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Robert Zemeckis’ “Used Cars” opens with a slow, patient push-in on a man tinkering around under the dashboard of a used car, eventually achieving the goal of rolling back its odometer. He’s whistling “Hail to the Chief” as he works; the opening title music that follows is a rousing rendition of “Stars and Stripes Forever.” The messaging here is not subtle: America, circa 1980, is a used car lot. Appropriately enough, at the year’s end, it would elect a used car salesman President.

Continue reading ‘Used Cars’ At 40: How The Cynical Black Comedy Became A Preview Of The Reagan Era at The Playlist.

As the field of candidates narrowed on season 12 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” it became readily apparent that soon a choice would need to be made. The field was down to the top 7 as RuPaul Charles asked the queens to take the podium and explain to the nation why they should be crowned “America’s first drag queen… President?”

That’s right! This week it wasn’t about becoming a superstar, but instead the leader of a nation. What issues, policies and platform heels would the queens focus on as they prepared to debate each other? With questions from moderators (and guest judges) Rachel Bloom and Jeff Goldblum, some girls find that their voice is for the people while others become their own worst enemy.

Below, check out our minute-by-minute “RuPaul’s Drag Race” recap of Season 12, Episode 9 to find out what happened in “Choices 2020.” After reading our thoughts on the episode,...

Last week American Horror Story: Cult managed to become a parody of itself, and became more the American Comedy Story. This week something needed to change, to get it back on track. Thankfully, with the season heading towards the end game, things began moving in the right direction…sort of.

In an act of faith Kai (Evan Peters) decides that his follower should ascend to the next level, and channels some Jim Jones style kool-aid. Ally (Sarah Paulson) puts her plan of revenge in action, and makes moves to protect her son Oz (Cooper Dodson) from danger.

This is the point where there is no getting away from it, Kai is just a boy living his little dream of being a leader. Marching along with his little gang of bros. he constantly puts tests in front of both them and the females of his cult to make sure that they are following his rules.

John Philip Sousa (1854–1932) was dubbed the March King. In the days when every town had its brass band and parades were major social occasions, marches were much more a part of American culture, and Sousa's music was wildly popular. He penned many instantly recognizable marches: "The Stars and Stripes Forever," "The Liberty Bell," "The Thunderer," "Semper Fidelis," "The Washington Post," "El Capitan," and "U.S. Field Artillery" are just a few of the 136 he composed. Far from being merely utilitarian or primitive, his marches are often small masterpieces, with indelible tunes, adept harmonies, and nicely contrasted trios. There is never any superfluous musical material in them -- Sousa wrote in his autobiography that a march "must be as free from padding as a marble statue."

Sousa's father was a trombonist in the U.S. Marine Band, and enlisted his son as an apprentice at age 13. Discharged at 21 in 1875, young Jps...

[Ed. note: The following playlists -- and introduction -- were curated by our friends at Songza -- a great site that lets you select music based on either your activity or mood. Clicking on a playlist below will open an single window or tab and immediately start the selected music -- no log-in or personal information is required. Enjoy, and happy Fourth!]

Because summer is our favorite season, it only follows that the Fourth of July is our favorite holiday. When you take all the classic summer activities and add parades, fireworks, and a nationwide birthday celebration for America, you have the recipe for a great time. With carefully curated soundtracks for every summertime activity and mood, we promise to make your Fourth, and every day for the rest of your summer, even better.

Patriotic Music

These All-American playlists are the best way to celebrate Independence Day.

Stars and Stripes Forever!

Celebrate America in music, from marching bands to great pops orchestras. Play this sparkling homage to the land we love before, during, and after you watch the fireworks this Fourth of July.

Heartland America

Celebrate the things that make America great -- including cars, young love and rock & roll -- with these classic heartland rockers.

Patriotic Country

Celebrate the spirit of America,...

When I was growing up, New York 's best (now long-defunct) classical radio station, Wncn, played only American composers' music each Fourth of July. With the classical world dominated by Europeans, this was a welcome and educational corrective. In the history of American music, independence wasn't achieved until the 20th century; 19th century composers such as John Knowles Paine and George Whitefield Chadwick studied in Europe and blatantly imitated European models. Listening to their music "blind," few would guess they were Americans. There was Revolutionary War-era vocal writer William Billings, but his originality was more a lack of proper technique. Continuing Wncn's tradition, here's a look at true American classical. music. 

There is a bit of chauvinism in this article, as "American" here refers not to all the Americas (North, Central, and South) but rather the colloquial usage in the United States to mean that country's residents (hence, the Mexican Carlos Chavez,...

