Top 100 interview: Vampire Weekend (No. 5)

Vampire Weekend started out having a pretty good year. And then it just kept getting better.

The band was already gaining major buzz when it released its self-titled debut, but then the blogosphere seemed to explode with positive reviews for its African- and pop-influenced sound. (They rank at No. 5 on my list of the Top 100 People of 2008.) Songs like Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa and Oxford Comma became breakout hits, and the group spent the year touring the world.

This week, I chatted with drummer Chris Tomson about VW's experiences and its plans for a follow-up record:

Me: Hey, Chris. Where are you right now?

Tomson: Right now I'm in my apartment in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. We just finished touring on Sunday, so we returned home on Monday and are quite giddy about the possibility of a couple weeks off.

So you don't have to work on New Year's Eve?

We talked about that, but then we kind of figured that we'd played a couple hundred shows this year, and it would be OK if we took that night off.

So I guess you've already heard this Hot Chip/Peter Gabriel cover of Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. What do you think of it?

Yeah, well, I remember the genesis of that. (Laughs) Actually, I use that word ... that wasn't very clever, but I guess it turned out to be. I remember we didn't meet him, but Peter came to one of our shows in London in May, and I guess he enjoyed the song. We obviously had a thing, like, "Please, if you have any interest whatsoever, feel free to do what you want." And then Hot Chip got involved.

I feel like I heard a version of it a couple months ago, and for whatever reason, it kind of got held up. But I guess it finally got cleared up, and we were finally able to meet Peter for real a couple weeks ago at a charity thing in New York. So yeah, we were very excited about the concept. And when we heard it, it was exciting.

What did you guys say to each other when you met?

It wasn't a personal, really get-to-know-each-other audience. But we had a good little chat, and he talked about how he enjoyed what we were doing and wished us the best. Obviously, we're big fans.

We're talking today because you guys are one of my top people of the year. Who were some of the most interesting people you met in 2008?

Well, a lot of people you meet, and it's a small-talky situation. But we met a lot of cool and interesting people when we played Saturday Night Live -- that was just very, very exciting. We had just come home from a European tour. And I'm not sure if this happens with everybody, but we found out (we were going to be on the show) five or six days before.

I remember as we were doing the camera run-throughs on Saturday, looking up at the empty audience and seeing this guy that looked very familiar. It turned out that Paul Simon actually checked us out for the rehearsals. He's very good friends with Lorne Michaels and has appeared there many times. So that was very exciting, and he was very gracious and sat with us when we were eating dinner for 10, 15 minutes. So I remember that being very surreal.

Do you have a favorite moment of the year? I'm guessing that ranks up there.

Definitely playing SNL was a real treat and an unexpected thrill. But I think a mental image that I'll remember forever, no matter what happens, is when we played Glastonbury, which is kind of the biggest in number of festivals in Europe. You know, we're playing at 2:30 in the afternoon or something. Kind of a grayish day. And you walk out onstage, and there's, like, 40,000 people there, and that's a very weird feeling.

Not to sound too hokey, but I remember recording a lot of the drum parts on this album in my friend's basement, or I remember Ezra (Koenig) recording the vocals in my apartment where I'm sitting now. And then to go out and play these songs for a ridiculous amount of people was very ... you're kind of in the moment, you're concentrating, you're trying not to f--- up, but then when you get offstage and look at that crowd, it was incredible.

Top 100 People of 2008: Nos. 1-19

The day has finally come! I hope you've enjoyed this week's countdown of the 100 People of the Year -- believe it or not, I've been compiling this list for eight years now. The first top 100 (back in 2000) had Angelina Jolie in the top spot. While she certainly dominated gossip headlines in '08, she doesn't make the cut here. (Interestingly, though, my No. 3 person of 2000 is my No. 2 person this year. James Marsters, Beck and Aimee Mann also appeared on the 2000 list and resurfaced in '08!)

But enough silly stats. Let's get on with the show, and please leave your feedback in the comments. If you're unsatisfied with the top pick, who should've been No. 1?

