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So the summer is coming to an end but that doesn’t mean excellent summer media has to. It’s all out there waiting to be enjoyed in the bright sun and thunderstorms.

Music - The Academy Is - Fast Times at Barrington High is a step in the right direction after the quintet’s previous album (Santi) failed to live up to expectations set by Almost Here. Combining the best elements of both earlier efforts, Barrington is hook laden and catchy but not a direct clone of certain larger label mates.

Film - Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express. Big action comedies seem pretty vogue right now. Both films have their plusses and minuses, together they make the perfect summer double feature. Pineapple’s banter and buddy comedy style is on the nose, it’s very funny throughout. On the other hand the action seems farfetched in its realistic world. Meanwhile Tropic Thunder sports well placed believable action, and much bigger yet more infrequent laughs. Its character relationships never pan out as well as Pineapple’s. Both feature hilarious supporting hijinx from relative newcomer Danny McBride.

TV - Outside of Mad Men, TV has sucked this summer. The only thing I can recommend (to keep in the light summer fare mood) is High School Music: Get In The Picture. Embarrassed as I am to say I watch it, the kids are talented and fans of musical theater will enjoy this show. More difficult than Idol and more interesting than Legally Blonde: The Search For Elle Woods, contestants on HSM: GITP actually have to interpret the songs they’re performing and create meaning in their action and performance. Who knew a bunch of 17 year olds could do that while singing Leona Lewis?

I normally don’t like to talk about celebrity deaths but it’s become unavoidable recently. This may seem cold, but I don’t see why average people get upset. You didn’t know this celebrity personally, why are you so sad? They’re not gone from your life, they’re gone from your television. Ok yes, the joy they brought to the world and the roles they could have played have been taken from us and that is sad but I don’t see the point in mourning a celebrity like you would a friend or family member. Call me heartless.

That being said please take a look at this…

Now Defamer is declaring The Curse ofBilly Bob Thornton. The latest death watch conspiracy theory involves the many co-stars of Thornton who have have suffered death, injury or sickness. John Ritter, Bernie Mac, J.T. Walsh, and Heath Ledger all died prematurely.Morgan Freeman and Shia LaBeouf both suffered car accidents, and Patrick Swayze got diagnosed with cancer. And there is also Jim Varney, best known for his character Ernest, whose final film before he died was Thorton’s Daddy and Them.

(via slashfilm)

While death conspiracy theories may be fun and entertain the ghost seeking, voodoo believing side of us, this is really just nonsense. What? Bad things can’t happen to these people without there being some supernatural reason for it?

And Shia LaBeouf? Really? He’s included in this…the dude lost a finger. A finger. Oh shit, he’s cursed!

I guess in the end, people just like to obsess over celebrities, even (and especially) when they die. Oh and I heard anyone connected within six degrees of Kevin Bacon is cursed too. 

With $150 and a good story Max Bemis of Say Anything will write and record a personalized song for you. Check out the item in his merch store here. Commissioned artist, eh? Not a bad idea in these internweb piracy times.