During this red carpet video for what looks to be some-sort-of Latino MTV Awards show, a rather dapper Uncle Snoop Dogg addresses his infatuation with my favorite HBO brain-drainer True Blood. So much that the Doggfather even goes on record to ask the producers for a role in the show. Read the rest of this entry »

Having a vampire series without a cult following is like finding salvation in a strip club: it’s not likely to occur. But HBO’s Golden-Globe*-winning megadrama True Blood has proved in just 1¾’s of a season that it’s worth the fanfare. Their next spill at becoming a nationwide sensation?

Creating a Tru-Blood drink of course. Read the rest of this entry »

Words by: J. Tinsley

Nothing outside of a Tupac concert could make me miss the season six premiere of “Entourage” tonight. With football still over a month away from kickoff and the combination of baseball and Tour De Lance (Armstrong) dominating ESPN airwaves, this makes for a welcoming change of imagery. Judging by the trailer, Read the rest of this entry »

Photo: Timothy White/HBO

After almost a year of being upstaged as the mecca of original series, HBO is planning to bring out a bazooka to counteract the pistol progressive programming from Showtime and basic cable.

Their weapon of choice? Read the rest of this entry »

This is what I’m talkin’ about.

Seeing as I’m only caught up through Season 1 of The Wire, not only did Jesse’s piece legitimize my slacking on the remainder of that series, but all the hoopla over the HBO drama made me realize how much I missed the true pinnacle of cable programming, The Sopranos.

Alas, the video above helps ease my sorrows. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been a year and I still miss The Wire and all its characters. We said our final goodbyes in 2008 but recent endless viewings of the DVD box set had me feeling sentimental and inspired. It’s the “Who would play me in a movie?” game further realized and repurposed, i.e. which rappers would play characters on The Wire? So, without further adieu…

Charles Hamilton as Duquan “Dukie” Weems — These two have more of an uncanny physical resemblance than Blu and Bubbles. Besides their connection as look-alikes and being coincidentally homeless at different points in life, both are bright, yet can’t seem to get the formula quite right to move on to a higher level of success. Coincidentally, and both lived in the streets.

Nas as Avon Barksdale — Okay, so maybe Nas isn’t really a hustler or a gangster. But he is an older figure who has seen more dominant days, finding his way in an environment that may/may not be suited to his tastes any longer. Oh, and he evolved as the opposite of…

Jay-Z as Stringer Bell — The intelligent hustler. Does/did anyone so knee deep in their respective field have a more savvy business sense than these two?

Andre 3000 as Lester Freamon — These wise vets are intensely cerebral while having a creative outlet that helps them make money while expressing themselves. Both have also expressed discontent or disinterest with the state of their environments. Read the rest of this entry »

If you were slightly disappointed in last year’s annual “Wrap Up,” take comfort in knowing that Skillz was frying even bigger fish for the 2K9. Read the rest of this entry »

The Wire has rapidly become my cultural litmus test for people I meet.

If you’re into it, I’m with you. If you’re not, I’ll convert you. And if, heaven forbid, you’ve seen it and you’re not into it, you’re my sworn enemy. Sworn enemy. Forever, forever ever, forever ever © Andre Benjamin.

So when I learned that I would be able to interview Andre Royo, I was ecstatic. Royo’s portrayal of a drug addict named Bubbles was one of the most unidealized and haunting in any medium. To get the chance to pick his brain was a special privilege. We spoke about everything, ranging from The Wire to rap, race to poverty and politics to Omar Little. Read the rest of this entry »

Won’t be too much in this post either. (I promise) Read the rest of this entry »