What videos the Internet had to offer in May

Viral videos are becoming cliché. The news report that gets auto tuned. The baby that does something baby-like. The dog/cat who acts like a human. 

Over. It. 

We need a new type of viral video, people. As May comes to a close, let’s reflect on what the Internet has had to share with us the past two weeks in the unusual viral video department. 

May 8: John Krasinski challenges Jimmy Fallon to a lip-sync off. 

Jimmy Fallon is known for playing interesting games with his celeb guests – but this time, it was the guest – not the host – creating a game. John Krasinski, AKA Jim Halpert from The Office (RIP), challenged Jimmy to outdo him lip syncing. They each choose three songs, and competed to wow the audience with their lip sync skills. 

Now, Jimmy is also known for his musical talent. But Krasinski came out guns blazing – all you need to know is Krasinski made love to a teenage dream, and it was awe inspiring. 



May 14: Grizzly eats a GoPro. He ate it. 

Well, he tried to eat it at least. Brad Josephs was filming up close and personal footage of a grizzly bear for the BBC with his GoPro – and he got some footage he wasn’t exactly anticipating. 

Ever seen the inside of a hungry grizzly’s mouth? Me neither, until I saw this clip. 



May 17: Patton Oswalt “Parks and Recreation” Filibuster Is REAL.

Back in April the Internet exploded when a clip of comedian Patton Oswalt guest starring on Parks and Rec went viral. He was told to just improvise and talk about something he knew about for a couple minutes. Holy improvisation, Batman. 

Oswalt legit spoke non-stop for nearly EIGHT MINUTES about his proposed plot for the new Star Wars movie. Never has watching a grown man talk for nearly 10 minutes about Star Wars and superheroes been so entertaining – until someone took all of his ridiculous/genius ideas and brought them to animated life. Baby Padawans anyone? 

Google Glass: Which Original Apps Do We Want to See?

Google Glass is unquestionably an original product it’s a totally intuitive, sort of cool looking (okay, not really) wearable computer.

As unique as it is, there’s not a lot of originality going on in the app department. Google Glass already has the “duh” apps – Facebook, Twitter, CNN, Tumblr etc. Those are a given. With AppLaunch, a free app template tool available to developers, maybe we can get some of those “oh, what!” apps, along with the predictable ones.  

Take Winky, an unofficial app (it requires some work to get up and running ) that lets you take a picture by winking your eye—as opposed to the normal way of asking the camera or tapping your Google specs. That’s innovative, handy, and okay, maybe a tiny bit scary (especially if you’re at a bar, and someone winks at you from across the room and you don’t know why…).

Still, this is a wearable computer hooked up to Google and its endless databases. We’ll need to see at least a couple of these original apps (or something like them) before Google Glass becomes a must-have for everyone.

The idea: Keep-Me-Healthy App

Smartphones have a bazillion apps (or close to that, I haven’t counted) for fitness and health – Google Glass should have the same. It could be anything from an app that acts as a pedometer or one that syncs with Google Maps to create and track running routes.

Or, how about you take a picture of your meal and Google Glass tells you the calorie count? You could actually see the calories floating in front of you before you stuff them in your face.

Oh what.                                                                   

Yes. I want that.

The idea: Name-That-Tune App

Part Shazam, part karaoke machine – how about an app that shows you the lyrics to songs playing around you? Find yourself in an elevator and want to name that tune (probably a show tune)? In a restaurant and can’t remember the lyrics to the upcoming chorus? At a concert and want to sing along? How about an app that fills in the musical gaps?

The idea: Keep-An-Eye-Out App

So let’s say you have a baby – instead of having to stay glued to a monitor, wouldn’t it be cool if there was an app that let you check in on your new addition right from Google Glass? Yup, I think so too.

The idea: Kill-Some-Down-Time App

There are those times where you’re between meetings, running a few minutes early, or just have time to kill before meeting up with friends. Wouldn’t it be cool if Glass had an app where you could program it to know your interests, then show you places that you’d be interested in going to when you need to kill some time?

You could filter out the places you’re not interested in, so Google Glass gives you a detailed and personalized experience. You’ve got 15 minutes, there’s a park a block away if you fancy a stroll around the lake—thanks Google!

 
Google Glass is in the beginning stages – this isn’t a notorious Google Beta, this thing feels more like an open alpha. It’s still got bugs and kinks and setbacks and limitations. But even as the software (and nerdy hardware) is refined, the platform won’t reach its full potential without original, off-the-wall, innovative apps. Let’s hope developers never hit the Glass ceiling.

Who does bad TV the best?

Bad TV is sometimes the best TV, and no one does bad TV better than TLC – or is that A&E?

TLC, the diluted version of its alter ego The Learning Channel, has made a name for itself by broadcasting shows that do anything but teach ever since the success of Jon and Kate Plus 8.

TLC was founded by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (seriously). Now it’s known for outrageous shows about toddlers chugging go-go juice and flashing flesh (that would be Toddlers and Tiaras). While A&E didn’t have as noble a beginning, the channel has its own share of cringe-worthy TV. In the battle of bad TV, who comes out the victor?

Round 1: Hoarding: Buried Alive vs. Hoarders

Which aired first? A&E’s Hoarders aired in 2009, along with the dirty laundry of families profiled in nine episodes. TLC’s version hit small screens a year later.

What’s the difference? Not much. Each episode runs the same amount of time and goes in-depth into some crazy-scary pack rats –occasionally with real rats and other lovely creatures. Hoarders on both channels get the help of professional organizers/therapists.

Which is the best bad TV show?  Let’s give this one to Hoarders – A&E got the jump on what became a national obsession. It may be hard to watch, but it’s better than getting buried alive.

Round 2: Addicted vs. Intervention

Which aired first? Addicted premiered in 2010 on TLC, but Intervention has had a home at A&E for 13 seasons. It’s an A&E staple.

What’s the difference? Intervention is a 40-minute build-up to an actual intervention led by the friends and family of a substance abuser, chronicled in each A&E episode. Addicted is less reality show and more documentary, showing the struggles of addiction.

Which is the best bad TV show? This one also goes to A&E – mostly because seniority rules and any guilty pleasure that can stand the test of time deserves a W.

Round 3: Here Comes Honey Boo Boo vs. Duck Dynasty

Which aired first? Duck Dynasty has steadily drawn in viewers (in the millions, believe it or not) of all interests since it made its way out of the bayou and onto A&E in early 2012. Honey Boo Boo and her Georgia clan introduced themselves to America just a few months later on TLC.

What’s the difference? Both chronicle the values of Southern ways of life – on TLC, through the eyes of a 6-year-old beauty pageant regular, and on A&E through the lives of Louisiana royalty, the duck-call designing Robertsons.

Which is the best bad TV show? Duck Dynasty is clearly the better show – Uncle Si’s one liners alone are enough to spark at least three under-developed spin offs, Jack. But, it seems wrong to call Duck Dynasty bad TV – even with the obvious scripted plots. Honey Boo Boo takes this one.

Even though A&E might have won the majority of the battles, let’s be honest. TLC was founded by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, along with NASA, and now it airs shows like My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding and America’s Worst Tattoos (both of which, in TLC tradition, are inspired by similar shows on other networks).

Congratulations TLC, you’re the network we love to hate the most.