How are you spending your 4th of July holiday/weekend? If you live in one of areas of the country having 100+ degree days, perhaps you are spending it inside cuddled up with your TV remote. If so, Zap2it's got you covered for five whole days of programming. Check your local listings for channel number.

All times Eastern.

Wednesday, July 4

BBC America: "Star Trek: The Next Generation" marathon, 8 a.m. to 5 a.m. the next day

Bet: "The Game" marathon, 8 a.m. to midnight

CBS: "Boston Pops Fireworks," 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Cloo: "House" Marathon, 6 a.m. to 4 a.m. the next day

Espn: Wimbledon Men's quarterfinals, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., 2012 Hot Dog Eating Contest, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Espn 2: Wimbledon Men's quarterfinals, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Food: "Diners Drive-ins and Dives" marathon, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., "Restaurant: Impossible" marathon, 7 p.m. to midnight

HBO: "John Adams" miniseries,...

I just read somewhere that Sunday was Canada Day. Well you know what? Tomorrow's America Day! Whoo!

That's right brothers and sisters, it's the must pumped up day to be living in the U.S. of A. All around the country, tiny little flags are gonna spontaneously appear in every tiny little American baby's hand. Fireworks—no, Freedom Fire—will be bombing your eardrums from now through the weekend as we Americans (yeah!) do what we do best: buy some semi-legal explosive and blow stuff up while eating hot dogs.

[Writer's note: Please forgive me—this might be my most horrible attempt at humor ever]

But what you gonna do when all that Freed Fire is gone? Trick question, Freedom Fire is forever! But if fireworks and hot dogs aren't your thing, why not play a couple of older video game titles that rock it out for the United States.

Bad Dudes (Data East, 1988)

What could be more American than punching out the ninjas that...

The following is a list of all comic books, graphic novels and special items that will be available this week and shipped to comic book stores who have placed orders for them.

Aardvark Vanaheim

Glamourpuss #24, $3.00

Abstract Studios

Terry Moore’s How To Draw #3 (Beautiful), $4.99

AC Comics

Yankee Girl Stars And Stripes Forever #1, $19.95

Adhouse Books

American Barbarian Hc, $19.95

Altus Press

Doc Savage All New Wild Adventures Volume 2 Horror In Gold Sc, $24.95

Ape Entertainment

Ramiel Wrath Of God #1, $3.99

Richie Rich Gems #45, $3.99

Arcana Studio

Billy Tucci A Child Is Born (One Shot)(Artists Edition)(not verified by Diamond), $4.99

Interagents Gn (not verified by Diamond), $14.95

Lethal Instinct Gn (not verified by Diamond), $19.95

Redneck Kings Gn, $14.95

Sterling Gn, $14.95

Archie Comics

Archie Meets Kiss Hc (Collectors Edition), $29.99

Archie Meets Kiss Tp, $12.99

Sonic The Hedgehog #235, $2.99

World Of Archie Double Digest #16, $3.99

Attaboy’S Yumfactory

Hi Fructose Magazine Quarterly #23, $6.95

Avatar Press

Dicks #3 (John McCrea Regular Cover), $4.99

Dicks #3 (John McCrea...

Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: April 3, 2012

Price: Blu-ray $24.99

Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

The high-definition debut of the 1953 disaster movie Titanic is timed for the 100-year anniversary of the day the fated ship sank.

Long before Kate and Leo rode the classic cruise liner, Clifton Webb (Stars and Stripes Forever), Barbara Stanwyck (Double Indemnity) and Robert Wagner (TV’s It Takes a Thief) played Titanic passengers.

In the earlier film, Webb and Stanwyck played unhappily married Mr. and Mrs. Sturges. When the ship hits an iceberg, their custody battle for their two children, who are also on board, is the least of their worries.

Directed by Jean Negulesco (How to Marry a Millionaire), the drama movie won an Oscar for its screenplay and was nominated for art direction.

For the Blu-ray, the classic film was remastered and comes with these special features:

commentary by film critic Richard Schickelcommentary by cinematographer Michael D. Lonzo,...

You could make the argument that "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the most recognizable American tune, but if you take into account how few American citizens actually know all the words, you might have to reconsider. In which case, John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” might be the next best viable contender for that title. You might be thinking to yourself that you don’t recognize the name of that song, but the music itself is unmistakable as one of the most famous patriotic anthems in the history of the country. Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” has become one of the most oft-performed marches of all time and the story of how he arrived at the creation of that iconic piece is an entertaining one in the hands of director Henry Koster. Stars and Stripes Forever might not be as nostalgically popular as The Music Man, but it...

