Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Sway (Glee Cast Version) - Glee Cast
No New Tale to Tell - Love and Rockets
This Is Chanukah - Tor Hyams and Jkidz
Honey Honey - Feist
The Race Is On Again - Yo La Tengo
This Is Hip - John Lee Hooker
RC Cola and a Moon Pie - NRBQ
I Want An Alien for Christmas - Fountains of Wayne
Worms - Ratboy Jr.

Ben's Playlist - Monday, January 31, 2011

In Wonder With the World - The Boogers
Mr. Fancy Pants - Jonathan Coulton
Pancakes! - Bramble Jam
Even Numbers - They Might Be Giants
The Eeny Weeny Beeny Ghost - Bill Harley
Tommy Got In Trouble - The Bazillions
Teenage Dream (Glee Cast Version) - Glee
Fire And Rain - James Taylor
Original Friend - Lunch Money
Small Car - Marvin Pontiac

Ben's Playlist - Friday, January 28, 2011

Deep Deep Water - Mel Glazer
Sleep Through The Static - Jack Johnson
Caboose - Lunch Money
Mushaboom (Mocky Mix) - Feist
Trading Squirrels - Recess Monkey
Superball - Magic Kids
Purple People Eater - Ray Stevens
Strange Magic - Electric Light Orchestra
Sunday Morning - GMG Jam
Ice Ages Are Fun - Board of Education

Strange magic indeed this snowy am.

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, January 27, 2011

Dr. Worm - Jason Trachenburg
Si Se Puede - Deedle Deedle Dees
Baby U - Dog On Fleas
Smiles & Laughter - Modern English
Things You Want - The Hipwaders
Church - Lyle Lovett
Only Girl (In The World) - Rihanna
Jewish Girls (At the Matzoh Ball) - The LeeVees
Things Behind the Sun - Nick Drake

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Dog Days Are Over - Florence And The Machine
Birds - The Submarines
California Stars - Wilco
Paparazzi - Lady Gaga
Super Sonic Rocket Bike - The Bazillions
Party In The USA - Miley Cyrus
First Dance (Feat. Usher) - Justin Bieber
Best Friend - Lisa Loeb
Everything's Controlled By the Brain - Doc Dauer

Ben making me nervous with teen selections for the morning.

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Saved By Zero - The Fixx
Raspberry Beret - Hindu Love Gods
K-I-D-S - Luv Clowns
(I've Got a) Pet Dinosaur - Einstein's Monkey
I Want to Hold Your Ear - ScribbleMonster
Hey Hey Hey - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Cowabunga - Didi Pop
Comfortable - John Mayer
Coconut Woman - Karl Zero & THE Wailers
Aidan's Train - The Hipwaders

Ben's Playlist - Monday, January 24, 2011

Green Teeth - The Zucchini Brothers
White Light - Wilco
Kapalua Bay - Didi Pop
Turn Your Body Around - Monkey Monkey Music
Get Me Out Of Here - Bill Harley
Everyone Everywhere - Baze And His Silly Friends
Tube Sox - Princess Katie and Racer Steve
Freedom Highway - Mavis Staples
Dandelion - Steve Weeks
Candlelight - Maccabeats

Ben's Playlist - Friday, January 21, 2011

Greensleeves - Ben Rudnick & Friends
The Time (The Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas
Baby Kangaroo - Joe McDermott
Because I Said So - Keller Williams
Home - Dreyer Family Band
Song of the Passaic - Fountains of Wayne
Sugar Hiccup - Cocteau Twins
Things You Want - The Hipwaders
Oh My Heart - R.E.M.

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, January 20, 2011

Jump So High - Jeremy Plays Guitar
Man On The Moon - R.E.M.
A Fire Burns For Freedom - Ziggy Marley
La La La (I Love You) - Egg
Fireworks - Katy Perry
Enough is a Feast - Bill Harley
Ruling Me - Weezer
Sleigh Ride - The Jimmies
Black Horse & The Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Hello Hello (Good Morning) - Dustin Type
Sleep Through The Static - Jack Johnson
Yonder Comes a Freight Train - Laura Cantrell
Nothing Rhymes With Orange - Jon Samson
We R Who We R - Ke$ha
Teenage Dream (Glee Cast Version) - Glee
Hang On - Weezer
Cookies and Milk - Frances England
Check It Out - Casper Babypants
When I Ripped My Pants - Spongebob Squarepants

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Wings of An Eagle - Ziggy Marley
What Is A Mammal? - Marais & Miranda
Tommy Got In Trouble - The Bazillions
No New Tale to Tell - Love and Rockets
My Immortal - Evanescence
Muppets/Mahna Mahna - Primate Fiasco
Moving Right Along - The Muppets
It Never Rains in Southern California - Mamas and the Papas
Browns Ferry Blues - Robbie Fulks
At the Timeshare - The LeeVees

Back to school!

