Over the last few months, I receive at least 1-2 comments every day on a post I wrote over 11 years ago. And it's not even a good post. For several years in the late 00s and early teens, Jim Shearer, the former MTV and VH1 VJ, created a series of videos called Yinz Luv Da Stillers and Yinz Luv Da Guins during the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins playoff runs. Most of these videos are now private, so my January 2011 post now simply shows an unavailable video. This still doesn't stop presumably bots from commenting on this "well written," "marvelous," "awesome," and "amazing" post daily. I mean, most of my posts have these attributes, but I delete many of the comments if they're in Russian and/or include links I'm scared to click or share. Some comments (that I translate) ask if I'm interested in knowing what a three-circuit steel door means or they are for a company offering comprehensive services for legal support in obtaining temporary registration in Moscow. I'm going to pass.
I really don't want to delete any of my old posts since there's a reason why I wrote them when I did. Still, it's getting annoying receiving constant comments that I just have to delete or ignore.
President Obama may have had his final State of the Union on Tuesday, but the State of the Ramblings continues! 11 years is a long time to write a blog. When I mentioned on Twitter that January 8th marked this anniversary, Kip replied that I was "blogging when 95% of people didn't even know what a Blog was!" Now, I'm writing as people prefer to read everything in 140 characters or less. (Although, if Twitter starts allowing for 10K characters, blogs could be back, baby!)
Long-time readers probably noticed that I don't write nearly as often as I used to. The number of blog posts has decreased annually. Honestly, I just don't have the time to write as I once did. My prime writing time is after the kids go to sleep, but even then, there are things to do around the house, or I just want to sit on the couch and watch TV. Actually, I partially blame TV for my lack of productivity. You just can't concentrate on writing when incredible shows like Fargo, Game of Thrones, or Better Call Saul are on television. I'll blame the Pittsburgh Pirates too. They've been really good the past three seasons, so I find myself trying to follow them as much as possible during the baseball season. (It seems like every Pirates game last summer was a 1-run game!) Of course, I still manage to fall asleep watching television several times a week, so writing while napping isn't possible (at least, not yet!).
With all of that written, I still managed to write 123 posts in 2015. That's a post every three days. Not too shabby if you look at it that way. I had several big ideas for blog posts last year, but many of these fell through for various reasons. One that succeeded was my fascinating interview with Sean Guillory of Sean's Russia Blog. It's very long (part 1 & part 2) but much deeper than what is usually on Sean's Ramblings.
I also wrote a piece where I blasted VH1's decision not to renew Jim Shearer's contract. This turned out to be my most read and most-commented on post in 2015. Oh, check out Jim's latest project Stillers Cabin (a new version of the fantastic Yinz Luv Da Stillers)
I could write more about my kids, but I'm not sure how interesting that is to anyone outside my immediate family. Here are two recent stories:
1. The preschool teacher for my four year old (The Moose) read a story about a child with an imaginary friend. At the end of the story, she asked the class if any of the kids have an imaginary friend. The Moose was the only one to raise his hand. When the teacher asked the name of The Moose's imaginary friend, he gave the name of his brother, my 1.5 year old child (Pedro Tulo). My younger son is quite real and certainly not imaginary.
2. Pedro Tulo had a bad case of diaper rash not too long ago. Our doctor recommended a homemade recipe of mixing equal parts Desitin, Vaseline, and corn starch. It worked, but this is definitely not Kosher for Passover.
So is this stuff worthy of its own blog post? I don't know.
For 2016, I still have a few big ideas. I want to apply for media credentials for the 2017 Academy Awards. (I need more likes on my Facebook page for this to happen.) I also really, really, really need a fashion makeover. My pants, jeans, and some of my shirts are too big, and even the clothes that fit aren't all that stylish. Basically, unlike Taylor Swift, I do go out of style. Anyway, my dream is for a fashion blogger and/or clothing store to help me while I document the experience. Ideally, the store with donate these clothes to me (or reduce the prices significantly) for the exposure. I'm basically a pro-bono case for them!
So thanks to all of you for reading over the past 11 years. Cheers!
