MIKE ON KCRW: Discussing Empire, James Corden and SXSW on "Press Play"

On Monday's Press Play with Madeleine Brand, NPR's Linda Holmes and I discussed the "Empire" finale and more:

Empire has wrapped up its first season. Were fans satisfied with the finale, and can the show keep it fresh for season two? Also, pasty English comedian James Corden will host his first episode of The Late Late Show tonight, taking over from Craig Ferguson. We talk about that and more in our weekly television roundup.

Listen below:



On the March 16 edition of Press Play with Madeleine Brand, I called in from SXSW to talk about TV at the Austin festival and more:

The Jinx is obviously the biggest topic in TV today, but there’s a lot more going on in the land of the small screen. There are new shows premiering this week on television and at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, including the new season of Community in its new home on Yahoo. The interactive part of South by Southwest kicked off Friday -- and these days “interactive” includes online content and streaming as well as TV. We catch up on it all in our weekly television roundup.

Listen below:

Scenes from Austin and SXSW: Kwik-E-Mart, Roaming Squirrels, "Angie Tribeca," Reggie Watts, "Community" and BBQ

Another year at SXSW! It was a quick trip, and this year my main focus was moderating a panel for the premiere of TBS' quirky new comedy "Angie Tribeca," plus attending a celebration for the launch of "Community" on Yahoo. But the other exciting element: Maria and I took our first trip sans kids since the days pre-kids. Above, on our way to Austin, via the Long Beach Airport. ("Are we really doing this? We're doing this!")


Mobile Kwik-E-Mart, in honor of The Simpsons' convenience store's 25th anniversary. We tried a Squishy -- "sweet" is an understatement. "Coma-inducing," maybe better. Details:

This weekend, the first ever “Kwik-E-Truck” was unveiled during SXSW Interactive to celebrate the Kwik-E-Mart’s inaugural appearance on THE SIMPSONS 25 years ago. Throughout the weekend, the “Kwik-E-Truck” served over 3,400 free iconic Kwik-E-Mart Squishees to hot festival goers at a rate of 2.6 Squishees per minute! With flavors including SO VERY CHERRY and GIVE ‘EM THE RAZZ, people were seen carrying the must-have frozen beverage all throughout Austin.

In addition to Squishees, the truck offered branded iPads with the all-new “Simpsons World” digital platform featuring every THE SIMPSONS episode ever, a sneak peek at THE SIMPSONS Kwik-E-Mart LEGO® set, interactive photo experiences and more. The #KwikETruck hashtag was trending in Austin throughout the weekend as fans waited in the baking Texas heat to get their very own taste of Springfield!

El Barto's tag on the Kwik_E-Mart truck.


With Squishy in hand, Maria gives Apu his voice.


The much-anticipated Lego Kwik-E-Mart (retail $199) on display.


Inside the Lego Kwik-E-Mart.


Overhead view of the Lego Kwik-E-Mart.


With Cookie Monster at PBS' lounge at the Austin Convention Center


I moderated a panel for TBS' "Angie Tribeca"; here I am with stars Rashida Jones and Hayes MacArthur.


These squirrels are definitely Keeping Austin Weird.


BBQ sauce at Lambert's. Sad story. I've been dreaming about Lambert's sliced brisket sandwich since last year. I'd been talking up the sandwich for days with Maria. I couldn't wait for her to try what I'd been thinking about all year. We got to Lambert's... and it wasn't on the menu. Devastated. It took me hours to get out of a funk after that. Luckily, had a delicious sliced brisket sandwich from Black's BBQ later that evening.


Instead, I had the chopped brisket sandwich. Which just wasn't the same. You broke my heart, Lambert's!


An elaborate re-creation of Bates Motel, complete with working plumbing!


The Bates Motel shower works! Don't mind the blood stain.


Oh, why not, let's check in.


The Hootsuite Owl, also making Austin weird.


Reggie Watts, of "Comedy! Bang! Bang!" fame, and now the bandleader for "The Late Late Show with James Corden," performs at a party for Jash.


Outside Austin's Driskell Hotel.


Austin's downtown streets start to fill up.


The Texas capitol building


This stuffed wolf looks lost.


At the premiere party for "Community" at the Yahoo! space.


On the convention floor. Not sure what a "Talkable Vegetable" does.


Dinosaur podcast!


Dan Harmon moderates a "Community" panel with Joel McHale, Alison Brie and Gillian Jacobs.