Ben's Playlist - Monday, January 17, 2011

What's That Smell - Mr. Oscat
Real Gone - Sheryl Crow
Movin' On Up - Primal Scream
It's Sunny When You Share - Mighty Weaklings
Heart of the Country - Wings
Have You Seen My Chicken? - Sweetback Sisters
Green Teeth - The Zucchini Brothers
Funky Monkey - Yosi & the Superdads
Draw - Luv Clowns
Coconut Woman - Karl Zero & THE Wailers
California Gurls - Katy Perry (Feat. Snoop Dogg)
All Around the Kitchen - Pete Seeger

Ask Mister TeeVee

Mr. TeeVee has been viewing the tube for decades and periodically answers questions from the reader mail bag (MrJeff2000@gmail.com).

Dear Mr, TeeVee,
I love HOT IN CLEVELAND on Nick at Night! One of the actresses looks extremely familiar. Have I seen Valerie Bertinelli on television before?
– Anita Koppelman, St. Paul, MN



Anita, the vivacious Valerie knows the midwest, having spent 11 seasons in (fictional) Indianapolis for the sitcom ONE DAY AT A TIME. After a few failed attempts at her own series, she appeared on TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL for two seasons. Nowadays, outside of HOT, she is best known as Mrs. Vitale, having married financial planner Tom Vitale on New Years Day 2011.


Dear Mr, TeeVee,
I think my coworker has lost his mind! He claims that George Clooney starred on some television show years ago. We agreed that you would settle the bet. The loser has to wear a dress to work! –
Michael Higgins, Wesley, ND



Well, Michael, I hope you've shaved your legs! Hunky George Clooney, a two-time PEOPLE magazine Sexiest Man in the World, scrubbed in for five seasons as Dr. Doug Ross on NBC's successful medical drama, ER. The theme music from ER was composed by Grammy Award winner James Newton Howard.


Dear Mr, TeeVee,
I love I DREAM OF JEANNIE. That's what I call a classy program! I notice that the clothing and house decor seem a tad dated. Have they stopped making new episodes? – Rhoda Metzger, Toluca Lake, CA



You may continue to dream about I DREAM OF JEANNIE, but the last original episode was produced in 1970. There were two reunion movies in 1985 and 1991 but neither featured original star Larry Hagman. Unfortunately, the funnyman has been out of the limelight since this series went off the air.

Ben's Playlist - Friday, January 14, 2011

Why - Ah-Choo
White Light - Wilco
Twistification - Dog on Fleas
Spiders in My Breakfast - Harmonica Pocket
So So Happy - Debbie and Friends
Keep Your Hands To Yourself - Georgia Satellites
Joy - NoMeansNo
It Makes You Feel Good - Renee & Jeremy
Is It Chanukah or Hannukah? - Ruby and Ava Lockner
In My Room - Beach Boys
I Can't Let Go - The Hollies
Hey Hey Hey - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Hail Hail the Gang's All Here - Dean Jones

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, January 13, 2011

Comfortable - John Mayer
Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson
Flaming Pie - Paul McCartney
Unicorn - Dr. Dog
Opposite - Debbie and Friends
Holiday - The LeeVees
Hologram World - Tiny Masters of Today
Superhero - School for the Dead
Just Happy To Be Me - ScribbleMonster
8 Is A Number - Board of Education
Bushel And A Peck - Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Africa Land - Ziggy Marley
Speed of Love - The Hipwaders
This Is Hip - John Lee Hooker
Dr. Worm - Jason Trachenburg
Smooth Operator - Sade
Big Kite - Flannery Brothers
Don't Squish That Bug - Bramble Jam
Seven - They Might Be Giants
Because I Said So - Keller Williams
Be Thankful For What You Got - Yo La Tengo

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, January 11, 2011

One Two Three Four - Feist
Arabella Angelique - Grenadilla
Mule Train - Frankie Laine
Song of the Passaic - Fountains of Wayne
I Like It That Way - Sweet Honey in the Rock
Burn It To The Ground - Nickelback
Hey Ya - OutKast
My Lucky Day - Bruce Springsteen
Every Day is a Summer Day - Keith Munslow
Ultrafoot - Quiet Ones