When MTV debuted nearly 35 years ago, the video jockeys, or VJs, became nearly as famous as the musicians they presented. Folks like Martha Quinn, Alan Hunter, Mark Goodman, Nina Blackwood, Pauly Shore, Downtown Julie Brown, Kennedy, Bill Bellamy and Carson Daly became stars. Of course, MTV and later VH1 became more about reality shows and less about music, so VJs began to go extinct. However, one VJ remained. Jim Shearer started at MTV in 2002 and served as the host of VHI's Top 20 Video Countdown for the past 5 or 6 years. Jim is great. He's funny, does an excellent job interviewing guests and simply seems like a guy that would be cool to hang out with. And yes I may be biased because Jim is also from Western Pennsylvania and agreed to do an interview with me here on Sean's Ramblings.
Inexplicably, VH1 decided not to renew Jim's contract for 2015. The Top 20 countdown is currently having guest hosts (Gavin DeGraw last week and Andy Grammer this week). I'm sure they are both swell people (plus DeGraw attended Ithaca College; I'll have to share my story about him sometime), but they are no Jim Shearer.
Fortunately, we can still see Jim. He started Gimme 5 with Mike Adam, and as usual, Jim is great. Again, I may be biased but Jim's top five are much better than Mike's picks.
You can check out their first two episodes below and follow Gimme 5 and Jim on Twitter.
Top Pop Songs of 2014
Best Rap Feature in a Pop Song
While I'm not sure he's looking for work, someone needs to hire Jim immediately!
Does Jim Shearer ever rest? Although the Steelers season is over, he's back with Yinz Luv Da Guins. His field trip to see the Penguins practice in Central Park turned out great. Must see video (starting around the 12:30 mark).
The end of the Steelers season brings us one last Yinz Luv Da Stillers. Jim Shearer does/did an amazing job of putting these videos together each week.
With the football season complete, we now turn our attention in the sports world to college basketball. Quietly, George Mason has a very good team this year. This video attempts to make the season a little louder. Go Mason!
Watch the latest Yinz Luv Da Stillers (Baltimore divisional playoff edition) while also watching VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown and get a double-dose of Jim Shearer.
I'll have much, much more about the Steelers-Dolphins game tomorrow and/or Wednesday, but in the meantime enjoy Jim Shearer's (and Bat-Bat's) Yinz Luv 'Da Stillers.
I like Jim Shearer. He agreed to participate in an interview with me last year, and I think that his Yinz Luv Da Stillers & Yinz Luv Da Guins videos are great. I'm not sure about VH1's decision to increase their weekly Top 20 Video Countdown from 2 to 2 & 1/2 hours, but if that means more exposure (and possibly more money) for Jim, then I'm all for it.
Therefore, while I don't want to relive Sunday's Steelers-Ravens game, it's always worthwhile to share Jim's work. Enjoy this week's YLDS:
After a whirlwind trip to Anaheim, Boston and New York City, I finally returned home this afternoon. I will have several posts about these trips over the next few days, but I figured I would share Jim Shearer's final Yinz Luv 'Da Guins of the 2009-2010 season for your viewing pleasure.
Five years. It's amazing that as of last Friday, I have written this blog for five years. Is this the point where I receive a lifetime achievement award or at least a fountain pen? Am I now considered an elder states person in the blogging community?
I actually started Sean's Ramblings through a bit of peer pressure as several of my friends wrote blogs at the time. I thought it would be fun to create my own site, and they encouraged me to do so. Now, most of those blogs are gone. I've also seen many other blogs come and go over the past five years. Most of these bloggers simply burned out. Somehow, I'm still here. So with that, let's look back at the past year.
It's funny how blogging works sometimes. I can spend hours writing personal stories, yet receive few comments or site visits. Conversely, I saw a funny video of Charlie Brown throwing out a first pitch at the Pirates game, posted it, and soon became a star in Taiwan!
