Emmy's aint got nothin' on this shit.
Where did the last year go? It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting down to hand out 2009’s coveted “Willies” awards. The show has grown since last year, and though Elvis Costello couldn’t be here tonight, plenty of C- and D- list celebrities are still eagerly awaiting the results of the second annual Campus Times “Willies.”
I’ve worked hard to narrow down a list of the best of the best, the crème de la crème, the upper echelons of the entertainment industry for your reading pleasure. Without further ado, I proudly present “The 2010 Willie” awards.
Live Show of the Year: Frank Turner — Mohawk Place
Oh, the things I could say about Frank Turner. The folk singer/songwriter has had a great year, touring with giant acts and selling out shows on both sides of the pond. A spring U.S. headline tour is forthcoming, as well as a new album, and that is more than enough to make next year already look exciting.
And I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again, Turner’s current live show is rivaled bar almost none. I can only think of one band, last year’s “Willies” winner, that has outperformed him live, and if that doesn’t speak volumes, I don’t know what does.
Video game of the year: Kevin Butler
Once video game companies decide to release good games in the first 11 months of the year, I’ll be able to better pick this in early December. There are still too many games still in the running just from the past week, so this year’s video game “Willie” is going to go to Kevin Butler and whoever managed to somehow fix Sony’s public relations and marketing team. That’s some funny shit.
Album of the Year: Street Dogs – “Street Dogs”
In a music year that was much stronger than 2009, the Street Dogs have put out a punk rock album that, unlike most of the punk albums of this day and age, is actually still a punk rock album — and a damn fine one at that. Hard-hitting, fast-paced and with just the right amount of grit that any such album deserves, this album sets a new bar for a genera that can’t always find its footing.
While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it does remind people that the wheel is still well and alive and worth riding. And if the anathematic “Punk Rock and Roll” isn’t enough to keep the genre alive, then I don’t know what is.
Biggest Technology Disappointment: Microsoft’s Kinect
When we first heard about it, Kinect was a futuristic device out of our dreams. It could turn on your Xbox with your voice, read sign language and the Milo “demo” was straight out of virtual reality. It is a shame how much Kinect will only be utilized for uber casual Wii Sports and Wii Fit knock offs, with most of the really exciting uses of the technology being pulled for one reason or another. At least it was better than Sony’s glow in the dark play wand excuse for technologic innovations ideas.
Thing I’m Already Sick of: 3-D.
Oh, 3-D. This year we saw some really good uses of future 3-D technology (the 3DS) and then we saw a never ending tide of shitty 3-D movie adaptations. Newsflash: “Avatar” wasn’t really that good, movie 3D doesn’t add much and jumping on the 3-D bandwagon just so we dish out more money for our movie tickets just pisses us all off.
TV Show That Doesn’t Know When to Quit: “CSI”
Remember when “CSI” was good? The show is still struggling to recover from Grisham’s departure, and it just can’t seem to find the spark it once had. For a show based around death in a world of shows based around death (didn’t help that half of them are also called CSI), the folks in Los Vegas need to find something to reclaim the murder mystery throne.
And maybe instead of branching out to “CSI: Rochester,” they could step back and make the original one good as it once was.
Best Invention/Idea: Bacon Soda
Never thought I would see the day, but Jones Soda has managed to combine the greatness of bacon with the greatness of soda. And while I can’t seem to find it yet on shelves, they get the award for having the balls to go through with an idea that I’m sure started somewhere as a joke between two guys trying to fit bacon into a blender.
Most Overrated Movie: “Inception”
A convoluted plot and people walking on the ceiling don’t make an innovative movie.
Clark is a member of the class of 2012.
