View Trey Townsend’s list of his favorite films of the past year at The Cheetah Chronicles. Will The Descendants, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, or The Trip gain the top spot?

Follow Trey on Twitter @LegacyWorksProd

Executive Producer and founder of Legacy Works.

If you missed Mayor Rogero’s inauguration Saturday, you missed an opportunity to experience Knoxville at its finest: a civic celebration that was hopeful and inspiring. The event was a seminal turning point in the political life and history of the city.  Saturday Knoxville experienced some positive civic growth spurts.

Mayor Rogero in her carefully crafted inaugural address conveyed to the audience in language we could comprehend that the social, political, and psychological environment would be more inclusive and respectful.  We heard that she intends to listen carefully, make wise decisions, and behave in a manner that’s more inclusive rather than exclusive.  Our new mayor is a seasoned politician, an experienced activist, and thoughtful person.  So we also heard that it is not her modus operandi to run rough shod over those from the left or right to get things done.  We sensed that she is bringing a new era of political dealing to Knoxville.

In 1983 my husband and I worked hard to get Harold Washington elected Chicago’s first African American mayor, and attended his inauguration.  Mayor Rogero’s inauguration conjured up memories of that magnificent occasion.  It was an event that included broad based participation from a cross section of the city. Harold became mayor of all the people, and fought valiantly for the rights of common folk.    Twenty-eight years later, his ability to be inclusive, spread growth, and develop civic pride among many is still alive.  Mayor Daley who was elected to the office after his untimely demise was not able to govern as the “Pharaoh of the Midway” like his father in earlier times.  People from various ethnic, racial, and religious groups who gained political chops under Mayor Washington were able to sustain the initiatives and attitudes started in his regime.  Today, Mayor Rogero spoke so matter-of-factly about the respect and understanding that would be given to all voices in the city. Her words opened a gate that cannot be closed: eloquent and forthright.  She caused audience heads to nod affirmatively, and outbursts of applause to electrify the house.  Harold was there today in spirit passing the torch on to Mayor Rogero.

Today was inclusive, welcoming and inspiring.  It was wonderful to see Governor Haslam, Ambassador Ashe, past County Chairperson Strickland, and many others there to participate in this civic celebration.  The presiding over the ceremonies was The Honorable Daniel Brown, Knoxville’s Police Department Honor Guard presented colors and Marcus L. Walker Jr. sang the National Anthem with such fervor and professionalism that the audience was stunned.  Words were spoken by Governor Haslam and the swearing in ceremonies began.  George Wallace, Marshall Stair, Finbarr Saunders, and Mark Campen were sworn in as city council members: a new breed of politicians who have a collective willingness to work for meaningful change in the civic fabric of Knoxville.  Ms. Rogero with her family was sworn in as mayor.  She then presented her address which was succinct, inclusive and inspiring.  The ceremonies concluded with Ronni Chandler singing, “What About the Children?”  It was a festive, nurturing, and carefully organized event with a great deal of organizational attention paid to the people who attended the ceremony.

There was a wonderful reception afterwards that enabled everyone to meet, greet, and have nourishment.  Our mayor and governor mingled for pictures, autographs, and love.  The Jacob Building where a bomb was thrown when Louie Armstrong performed for an integrated audience in the 1950’s was full of civic pride, diversity and joy this day.   Mayor Rogero at the stroke of 12:00pm called an open meeting of the City Council to elect officers and others.  It was a sight to see: Knoxville citizens observing and participating in the political process.  Mayor Rogero demonstrating in a profound manner that she loves Knoxville and cares about its citizens.  She is the first female mayor of large city in Tennessee.

So you missed the celebration today, sorry about that.  Your job will be to not miss her term as Mayor of Knoxville.  She cannot do the job of changing everything by herself.  You and I must be present and work with her to make transformation possible in the city and the region.  You and I must thank the political leaders before this day that have laid the groundwork for this important time.  It will be our responsibility to work with Mayor Rogero to bring important changes to our political lives.  So I urge you don’t miss the civic celebration.  Do not miss the next four years.  Join the Rogero regime, and participate in the parade.

Sylvia L. Peters

The best recommendations yet for the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Descendents, and After the Wedding at The Cheetah Chronicles

New Movie Recommendations at The Cheetah Chronicles. Will Ferrell tones it down in “Everything Must Go”, Adam Scott and Lizzy Caplan shine in “Party Down”, and Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon do impressions in “The Trip.”

I chose various television shows (that interested me) and watched the premieres. Overall, I was very impressed with the comedies and Up All Night was most impressive.