From this past year, I am most proud of the interviews I did with Sarah Wendell, author, founder/blogger of Smart Bitches, Trashy Books and one of NPR's Ten Favorite Pop-Culture Humans Of 2009 and Jim Shearer of VH1 and Yinz Luv Da Stillers and Yinz Luv Da Guins. I also enjoyed the collaborative pieces where I asked other bloggers for predictions about the Steelers and Penguins seasons, their fashion choices for the Super Bowl and if they had any questions about the Pirates' spring training. As you can tell from this last sentence, Pittsburgh sports continues to be a major focus of my blog. That's what happens when the Steelers win the Super Bowl, the Penguins win the Stanley Cup and the Pirates, um, well, hold their spring training in Bradenton. I also created and hosted the 1st Annual Best Pittsburgh Sports Blog Tournament in order to celebrate the accomplishments of the Pittsburgh sports blogging community. (Yes, the tournament will return in 2010; I'll have more on this soon.) Plus, I met Hall of Famer Franco Harris.
I've also been able to earn a small amount of money through advertisements and gave away an incredible watch. Hopefully, there will be more contests in 2010. In addition, I'd like to thank Turner Publishing for sending me free books and to Ile de France Cheese for sending me free Brie cheese. I am certainly willing to accept more free items, so keep them coming!
Unfortunately, not everything worked out perfectly at Sean's Ramblings. After attending a DC Bloggers Happy Hour near the end of 2008, I wrote in last year's State of the Ramblings that I hoped to continue to attend future events. That didn't happen. Hopefully this year. I also wrote a story about how I got in an argument with a former Pittsburgh Steeler. Thanks to one of my readers, Lee Tunnell, I got in touch with this individual. While he accepted the apology, was amazed that I even remembered this incident from 25+ years ago, and said that he may agree to participate in an interview, he never replied when I sent him the questions. I also insulted a clothing company who in turn insulted me back. I contacted them about doing an interview but that fell apart as well. I'm not too upset about that last one.
As for the coming year, I'll continue with Trivia Tuesdays and TMI Thursdays. I probably share too much information in TMI Thursdays (hence the name) though it was somewhat exhilarating sharing a heart-warming story about my first kiss. Whether you like it or not, I'll also write more about Ziggy. I'm sure that some of you don't care about my cat, but I do. If you want to blame anyone, blame the Steelers for using their 1st round draft pick on a guy named Ziggy. Naturally, I'm going to write about Ziggy & Ziggy!
I've mentioned this before but I write my blog for me. This has been a great journal of my life (or at least of the parts of my life I'm willing to share) and has truly become a big part of my life. I spend far too much time writing Sean's Ramblings, but I enjoy it. However, this blog wouldn't be around without you. I appreciate all of you for visiting, reading, commenting and supporting me. Thank you!
A few weeks ago, Jim Shearer stated that he would retire from Yinz Luv Da Stillers if the Steelers lost to the Oakland Raiders. The Steelers couldn't lose at Heinz Field to the Raiders, right? Wrong. Sadly, this is Jim's last YLDS:
Personally, I think we should start a fund where we send Jim at least $1 so that he will continue YLDS. In the meantime, Jim now has more time for Yinz Luv Da Guins. Here's his second video of the 2009-2010 season.
The Steelers must win this Sunday against the Oakland Raiders! It's not only a must win game if the Steelers want to make the playoffs, but Jim Shearer also declared in this week's Yinz Luv Da Stillers that he will retire from YLDS if they lose. That cannot and must not happen! Play Ben; play Troy; play Dermontti Dawson; play Rod Woodson. Anything to ensure a Steelers victory!
I feel bad for Jim Shearer. He spends a lot of time putting together the Yinz Luv Da Stillers videos, but because the Steelers played their worst game of the season against Kansas City last Sunday and because it is Thanksgiving week, no one is going to see his work. Therefore, the least I could do is show you the least viewed Yinz Luv Da Stillers ever!
Now that last week's Steelers game is behind us, let's focus on today. Go Pitt and Woodland Hills High School!
