installed in the network. The search engine in my mind sucks. Its very frustrating to try and search for a specific match on this search bar. WWE needs to clean this up ASAP because it is very stressful

Overall the Network is a great thing that will revolutionize the entire wrestling industry. Other wrestling companies have tried to create their own network but for me I will always keep my subscription to this network because of the price which is $9.99. Thanks Vince McMahon you have made it easier to gain access to your wrestling company. 

Gentleman, Start, Your Engines

In many ways the sport of NASCAR isn't just a sport, its a pop culture phenomenon and a cult like following. Fans from all over the world travel to the United States to watch these races. NASCAR has such a huge impact on pop culture ever since the sport started gaining national exposure in the mid to late 1990's. Ticket sales, merchandise, food, etc are all huge parts in what makes the sport of NASCAR so successful. Many of the sports biggest stars such as Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr and more are looked as superheros to many young fans who do extraordinary things that fans only wish they can do.

Top Merchandise sales by driver

1) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 1 in 2013)

2) Jimmie Johnson (No. 2 in 2013)

3) Jeff Gordon (No. 4 in 2013)

4) Kevin Harvick (No. 9 in 2013)

5) Tony Stewart (No. 3 in 2013)

6) Kyle Busch (No. 6 in 2013)

7) Danica Patrick (No. 5 in 2013)

8) Kasey Kahne (No. 7 in 2013

9) Carl Edwards (No. 8 in 2013)

10) Austin Dillon (No. 22 in 2013)

One of the biggest and best merchandising sales in NASCAR now days is hats and t shirts. I personally have been to 5 NASCAR races since 1999 and you cannot imagine how many people are in the grandstands wearing their favorite drivers gear. On race days teams will set up their haulers outside the track full of merchandise to sale to the fans. Fans will get to the races 2-3 hours early just to shop for their favorite drivers merch. Over the past couple years Dale Earnhardt Jr has been on top in merchandise sales even though he hasn't won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship he has been NASCAR's most popular driver every year since 2003.

Lights, Camera, Action

NASCAR has become such a huge trend in pop culture that movies have been made about the sport, drivers have appeared in TV shows, music videos, and even Saturday Night live. Fans love to see hard racing, tough competitors, and aggressive driving from all the drivers. When an altercation on and off the track occurs between drivers it gets the attention of the main stream media. One big thing about NASCAR that some people who may not follow or be fans of NASCAR might like is the crashes. First off these drivers are real athletes and human beings and these crashes are dangerous. Your going 180 mph on 33 degrees of banking doing at least 5 gs and losing 5-10 lbs a race for 3 1/2-4 hours every weekend. When these so called fans see these crashes they expect to see the drivers walk away uninjured. It is an insult to me to talk to these so called fans who mock and make fun of the sport because they do not know the physical toll these drivers take on their bodies. But as for pop culture goes NASCAR is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and has such a huge impact in today's American culture .

Sam Hunt shows that you can Take your Time, Leave the Night on, and throw a House Party in "Montevallo" : Album Review.

When I first heard  "Leave the Night on" by Sam Hunt my first thought was wow this guy has some talent here. And my oh my was I right about that statement. If your a fan of old school country music such as Alan Jackson, George Jones, Alabama, and Waylon Jennings then you probably won't like Sam Hunt's music to much. Even though Hunt's music is considered country there is a blend and mix of pop in his music which is really appealing to me. His first smash single "Leave the Night on" is a
perfect example of this where you can tell a clash between country and pop. It reached as high as #1 in the U.S.Hot Country charts in 2014. Sam Hunt: Leave The Night On

All through out Hunt's album though is what I like to call Pop Country which  I really like. Now don't get me wrong I love classic country like Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, and Tim McGraw but there is just something about this new country that I love. Throughout "Montevallo" you can really grasp some of these songs as your own. Songs such as "House Party", "Take your Time" and "Break up in a small town"  all have their differences but also have many similarities to go along with . With a blend of slow to medium slow to fast pace jumping songs this album has everything a new country fan would want to hear. One of the best songs on this album in my opinion has to be the song called "House Party" Sam Hunt: Take Your Time

"House Party" has to be one of the top 3 songs on the album and it is the one that you can really just get up and dance to every time you hear it. It brings life to the album that some people might say is full of slow depressing songs. Well I disagree because this song is currently at #38 in the U.S. Hot Country charts. Other songs on the album have made their way to the charts such as "Break up in a Small town" which is #30, "Ex to See" which is #37, "Make you Miss me" which is #32, "Speakers" which is #40, "Take your Time" which is #6 and "Raised on it" which is #49. This album just shows how country music has evolved and continues to evolve over time. Look out folks Sam Hunt is here to stay. Sam Hunt: House Party

If your want to check out all of Sam's songs off of his album I have provided a link below so you can do such that. Enjoy. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evqvefc4fqM&list=PLGofG5OXeKs-237mqawbP7B8HlwIsNZ4J 

Is this a game show or just a waste of my time.

Reality TV now days has really gone far and beyond. Game shows that most people grew up watching like Family Feud, Password, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune are still around to some sort but most of those shows are being replaced with Reality TV game shows such as The Amazing  Race, Hell's Kitchen, and Survivor. These shows come across as fake and really really dumb in my opinion but most everyone loves these shows. These shows usually go own for a couple months where they have loads of contestants on the show trying to win a large sum of money or another huge prize. Well according to me these shows are what is wrong with  modern reality tv game shows.

First off Hell's Kitchen is one show that I can not stand and I am probably not alone with those feelings. If you aren't familiar with the show well it is hosted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Throughout the season it brings around 12 to 20 different aspiring chefs who are all out to make a name for themselves. Just one problem with that, and that's Gordon Ramsay. Mr. Ramsay is a foul mouth dictator in my opinion who pretty much wants it his way or get out of his way. This is not a family friendly show. Speaking of his foul and loud mouth whenever he has contestants cooking at his restaurant "Hell's Kitchen" you can hear him yelling and using foul language through out the restaurant with paying customers inside for all of them to hear.If I were one of those paying customers regardless if the food is excellent or not I wouldn't have the gawd to go back there and eat. And would probably have the balls to go up to Mr. Ramsay and give him a piece of my mind also.

 Now as it pertains to the show The Amazing Race its a game show that features 11 teams of 2 who race around the world in different physical and mental challenges. And the last remaining team wins $1 million dollars. Seems fun to watch right? Wrong! These teams are sent out in the world to only God knows where and you dont know what you will have to do and or have to encounter. One thing that this show does is that it puts lots of strain and stress on real life relationships that some of the contestants might have going in the competition. If you don't prepare you mental and physical parts of your body then your in for a rough going throughout this

completion and this has to be such the case

throughout many episodes of this popular show.

Last but certainly not least is the widely popular show Survivor. This show follows a group of strangers who have been dropped off on a unknown island where they must find food, water, fire, and shelter for themselves while also competing in challenges to keep themselves alive in the competition to see who wins $1 million dollars. First off you ain't dropping me off no where that I am not familiar with or have some background history of the place. These places are full of bugs, diseases, wild animals. These places that these competitors go are not the most ideal places in the world. Example you have to build your shelter out of what ever is on the land which can be anything. Well if there is only mud and sticks on this land then your pretty SOL in my book. Yes their are competitions where you can win stuff to help you survive but its not very likely you will win all of these challenges.

These shows are prime examples of what is totally wrong about reality tv game shows in this time. You won't catch me watching or taking part in any of these shows becauses point blank just like the title says it's just a waste of my time. Believe that.