2 Broke Girls: 8 out of 10

It is not uncommon to find two characters from two different ends of the spectrum thrust together in television or film. In 2 Broke Girls, we find Max (Kat Dennings), a hard-working, low-income young woman sort of forced into a friendship with Caroline (Beth Behrs), the high-class blonde whose family has lost all of their fortune in a financial scandal. The pilot seemed somewhat rushed, but I recognize the writers had to set up the story for the entire series in roughly 22 minutes. However, the chemistry between Dennings and Behrs makes up for this, and by the end of the show it is highly conceivable that these two characters could actually be friends in reality. You may remember Kat Dennings from such films as The 40-Year-Old Virgin or Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, both of which she was very good in. She brings sass to her role as Max, who is fiercely independent. Beth Behrs I was not familiar with at all, but she is able to pull her weight and be sympathetic as the former princess. Some of the laughs are cheap in 2 Broke Girls, but there is potential for interesting, smart storylines with these two characters.


 

Modern Family: 9 out of 10

After winning Outstanding Comedy Series and nearly sweeping the comedy awards at this year’s Emmy Awards, Modern Family places new expectations on itself. The season 3 double-episode premiere does not disappoint. The first episode revolved around the entire family taking a vacation to a ranch in Wyoming. There are many subplots involving Haley’s dim-witted boyfriend, Alex’s first kiss, Cam and Mitchell planning adopting a son, and Gloria constantly getting hit on by a cowboy. Ed O’Neill’s performance as Jay is most intriguing here as he tries to protect Gloria and battles riding a stubborn horse. Ty Burrell proves that he is the most consistent laugh on the show as he tries to impress Jay and prove his manliness. The second episode, “When Good Kids Go Bad” mostly features Claire (Julie Bowen) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson). Claire becomes combative when the family tries to prove that she thinks she is always right, unable to realize she is proving them right. Mitchell attempts to deal with the possessive nature of his daughter Lily, as he and Cam plan on adopting a boy. Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) , who is 2, states “I want to make the baby dead.” Probably the biggest laugh comes when Cam (Eric Stonestreet) tells the family they are adopting by playing “Let’s Hear It for the Boys”. Like The Bill Cosby Show, Modern Family exploits the natural absurdity and hilarity of family and has proved to be the most relatable and consistently funny show on television.


 

New Girl: 7 out of 10

It is actually nice to see Zooey Deschanel playing a somewhat non-typical Zooey Deschanel role. In New Girl, Deschanel plays Jessica, an awkward, emotionally unstable, sometimes dorky character that has moved in with three male roommates. Deschanel is predictably funny and delivers in her role. However, for the pilot at least, the supporting acts were sub-standard at best. Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, and Damon Wayans, Jr. (who was recast following the pilot) play the roommates, all unbeknown to me. The jokes were funny enough, giving Deschanel some witty dialogue, but either the material for or the performances by the men was lacking. Perhaps with further development, these characters could be better established. Zooey Deschanel may drive this show to success, but it would be nice for her to have some support.

 

The Office: 7 out of 10

Easily the least excited I have ever been for a premiere of my favorite television show ever, the 8th season premiere of The Office gave me mixed reactions. The opening segment involving “planking” was fantastic, giving the great images of the oddest members of the cast lying face down in random places around the office. The big reveal was that Andy (Ed Helms) has become the new regional manager and Robert California (James Spader) is the new CEO of Sabre. This set well with me as Helms is probably the most gifted comic actor in the remaining cast. I knew Spader would be joining the cast and am still not sold completely on him. Jim and Pam are expecting a second child to coincide with Jenna Fischer’s real life pregnancy. One of the subplots involves Pam’s constant sway of emotions. I miss the innocent Pam of the first five seasons that was so adorable. There were amusing moments throughout the show, mainly because the cast is so infinitely talented. I just get this feeling that the office is no longer an enjoyable, amusingly predictable setting as it was in seasons past. The stories surrounding these characters are somewhat played out; there is not near the tension that was felt in the first four seasons. Obviously, Steve Carell’s absence leaves a gaping hole in the show,  but The Office is still The Office and remains one of the elite programs on network television.

 

Pan Am: 7.5 out of 10

One of two new shows set in the 1960s, Pan Am cannot possibly exist without being inevitably compared to Mad Men. Unlike Mad Men, Pan Am places females in the lead roles, as flight attendants on the airline Pan Am. They are played by Christina Ricci, Margot Robbie, Karine Vanasse, and Kelli Garner. There are roles for men playing the pilots, but in the first episode, none had distinguishable characteristics. The actresses make the show enjoyable, and Ricci in particular brings the most chops to the screen. I previously read an article in which the creators of Pan Am stated that they saw no comparisons between their show and Mad Men, other than the era they are set in. I beg to differ, as the pilot seems to be going for the same vibe as Mad Men. However, unlike Mad Men, which is understated and never gives the viewer a clear-cut feeling about a character, the premiere of Pan Am really never showed a hint of a sustainable antagonist. The concept of the show is terrific, but it really needs to up the ante and create some conflict if it wants to be a top drama.