Ben's 10th Birthday Playlist - Monday, January 10, 2011

You Have A Heart - Readeez
I Wanna Be An Action Figure - Daddy A Go Go
Tommy Got In Trouble - The Bazillions
Smiles & Laughter - Modern English
Best Friend - Lisa Loeb
Some More S'mores - Charity and the JAMband
Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani & Eve
Chag_Purim - Purim Jews
In My Room - Beach Boys
Birthday - The Beatles
The Rockford Files - Mike Post
Muffin Man - Ella Fitzgerald

Ben's Playlist - Friday, January 7, 2011

Squirrels - Mister G
The Eeny Weeny Beeny Ghost - Bill Harley
Tijuana Taxi - Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
This Old Man - Lucky Diaz
Raspberry Beret - Hindu Love Gods
How Do You Spell Chunnukkahh? - The LeeVees
All My Friends Are Different - The Salteens
Sing About the Sun - Dog on Fleas
Tripping Down the Freeway - Weezer

Playlist arranged with Matthew.

Mahalo to Maui from DidiPop

Songstress Shares Hawaiian Tunes

First, let me just say it was difficult to string a few sentences together the past few months that didn't include the words, "the baby." Matthew is home and doing well, and we're all looking forward to watching him grow and learn, especially about this thing called music that his older brother, Ben, loves so much.

Which brings me to DidiPop (recording artist Deborah Poppink) and her new CD, "DidiPop Goes to Hawaii." A prolific, award-winning songwriter/music teacher, Deborah started a second career as a children's recording artist - but the nickname preceded the career direction. While traveling around Asia (she has 28 stamps on her passport), the name "Deborah" was too difficult for some of the natives to prounce, so she became "Didi" with a side order of "Pop" from her last name.



Deborah's second CD takes listeners on a (short) trip to the islands of Hawaii, experiencing the language, culture, and musical stylings of the state. You get a "Keiki Hula," a ride of the "Sugar Cane Train," taste "Mango," and learn with the "Hawaiian Alphabet Song." Want a surf tune, styled circa Dick Dale? Try "Cowabunga."

Recording artist Eric Herman drops by for vocals on "Way Up High," about tropical birds and their melodies. Ben appreciated the appearance, as "The Elephant Song" is one of his favorite children's tunes from his single-digit years (he turns 10 on Monday, January 10).

Deborah started playing the electric organ (a gift from her aunt) at age 3. In addition to composing music for film and television, she circled the globe playing and has taught more than 10,000 piano lessons. Her interest in children's music is not surprising when you consider that Deborah was 40 and single - and then married with two girls and two stepsons at age 43.

Every vacation comes to an end, and DidiPop brings you home with "Going Home" (wouldn't you know it?) and the simple refrain that all children can learn:

I can't wait

To walk through the gate

Going home


If you want to share easy listening kid's tunes that will keep you warm this winter, spend some time with DidiPop and company.

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, January 6, 2011

What Is An Animal? - Marais & Miranda
Scared By My Own Costume - Deedle Deedle Dees
Little Sack of Sugar - Harmonica Pocket
RC Cola and a Moon Pie - NRBQ
Cleaning Windows - Van Morrison
Sunday Morning - GMG Jam
Big Kite - Flannery Brothers
Even Numbers - They Might Be Giants
Home - Dreyer Family Band
Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel

An assortment.

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Under The Sun - Dan Zanes
Sound of Sunshine - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Watch the Sunshine - Big Star
Have You Ever - Brandi Carlile
Joy - NoMeansNo
Smooth Operator - Sade
Imitation Of Life - R.E.M.
Only Girl (In The World) - Rihanna
B.A.T.H. - The Not-Its!
Bushel And A Peck - Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem

Lots of sunshine in the songs today.

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Willy Won't - Debbie and Friends
Nonagon - They Might Be Giants
Sugar Hiccup - Cocteau Twins
Jump Up and Down - Flannery Brothers
Your House - Dre Towey
Strawberry Jam - Michelle Shocked
Brimful of Asha - Cornershop
I Wish I Was A Mole In the Ground - The Boogers
Rattle My Bones - The New Standards

Ben's Playlist - Monday, January 3, 2011

White Light - Wilco
Green Teeth - The Zucchini Brothers
Mule Train - Frankie Laine
This Is Chanukah - Tor Hyams and Jkidz
Just Happy To Be Me - ScribbleMonster
Is This A Joke? - Billy Kelly
Hello There - Cheap Trick
Let's Twist Again - Chubby Checker
The Impression That I Get - Mighty Mighty Bosstones
I Just Want to Have Fun - Of Montreal
Rattle My Bones - The Suburbs

Welcome to the new year.