* Think back to last week. I know it's hard to do, so I'll refresh your memory. I interviewed the one and only Jim Shearer. Take a look at his latest Yinz Luv 'Da Stillers:
* Fascinating interview with Bronson Pinchot [A.V. Club] h/t Gobo
* Is November 1, 2009 the greatest day in sports history? Even though there are games in the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB for the first time in history, I say no since there are no Pittsburgh teams playing. [Inhistoric] h/t JQ
* You must watch the week seven Vikings Music video. There are no words to describe it, but Green Day should sue. [OFTOT]
* I'm not going to link to the New York Daily News article itself, but I'm going to put a positive spin on the Steve Phillips affair. The woman in the center of the story is a 2008 Ithaca College graduate, and has already interned at ABC, including on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, worked for NBC during the Beijing Olympics and is employed at ESPN. That's an impressive resume; partly due to an Ithaca College education.
* Wegmans is the greatest grocery store of all time, but I've never experienced this while shopping there:
h/t Arjewtino
* Guess the final score of the Pitt-South Florida game and you can win a T-shirt [Pitt Blather]
Would you rather win a T-shirt or a really nice watch? Don't forget to enter the first ever contest at Sean's Ramblings just for predicting Ben Roethlisberger's passing yards.
Maybe you know Jim Shearer as a former MTV2 VJ and current host of VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown. Maybe you know Jim Shearer as the genius behind Yinz Luv 'Da Stillers and Yinz Luv 'Da Guins, the incredibly entertaining videos about the Steelers and Penguins respectively. Maybe you don't know Jim Shearer at all, so I'm here to introduce him to you. Actually, I just sent Jim a few questions and he was kind enough to reply, so I'll let him "speak" for himself.
How did the Yinz Luv videos get started?
My MTV contract ended at the beginning of 2008 and I was looking for work. Trying to branch off into sports (which I thought could eventually bring me back home to the 'burgh) I went to an audition at the NHL. They were starting up a daily web-show. The audition lasted about two minutes, and I didn't get the job (sigh). As the playoff season started that year, I thought to myself, "Well, if the NHL doesn't want me, I'll just start up my own web-show." While throwing around ideas in my head, I quickly realized that "yinz" rhymed with "guins," and the rest is history.
Do you draw all of the figures in the intros?
Yep. I draw them all. If you notice in the early episodes of Yinz Luv 'Da Guins, the cardboard cutouts aren't as detailed as they are now. That's because I was rushing around to put the intro together, right as the playoffs began, and right as I was about to launch the show. Once I had more time, I could get more creative with the figures (i.e., Ulf Samuelsson viciously checking Cam Neely or Brooks Orpik's crazy-eyes stare).
I think I already know the answer based on the fact that you stated that you draw all of the figures, but is there anyone else that helps you with the Yinz Luv videos? They are so well done that it seems like multiple people must work on them.
I do most of the work on the episodes--hosting (obviously), editing, and producing the segments. However, if you ever see me with another person on an episode, it usually means that someone else is helping me tape. My good buddy Fuzz tapes some of the tailgate interviews and drives me to away games (since I don't own a car).
If the Pirates ever make the playoffs, could we see a Yinz Luv the Buccos?
I might consider doing some episodes if 'Da Buccos make the playoffs, but because I'm holding down a full-time job, while simultaneously doing web-shows for 'Da Guins and 'Da Stillers, the baseball season is my off-season; my decompression period if you will.
Switching over to your day job, has there ever been someone you interviewed on MTV/VH1 that you weren't really looking forward to meeting, but turned out to be extremely (perhaps surprisingly) cool?
All the time, and it happens a lot more often now, because I'm working in the world of pop music. When I was working at MTV2, I hosted 120 Minutes and Subterranean, which dealt with indie-minded music (which is more my preference). Not that I wasn't looking forward to meeting him, but I just met 50 Cent last week, and I was surprised how friendly he was. He shook everyone's hand on the set, and hung around following his interview to small talk with the crew.
Have you ever hung out with VH1 regulars Bret Michaels or Flavor Flav?
I have not. I have interviewed Flavor Flav backstage at a Public Enemy show though, and let me just say, he's hounded constantly for picture, autograph, and hug requests. I remember him as an all-time great hypeman in hip-hop, but his series of reality shows has opened him up to a whole other audience.
