Coco Loco

If you're not sure, the white freckled guy's the cure

Conan O'Brien has been and always will be my favorite TV personality (sorry Colbert.) I've been an avid fan since his Comedy Central days. Although I enjoy his recurring characters like Triumph and the masturbating bear, none of them can surpass the best character of them all: Conan himself. He's a unique comedy cocktail blend that belongs in a category by itself. He's like a cartoon character with his lanky figure, untamable hair, spontaneous gestures, fearless wit, and wild energy. He knows this too, as he often pokes fun of himself. Anyone else who attempted to copy cat his hosting style would ultimately fail and be deemed a pariah. It can't be done because there's only one Conan O'Brien.

People might criticize his hosting style as rather weird and idiosyncratic...Now I could snap in his defense, "How dare you insult his excellence!" but I'm not because I happen to agree. However, I see that as a positive attribute, not a negative. It's part of the beauty of Conan; his unfailing ability to be silly. Those who put a negative label on words like weird and abnormal are just a bunch of bleating sheep, who can't fathom the idea of going against the crowd. I admit I sometimes fall victim to this sheepish behavior when it pertains to my own life. It's easier to blend in with everyone; there's a lower risk of humiliation. Perhaps that's why I've always been more attracted to that comical, quirky side in people because it takes courage. Well, let me be honest, weird is good in doses. You don't want to embrace it like a madness or you might be spurned as a deranged, creeper.

I could be having the worst day of my life, but if I were to watch a clip of Conan O'Brien, I would be in high spirits again. There's simply too many favorite bits for me too list them all but I'll He's generally amiable and mannerly on his show but my favorite Conan moments are when he unveils his darker side and delivers unto us "Mean Coco." He's the pretentious, self-important boss to his employees. He's the cruel, hick-hating friend to Jack McBrayer. His mock feud with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert is simply legendary. And I enjoy nothing more than his petty quarrels with Andy Richter. You can identify who he has a strong rapport with on his show, since it is with these people that bring out my favorite character in him. We don't see enough of mean Coco in my opinion, but maybe that's a good thing. It makes the rare occurrence all the more delightful and entertaining.

Aside from his goofy persona, he also regularly demonstrates charisma and humility that is unparalleled by other television personalities. His character was put to the real test 3 1/2 years ago in regarding to the whole Tonight Show debacle. I can easily go off on a ceaseless rant about this but I'll keep it concise for both our sakes. Awarding O'Brien the Tonight Show only to take it away from him after seven months was a tasteless, egotistical act by NBC and Leno. Conan deserved more respect. But Conan proved to us yet again with his heart-felt and admirable goodbye from the Tonight Show, that he is nothing but an inspiration and a real class act.

Basically how I look when someone tells me they don't like Conan. 

Say My Name

My tribute to an illustrious show

Can you believe it all ends tonight? I don't think I've ever been more emotionally invested in a show than the final season of Breaking Bad. And that's saying a lot. Recently, I watched an episode from season 1 and it was hard to believe that these characters were once friends and loving family members. 

Walter White's descension and Heisenberg's ascension throughout the seasons was an incredible ride and one to be remembered. Now it all comes to an end but who will come out on top? Other's I know personally think he deserves the worst for all the hell he's created. I oddly keep finding myself rooting for Walt. This was a middle-aged Chem teacher with no criminal past that elevated himself to become a notorious drug king pin within a year's span. I can't help but respect that feat. Though he may not have the heart capacity of dear Jesse Pinkman, he still has a heart. So I find it disheartening to see him loose everything, especially to some unprincipled Neo-Nazis.

  

"It can't all be for nothing."

We sadly live in an age where originality is becoming increasingly scarce. So I salute Vince Gilligan for creating a story line so elegantly original with such intriguing characters. We're going into a finale where the ending is really anyone's guess. I find this unpredictability refreshing because of its rarity in television today. I don't doubt the end will be satisfying. Bittersweet, but satisfying.

Game of Thrones

"I'm honest. It's the world that's awful."

I finally got myself to watch Game of Thrones and all I can say is why in hell did it take me so long! And now I'm fuming that I have to wait till January 2014 for the next season. I'm really impressed with HBO. The level of detail in this show is astounding for a television series. Can you imagine if they tried to turn these books into movies? So many savory details we would have missed. I love the complex dynamics of all these characters. It's a dog eat dog world in this series, where anyone can die and anyone can become the villain or hero, regardless of what you may think. In general, I've always been fascinated with villains more than heroes but my favorite type of character is an antihero. So my favorite character is Sandor Clegane aka The Hound. He's a tall, scar-faced, bad ass killer with a soft spot for the Stark girls. But despite how strong he is, he's not invincible, he has vulnerabilities - specifically his debilitating fear of fire. Happens when you get your face shoved in burning coals as a kid. I honestly can't predict what will happen to him or what he'll do next. I can go on and on about the series. Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Arya Stark, John Snow, all such good characters. But for the love of the Old Gods and New, someone please kill Joffery.

Smaug

"A most specially greedy, strong, and wicked worm."

I thought I'd bring a little life to the Rankin-Bass cartoon Smaug. The 1977 Hobbit cartoon was one of my favorite movies as a kid. But the colors were dull, muddy and flat. So I added more color, shadows, and highlights. I'm also a total geek for all of Peter Jackson's LOTR/Hobbit films. Can't wait to see what they do with Smaug in the next chapter this winter.

The Capo di tutti capi of serial killers

 My homage to the best show on tv.

Eat the Rude

And best movie.

Love your suit

Crisis (Nearly) Averted

So last week I was walking in the woods when I nearly stepped onto some dog poo. But I was able to catch my foot in time and change its trajectory. Feeling proud of my quick thinking I began to strut with my head held a little higher. But TWISTED FATE my friends, for seconds later a damn bird flew by and excreted on my shoulder. I was meant to get feces on me that day. It's like that movie Final Destination, where those kids cheat death but death hunts them down anyways. 

Only mine was shit........I smell a new MOVIE franchise on the horizon... 

Ya, I'm a dude in this story. Male's are just easier to draw. Just imagine boobs and hair.

Binge Responsibly, Kids

I'm ready.

I collaged and photoshopped some magazine/news paper clippings I found to help any inexperienced binge watchers

While we're on the subject of Arrested Development, I designed this card for a friend, a fellow AD fan. At the time I didn't have my computer so I had to do everything by hand. I'll upgrade it to a digital painting eventually. I found my idea mighty clever to be perfectly blunt.

A seal would never attack a human. Unless, of course, it had acquired a taste for mammal blood.