Theme for Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2012

For this year's Blogging from A to Z Challenge, the theme here at Ellie's Couch will be music videos.

Posts will be arranged alphabetically by recording artist. Those using a first and last name will be alphabetized according to first name so that the titles will be completely alphabetical.

Several musical styles and decades will be represented, including classic hard rock and modern alternative rock. Many of the videos tell some type of story and can even be watched with no sound if desired. I won't be including any that are simply a musical performance; there has to be something more to each video for additional entertainment value.

I'll also give a few comments about each one, such as the background or what to look for.

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2012

This blog will be participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.

Beginning Sunday, April 1, I'll be posting topics in alphabetical order all month. Other than the kickoff day, posts will be Monday through Saturday, with Sundays off.

Last year, I posted random entertainment-related topics. For this year's challenge, I've chosen a theme, and it's a really good one (if I do say so myself). Stay tuned for more information!

TheCoolTV

A while back, I was scanning my cable guide and saw something I hadn't noticed before: a channel called TheCoolTV. Taking a quick look, I saw that it was airing music videos. In fact, the whole channel seemed to be dedicated to music. Even the infomercials were for CD collections.

Later, I went online to look it up, and I learned a few things. TheCoolTV is a digital substation that's been around for about two years now. I have no idea when it came to my area. In fact, it's not everywhere, but more affiliates are signing on all the time. Right now, the channel guide lists affiliates in 34 states.

Programming blocks include Indie Cred, Nineties Nectar, The Underground, and Retro Rewind, to name just a few. The website also states that programming is customized to each area's demographic and local music scene.

If you're into music videos, take a look at the channel guide and see whether TheCoolTV is in your area yet.

Special One Life to Live Marathon New Year's Day

With One Life to Live ending on January 13, SOAPnet has scheduled a 14-hour OLTL marathon for New Year's Day. It begins at 10am Eastern and runs until midnight.

Here's the schedule:

10:00 am - Karen takes the stand and admits she was a prostitute. (March 6, 1979)

11:00 am - Tina goes over the falls in Argentina, which leaves Cord taking out his anger on Max. (March 9, 1987)

12:00 pm - The Buchanan clan goes back in time to the Old West. (May 13, 1988)

1:00 pm - Megan dies in Jake's arms. (February 7, 1992)

2:00 pm - 25th Anniversary show where Luna believes Max is alive, Viki and Dorian are trapped together, and Tina sits by Cord's hospital bedside. (July 15, 1993)

3:00 pm - Viki walks in on Joey and Dorian. David asks Tina to secretly marry him, and Powell holds Todd at gunpoint. (November 28, 1994)

4:00 pm - Blair and Todd get married, Patrick sleeps with Marty, and Kelly asks Joey to help take her virginity away. (November 14, 1995)

5:00 pm - Viki realizes she killed her father. Dorian is arrested for Victor's murder. (December 8, 1995)

6:00 pm - Asa's wives return for his funeral. Natalie crashes the service, adjusting to the news that she's a Buchanan. (November 16, 2001)

7:00 pm - Niki wants out of Viki's marriage to Ben. Todd is confronted by Blair over her baby dying. Natalie gives Jen a warning about Al. (May 14, 2002)

8:00 pm - Natalie confesses her feelings to John. Tess takes over while Jessica warns Nash that she isn't Tess. Evangeline receives thanks for saving Natalie. (August 22, 2005)

9:00 pm - Todd says an emotional goodbye while awaiting execution. Antonio tries to bring Jess back by pleading with Tess. (May 29, 2006)

10:00 pm - Starr bonds with Blair and Marcie after the birth of Hope. Bess steals Hope. Natalie and Jared are saved from the bomb in the basement. John tells Marty Todd raped her. (November 10, 2008)

11:00 pm - David marries Bo and Nora. (June 7, 2010)

Vampire and Zombie Books Set at Christmastime

If you're into the undead and/or walking dead and looking for something to read around Christmastime, you may be interested in Christmas Reading for Vampire Lovers or Christmas Reading for Zombie Lovers. These articles give some great ideas for books that combine the Christmas season with vamps and zombies.

Grimm Marathon Tonight

If you've missed out on Grimm--which airs opposite Supernatural and Fringe--you're in luck. Syfy is airing a special catch-up Grimm marathon tonight from 7pm-11pm Eastern. Fans will also be happy to know that it has received an order for a full 22-episode season.

Grimm normally airs Friday nights at 9pm Eastern on NBC. However, in an attempt to improve the ratings, the network is giving it a trial run on Thursday, December 8, when it will air at 10pm; another episode will air the next night in its regular timeslot.

If the Thursday test works out, it could mean a very full night of TV for genre fans, with The Vampire Diaries and The Secret Circle airing on the CW from 8pm-10pm Eastern.

No matter where it eventually ends up, I'm hoping Syfy will continue to air repeat episodes.

Special All My Children Marathons This Weekend on SOAPnet

SOAPnet is airing two special All My Children marathons this weekend. These marathons consist of classic episodes from the show and are a terrific way for more recent fans to see episodes from before they began watching.

"I Love Lucci" is a five-episode marathon starting today (Saturday) at 7pm EDT.

"Last Chance for Romance" is longer, with seven episodes beginning Sunday at 5pm EDT.

Each marathon runs until midnight. After Sunday's special, the regular weekly AMC marathon will air.

AMC wraps up next week, with its final episode airing Friday, September 23.

Second Chance to See Ringer and The Secret Circle

If you missed the first episode of Ringer or The Secret Circle, you're in luck. The CW is re-airing both shows tonight. Ringer will air at 8pm EDT, followed by The Secret Circle at 9pm EDT.

In case you don't know anything about these shows, here's a tiny bit of info. Ringer stars Sarah Michelle Gellar in dual roles as twins Bridget and Siobhan. Bridget is running for her life and ends up taking Siobhan's place, but she soon starts wondering whether it was a huge mistake.

The Secret Circle is about a teenage girl who finds out she's a witch after moving in with her grandmother. She's not the only witch in town--far from it.

This second chance to see these shows is a one-time deal, since Nikita and Supernatural are back in those timeslots next Friday night. (I don't watch Nikita, but I'm anxious to see what's in store this season on Supernatural.)