I may be one of the few people that watch you on both Yinz Luv and VH1's Top 20 Countdown. To prove it, I enjoyed watching you grow a playoff beard during the Pens' Stanley Cup run on VH1. Did anyone (either at work or at home) give you a hard time about growing the beard or sharing your Pens fandom on national TV?
Before the playoffs even started, I approached our executive producer and asked if I could grow the beard. He, being a big sports fan too, agreed to it. I did give a warning, "Just to let you know, the Pens could go all the way, so I may have this thing on my face for a while." I think the charity tie-in also helped. Who's gonna give you crap if you're raising money for cancer research?
One of the reasons why I asked you about the playoff beard is because I may grow a mustache for charity in November. Do you have any advice for me?
Grow that mustache. It's easy money for charity and makes the ordinary, everyday routine of looking in the mirror a little more exciting.
Finally, now that we're 1/4 of the way through the season (Sean’s note: Jim answered this question prior to the Steelers-Lions game), do you have any general thoughts about the Steelers?
Um, we really need Troy in the lineup, Limas Sweed needs to learn how to hold onto a football in the big leagues, and as a team, the Steelers have to close out games with authority (which will make our lives as fans less stressful).
Jim is passionate about Pittsburgh sports and puts together amazing videos from his unique perspective. If you haven't seen his work before (where have you been?), here's the latest Yinz Luv 'Da Stillers. (Sean's update: It seems like many of the YLDS videos are gone, so this is one from after the Steelers-Packers Super Bowl.
Jim is also passionate about music and recently put together his video playlist on VH1. I figure that I might as well show what he does during the day, so here is Jim talking about Coffee and TV by Blur:
This video has nothing to do with the interview or Jim, but since he talked for almost an entire minute about it, here is Blur in one of the greatest videos ever.
Photos courtesy of Jim Shearer via the Pittsburgh City Paper (you can probably tell that their interview is much more professional than mine) and PSAMP.
Jim Shearer and company are back with the first video of the season (not including the Jack Ham interviews). Enjoy!
Oh, if you're in Northern Virginia today, join the DC SteelCity Mafia and Mike Merriweather at Tortoise & Hare in Crystal City at 5:00 PM. More information is available at the Steel City Mafia website.
As a reminder for folks living in the DC area, there is a special screening of My Tale of Two Cities, "a funny and heartfelt "comeback" story about coming home and the city of Pittsburgh, the real-life "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" tomorrow (Monday, March 16) at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring at 7:00pm. That is one long sentence! Franco Harris, Mr. McFeely, Franco "Dok" Harris, who has declared to run for the Mayor of Pittsburgh, and Sean of Sean's Ramblings, who has declared not to run for the Mayor of Pittsburgh or any other city (yet?) will all be in attendance.
Here is the movie trailer: (UPDATE: This is the actual movie!)
Tickets are only $10, but are first come, first serve and may sell out. To reserve your seats, please email Natalie at mytaleoftwocities@gmail.com and specify the DC screening. More information about the film is available on the My Tale of Two Cities website.
Here are some other links and videos for your Sunday while you wait until the brackets are announced:
- Steve Is Alive asks the Top Eight Mysteries of Pittsburgh. My favorite: "Who thought Franco Harris and George Washington were on the same level to share side by side statues of each other at Pittsburgh International Airport?"
- LiLu shares the places you must go to when you move to Washington. Sadly, since I live in the suburbs and don't get out much, I have been to less than half of these places.
- The USTA is looking for volunteers for the U.S. Open between August 29 to September 13, 2009. It probably helps if you live in or around New York.
- Finally, you know Jim Shearer from VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown and Yinz Luv 'Da Steelers. Well, he also puts out Yinz Luv 'Da Guins videos like this one:
Welcome to Sean's Ramblings! If you're looking for thoughts on pop culture, music, fun and informative links, random DC and Pittsburgh info, sports (particularly Pittsburgh sports), and just what's going on in my life, then you're come to the right place.
Any questions, comments or links? Contact me at seanramblings[at]yahoo[dot]com.
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