DVD Playhouse—December 2011

By Allen Gardner

The Rules Of The Game (Criterion) Jean Renoir’s classic from 1939 was met with a riot at its premiere and was severely cut by its distributor, available only in truncated form for two decades until it was restored to the grandeur for which it is celebrated today. A biting comedy of manners set in the upstairs and downstairs of a French country estate, the film bitterly vivisects the bourgeoisie with a gentle ferocity that will tickle the laughter in your throat. Renoir co-stars as Octave. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Introduction to the film by Renoir; Commentary written by scholar Alexander Sesonske and read by Peter Bogdanovich; Comparison of the film’s two endings; Selected scene analysis by Renoir scholar Chris Faulkner; Featurettes and vintage film clips; Part one of David Thomson’s “Jean Renoir” BBC documentary; Video essay; Interviews with Renoir, crew members,...

Release Date: Dec. 13, 2011

Price: Blu-ray/DVD Combo $27.99

Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Classic musical Stars and Stripes Forever, finally on high-definition Blu-ray, isn’t one of the biggest musical films, like Irving Berlin’s White Christmas or Holiday Inn, but it has cache. Released in 1952, Stars and Stripes Forever was nominated for three Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture Musical/Comedy.

The movie is a biography of 19th century composer John Philip Sousa (played by Clifton Webb, The Man Who Never Was), who is the leader of the Marine Corps Band in the 1890s. There he meets Private Willie Little (Robert Wagner, TV’s Two and a Half Men), the inventor of an instrument called the Sousaphone, and Little’s girlfriend, showgirl Lily (Debra Paget, Cleopatra’s Daughter).

After Sousa leaves the Marines, the three form a band. Although Sousa would rather write ballads, his marches bring him fame and success.

Just in time for the holiday, Stars and Stripes Forever makes its Blu-ray debut December 13th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Based on the life of talented 19th century composer John Phillip Sousa, Stars and Stripes Forever is a good-hearted musical filled with show-stopping numbers. The film was highly acclaimed, receiving three Grammy Award nominations in 1953 including Best Motion Picture . Musical/Comedy. Stars and Stripes Forever is a 1952 film biography of composer John Philip Sousa. Clifton Webb stars as Sgt. Major John Philip Sousa, who while the leader of the Marine Corps Band in 1890.s, meets Private Willie Little (Robert Wagner), inventor of an instrument he calls the Sousaphone...and Little's girlfriend, shapely showgirl Lily (Debra Paget). The...

United Nations - From the Sugar Plum Fairy to Musetta's Waltz, the former Soviet republics showed off some brilliant young talent performing Romantic Era greats: Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Puccini. The three-year old Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Commonwealth of Independent States (Cis), conducted by renowned maestro Vladimir Spivakov, ended its program in the 2,000-seat Un General Assembly Hall with the Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever, played in precise marching cadence. Since it was not listed in the program, few among the largely Russian-speaking audience recognized it. But it followed the familiar Victory Day song (written 30 years after the end of World War II by Vladimir Shainsky) which brought the audience to its feet, clapping in unison while archive film of Soviet celebrations at Nazi Germany's surrender in May 1945 flickered on two screens. Not all the numbers were from another era. The concert...

One of our favorite Food Network shows, "Ace of Cakes" had the show's star, Duff Goldman, appear with the Boston Pops on Opening Night. You know there was a bitchin' cake there too. Celebrity chef Duff Goldman made a surprise appearance on Opening Night of the Boston Pops 125th season, Tuesday night, May 4, to unveil a cake baked in honor of the Pops 125th Birthday, and conducted .The Stars and Stripes Forever. to end the concert. Goldman, a son of Baltimore, unveiled his creation Tuesday night onstage at Symphony Hall for the opening of the Pops season, featured Boston's sports mascots of the Red Sox (Wally the Green Monster) and Celtics (Lucky the Leprechaun), and the...

"Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody" debuted on the Muppets' newly inaugurated YouTube channel just three weeks ago. But nearly ten million views later, it already feels like a signpost that we'll look back on fondly -- a goofy capper to a rotten decade, a bridge to whatever lies ahead, and perhaps a future time capsule, a reminder of what it felt like to be alive at this strange time. It's a pop culture upper in a league with two classic bubblegum chart-toppers that heralded the shift from '60s darkness to '70s hedonism: John Lennon's "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" and the Captain & Tennille's cover of "Love Will Keep Us Together."

There's no world-shattering depth to those songs, just a straightforward reassurance that even though times are tough, as long as we're capable of having fun, things aren't quite as bad as they seem. "Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody" and the...