SiriusXM Channels Mark Twain and Conan O’Brien in New Commercial

I’m a subscriber to SiriusXM– and if they feel like sponsoring this post I’d be happy to send them my account info for a year of free radio 🤪– and I’m posting this because part of why I was born was to write! That’s half of an answer to the famous Mark Twain quote…

The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.

Mark Twain

The other half answer is December 26th. 🎄🎅🏻❄️ Ya know, in case you were wondering. Here’s the SiriusXM commercial that opens with the Mark Twain quote and includes a trio of songs, a talented dancer, and a red-headed comedian.

The Music. Featured in the 30-second version of the commercial are three songs: “Paint the Town Red” by Doja Cat, “Roots Bloody Roots” by Sepultura, and “Bright Horses” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

The Comedian. You also might have caught the last statement in the ad… “If you can survive this, it’s going to make the whole story that much better.” This is a line from Conan O’Brien’s interview with Howard Stern referring to his tumultuous time taking over for Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show.” They had just received a terrible review and Conan’s dad said that to him. History has shown how Conan not only survived it, but his story includes his own SiriusXM station (channel 104) which helps make his story “that much better.”

Cool ad for a streaming satellite radio service always facing the ever present opponent – the things we see competing with the things we hear.

-Out of the Wilderness

This Actress was on Friends AND Seinfeld!?

If you were to make a list of iconic shows from the 1990s, two near the top would be “Friends” and “Seinfeld.” Even in 2024, those two shows continue in their popularity and reruns can be found on TV this very day. So it’s mind-blowing to find out some actors and actresses had the chance to play a part in both shows. One of these is Chandler’s noisy girlfriend Janice. Did you know that actress also had a part on “Seinfeld”? Her character was (click here)… but she’s not the only one! Remember this pivotal situation from “Friends”?

Ross got into some deep trouble when he and Rachel were “on a break” (they broke up and we all know it) and Ross decided to sleep with the woman from the copy store. Chloe was her name.

Chloe the copy shop woman was played by actress Angela Featherstone. Ms. Featherstone was also Cindy, the Maid to Order maid hired by Jerry Seinfeld on the episode called “The Maid.”

If you’re interested in more from behind the scenes, Angela is a guest on a podcast all about “Seinfeld,” check it out below.

-Out of the Wilderness

Brian Kelley “Kiss My Boots”: We Were On A Break!

The guys of Florida Georgia Line have been “on a break” for awhile now and all I can think of is Ross from Friends. He and Rachel stopped dating and in that time, Ross hooked up with the copy shop woman, Chloe. Clearly he and Rachel had broken up but the idea that Ross cheated was a recurring theme as the show went on. How many times did he defend himself with the line, “We were on a break!”?

Let’s not forget that it was Rachel’s idea to break up in the first place. She even wrote an 18-page letter, FRONT AND BACK, that Ross never finished because he fell asleep.

In the same way Rachel wrote down her thoughts for Ross, Brian Kelley has written a song and a lot of people agree that it’s about his former FGL bandmate Tyler Hubbard. He’s got a video to go along with it, too. Take a look then scroll down for more…

The pair let a disagreement fester a little too long and that’s rarely a good thing. It goes back to the 2020 election where one of the guys supported this guy and the other supported this guy. Now Brian and Tyler are “on a break” and here we go again with the ambiguity. If Ross and Rachel were clear about their relationship they would’ve avoided a lot of hurtful things. Brian and Tyler should learn a lesson from them. Of course, country music is rooted in relationship pains, so maybe Brian’s choice to air out the dirty laundry will turn into a hit for him. Maybe they’ll mend their relationship and go out on tour again as Florida Georgia Line but for now, they need space and probably they are never, ever getting back together.

-Out of the Wilderness

Lindsey Stirling “Eye Of The Untold Her” Music Video – Is She Too Legit to Quit?

I was a 4th grade student at Underwood Elementary in Newport, Rhode Island when I decided to sign up to play in the school band. The instrument I chose, with zero experience up to that point, was the violin. I filled out the sheet of paper but at the very last moment, I felt uneasy so I switched to the trumpet… a decision that eventually led to me touring with a trumpet for the next 4 years in Rhode Island and Virginia. I say “touring” like I was traveling musician. Nope, my dad was in the military so we moved and I took the trumpet with me. But I definitely crushed the 5th grade Beatles showcase. I don’t mean to brag but *about to brag with no proof whatsoever* we also put on an iconic performance of the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” theme song. *sings “heroes in a half shell, turtle power!”*

Abysmal. Was I good enough for a high school band? Probably. But was I good, like… honestly good? No. If I were to, say, try out for “America’s Got Talent” the judges would’ve ripped me to shreds and they wouldn’t be wrong. But sometimes those judges miss really talented people. That’s where Lindsey Stirling comes in. She was on season 5 of AGT and the judges clearly got it wrong. Way wrong. Since her time on the show she’s released multiple albums, has billions of YouTube streams, and if that weren’t enough… she’s toured around the world “…from London the bay,” as MC Hammer would say in a classic 90s song.

Lindsey’s latest music video was just released a few days ago and it’s very, very good. Take a look then scroll down for more…

2 Legit 2 Quit. The judges didn’t think she was good enough but now the question everyone should be asking is this: “Just how far will she go?” It appears as though she is, indeed, too legit to quit. As for me and my trumpet performances, they were always limited to school shows and family members forced to come listen. Now as an adult, I spend my days being jealous of talented musicians and singers, hoping one day in Heaven I’ll have musical talent. Until then, here I am catching frisbees. *watches video, admires hand-eye coordination*

-Out of the Wilderness

Visit California Commercial – The Music and the Locations

There are many states that would be a lot of fun to visit, like the ones with beaches… Florida, Hawaii, North Carolina. Every time I start looking for places to camp, it starts with water access. Are there beaches? A river? At least a lake? The furthest west I’ve driven with my travel trailer is Texas (read about an amazing tour a couple summers ago) but California REALLY wants me to come visit as seen in their latest festive ad accompanying their invitation. They’re calling it “The Ultimate Playground” and it’s explained this way…

From towering redwood forests to sunny San Diego beaches, there’s fun to be found wherever you go in California. Discover the many ways you can play when you visit the Ultimate Playground.

The Music. Someone in the tourism department must be proud of themselves for finding this song to use. It’s over 45-years-old but fits perfectly with the clips in the ad. It’s Electric Light Orchestra with “Mr. Blue Sky.” Here’s the full track…

The Locations. Beautiful locations were highlighted in the ad, which is a smart idea. It’s like a dating profile and California put all the fun stuff in their bio. It won’t be till later you find out they’re addicted to drugs and all they want is a sugar daddy. Personal experiences aside, here are the areas shown in the commercial…

San Francisco, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Joshua Tree National Park, Leoness Cellars in Temecula Valley (the wedding scene), Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, Crystal Cove State Park, Ingleside Estate in Palm Springs, Klamath River, Rady Shell in San Diego (the concert scene).

Speaking of nice locations, here are a few of my favorite pics from that camping trip to Texas I mentioned earlier. If you ever have a chance to check out state parks in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma, send me a message and I’ll share my favorites with you!

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas
Caprock Canyons State Park, Texas
Caprock Canyons State Park, Texas
Fontainebleau State Park, Louisiana
Fontainebleau State Park, Louisiana

-Out of the Wilderness