 

Parks and Recreation: 7.5 out of 10

What I saw of the last season of Parks and Recreation reminded me of the quality of The Office in its heyday. Therefore, I hold high expectations for this coming season. With the comedic talents of Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, and Nick Offerman among others, Parks and Recreation can never be a bad show. The season 4 premiere was a bit lackluster, not among the show’s best episodes, but entertaining nevertheless. The main storyline involves Leslie’s (Amy Poehler) conflict between running for political office and remaining in relationship with Ben (Adam Scott). Scott brings a new dimension to the show and shows off his underappreciated talents (see The Vicious Kind). The subplots include Nick (Offerman) and the return of his first ex-wife, Tammy I, and Tom’s (Ansari) struggle to increase his entertainment business. There were not any huge laughs but there of course were a couple of scenes involving the clumsy Jerry (Jim O’Heir), which always cracks me up. Overall, the premiere was a solid first episode and gives potential for another great season of Parks and Recreation.

 

The Playboy Club: 5.5 out of 10

Set in the 1960s during the first rebellious years of Playboy, The Playboy Club is centered around the first playboy club in Chicago. First of all, the voiceover by Hugh Hefner at the beginning and conclusion of the episode was ridiculous and unnecessary. He has one of the most annoying voices I have ever heard. Considering the plot, I assume the show is not based on fact. The main “bunny” in the show is played by Amber Heard. Sure, Heard is beautiful, but I really do not believe she earned the right for this role. The best performance came from Eddie Cebrian as Nick Dalton, a lawyer and reoccurring visitor of the Playboy Club. The plot seemed forced and cheesy, failing to create a solid establishment for the characters. The main problem with The Playboy Club so far is that the viewer really doesn’t give a hoot about any of these characters. With an hour show, the writers should have been able to solidify the characters before showing a murder in the first few minutes. I will not completely write off The Playboy Club just yet, but I am not sure if it is worth a second watch.

 

Saturday Night Live: 8 out of 10

As long as Lorne Michaels is still around and perhaps beyond that, Saturday Night Live will always be relevant to American society. I was eagerly anticipating the season premiere, mainly because Radiohead was the musical guest, one of my favorite bands. Alec Baldwin hosted for a record 16^th time, which I do not know what to make of. I regard Baldwin as a better actor than comedian, but he was quite funny on Saturday. The parody of the Republican debate was entertaining and highlighted the absurdity of these debates. Alec Baldwin’s version of Rick Perry was amusing, but not quite as hilarious as Bill Hader’s Sheppard Smith, which Hader nails. My favorite sketch included Kristen Wiig as a reporter in Colombia for a local news station. The lag between the two parties was absolutely dead-on as far as how it usually goes with real news organizations. I usually enjoy Seth Meyers Weekend Update, but this week Update was not particularly strong and the material was mediocre. Radiohead was predictably great (would have liked to see them in a skit) and Alec Baldwin displayed his abilities as a veteran host.

 

Up All Night: 9.5 out of 10

Up All Night is easily my pick for best new show of this fall. It stars Will Arnett and Christina Applegate as Chris and Reagan Brinkley. They have a newborn baby, Amy. Chris has quit his job at a law office to be a stay-at-home dad and Reagan works for an “Oprah” type television show, “Ava.” Ava is played by Maya Rudolph. For me, the success of this show depends upon the performance of Will Arnett. I was a big fan of Arnett’s role in Arrested Development, but Up All Night may display his talents even more. Here he is very likable, extremely funny, and even relatable. Applegate proves that she possesses comedic talent and the Brinkley’s marriage is completely believable. Maya Rudolph’s character is a little undefined so far and the only weakness of the show.  The main challenge for the show moving forward will be coming up with new funny material in a sitcom that has few characters and possible storylines. Nevertheless, Up All Night had me laughing more than any other show this fall and I will continue to be a consistent viewer.

 

Trey Townsend

New movie recommendations for Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop, Trucker, and White Material at The Cheetah Chronicles

Movie Recommendations for September 4 include Dad’s in Heaven with Nixon, Friday Night Lights (Television Series), and Our Idiot Brother at The Cheetah Chronicles.

Dad’s in Heaven with Nixon is available for full viewing on Hulu:

About a Boy, Downfall, and Winter’s Bone at The Cheetah Chronicles.