The entire cast joins in (except Danny Pudi).


I imagine the cabs of Austin have to enforce the $100 policy quite a bit on the weekends. Yuck.


One final taste of BBQ, at the airport outpost of The Salt Lick. Until next time, Austin!

MIKE ON RADIO: Bantering About SXSW, ABC and DreamWorks for KCRW's "The Business"

Kim Masters was away this week, so I joined the Los Angeles Times' John Horn to banter on KCRW's "The Business" about the week's news. Here's what we touched on:

Anne Sweeney's departure from Disney/ABC

Dreamworks Animation takes yet another multi-million dollar write-down on a failed film.

SXSW embraces TV or 'Episodics'

Listen below!

MIKE ON RADIO: Reporting for KCRW's "Press Play," Live From SXSW

Last week in Austin for SXSW, I called up KCRW's "Press Play with Madeleine Brand" to give them the low down on how TV -- called "episodics" -- was taking over the festival. Listen to my report on the Tuesday, March 11 episode.

My report is 15 minutes in. Here's the description:

The ever-expanding South-By-Southwest festival in Austin opened its doors to a new group this year: The TV industry. But they’re not calling the new section “TV” - because, what is TV anymore, when so much original content is coming from sites like Netflix and Hulu? We check-in with TV Guide’s Michael Schneider, who’s checking out the scene at SXSW.

And here's where you can stream the episode:

Keeping Austin Weird: Four Days in the Texas Capital

I'm still not sure I get why Austin lays claim on being "weird," but perhaps it's simply in comparison to the rest of the state. But visiting Austin for the first time this weekend, I probably only touched the surface of this fine town. After all, I was limited to the downtown area taking part in the annual South by Southwest festival, and that also gave me perhaps a skewed view of the city. My takeaway was indeed weird: Lots of great food, cool venues but a big taxi problem. See? Weird.

But it was a great weekend. I moderated the panel for the world premiere of Showtime's "Penny Dreadful," featuring star Josh Hartnett and director Juan Antonio Bayona, and also moderated a panel organized by the United Nations Foundation for NBC's "Revolution." We also attended a taping of Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen," featuring guest Jimmy Kimmel, and spent a bit of time with Andy and Jimmy after the show. Seth Meyers was there, and we hung out with him at an NBC party celebrating the show. And I even sat down for coffee with Kevin Bacon, which means I'm now One Degree of Coffee from Kevin Bacon. Some pics:



I'll be doing a separate post on the Long Beach Airport, but I'll tell you now, I'm a fan of the renovated terminal. Great food choices and a pleasant experience all around. I just wish it was closer. Hands down, a better choice than LAX or Burbank -- except in rush hour. Above, my JetBlue plane.



Willie Nelson, the patron saint of Austin!



Walk around certain parts of Austin, and you'll think the entire town smells like BBQ. This town bleeds sauce. And one of the best sandwiches we had there -- actually, one of the best sandwiches OF ALL TIME -- was this brisket beauty from Lambert's. Stay tuned for the Rate-A-Restaurant review.



Seems like a good sign that Lambert's is in the Schneider building.



The bustling Austin Convention Center.



Only in Texas, right? A gun lamp at the Driskill Hotel bar.



BBQ from Stubb's. Those ribs.



Stubb's BBQ buffet



Science Channel party at Stubb's.



My "Penny Dreadful" panel with Hartnett and Bayona. (Pic by Steve Battaglio)



Putting some effort into spinning the "Price is Right" wheel.



Come on down!



On the second spin, I got $1.00! Too bad it was the second spin.



With Li'l Bub at the Animal Planet party.



The Spazmatics perform 80s hits at the Animal Planet party.



Andy Cohen hosts "Watch What Happens Live" in Austin.



Cohen with guest Jimmy Kimmel.



Branding is everywhere at SXSW. But the weirdest brand experience? Cottonelle. What?



The Funny or Die bungalow.



Lunch at the Funny or Die bungalow.



Spotted at the Funny or Die bungalow: "NO Taylor Swift ANYTIME."



Spotted at the Funny or Die bungalow: "No Pitbull FROM HERE TO CORNER."



Jimmy Kimmel's camera crew interviews a native Austonian.



Back at the Funny or Die bungalow, Bill Cosby performs. Really.



The Austin skyline, as seen from Foodtruckville.


Mrs. P's Electric Cock serves chicken.



One last bite of BBQ at the Austin airport.