Previously:

- Nos. 20-39 of the Top People of 2008
- Nos. 40-59
- Nos. 60-79
- Nos. 80-100

20. Rob Pattinson. His glistening skin distracted millions of teen girls this year, and it's safe to say the Twilight franchise will transform the actor into a superstar. Even if the sequel bites, Pattinson's hair is a box-office cash machine.

19. Jason Segel. This year the actor came into his own by writing and starring in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, demonstrating his musical chops, continuing his sweet gig on How I Met Your Mother and even planning a Muppet movie. If he's taking requests, I'd like an extra helping of Floyd and Swedish Chef, please.

18. Wall-E. OK, so he's not exactly a person. But it was hard not to connect with the star of Pixar's hit film, even though he barely spoke and inhabited a universe full of futuristic blobs. Come on, how could anyone resist those wistful, metal eyes?

17. Nelsan Ellis. As gay, drug-dealing chef Lafayette on HBO's True Blood, he's the show's most complex and compelling character. (He's also one of the few actors on the series who doesn't speak with a mangled Southern accent, so he gets extra points there.)

16. Jessica Lea Mayfield. The young singer-songwriter's debut, With Blasphemy So Heartfelt, was one of my favorite records of the year. This is only the beginning for the performer, and I'm anxious to hear what comes next.

15. Seth Rogen. The curly-haired funnyman continued his Hollywood reign with pot and porn in Pineapple Express and Zack and Miri. Next up: a role in the new Judd Apatow flick, which certainly can't hurt a guy's career.

14. Ed Westwick. Everyone wastes time talking about the ladies of Gossip Girl when we know the real star is conniving playboy Chuck Bass, played to perfection by Westwick. Meet the new James Spader ... this one just happens to have been born the same year Less Than Zero was released.

13. Amy Poehler. The comedian had one of her best years on Saturday Night Live -- and she did it while pregnant. She also landed a role on the new series from The Office's producers, launched an empowering web series for girls, starred in Baby Mama, created/voiced a cool cartoon called The Mighty B! ... the list goes on. And, oh yeah, she eventually had that kid, too. Congrats.

12. Dev Patel. Slumdog Millionaire doesn't sound like the title of a hit film, but the winning combo of a great story and stellar cast has moved filmgoers around the world. It's hard to imagine the flick without Patel's performance as lovestruck and determined Jamal. (He also appeared in the racy BBC series Skins, which comes to DVD in January.)

11. Stephen Colbert. Can the Colbert Nation grow any stronger? Apparently, it can, and this year the host thrived with hilarious election coverage, a fake presidential bid, a heavily promoted holiday special, a comic-book appearance alongside Spider-Man, an Emmy and more.

10. Ron Moore. Battlestar Galactica's executive producer should prepare to break fans' hearts with the final episode, though the first half of his final season offered enough surprises to tide us over. On the bright side, he doesn't plan to stop working after the show ends, so expect much more must-see sci-fi to come.

9. Tunde Adebimpe. The multi-talented musician should be very proud of himself this year for a) releasing the critically acclaimed Dear Science with his band, TV on the Radio; and b) delivering a sweet, touching performance in Rachel Getting Married. Yes, that's right: The guy made one of the year's best albums and best movies. I think that merits some sort of trophy, or at least a gift certificate.

8. Fleet Foxes. One minute, the Seattle band was releasing a little self-titled EP and playing relatively intimate shows. The next, I'm seeing their debut CD at Starbucks. What catapulted them into the spotlight? Beautiful harmonies, top-shelf musicianship and the ability to create something so special at live performances, I've characterized them as spiritual experiences.

7. J.J. Abrams. The producer/director/writer embraces risks, and this year most paid off. His new series, Fringe, earned critical praise and a full-season pickup. The Cloverfield intrigue translated into box-office earnings. His updated Star Trek (slated for 2009) has fanboys buzzing. And then there's Lost, which had one of its best seasons. Without him, what the heck would I talk about at parties?

6. Jon Hamm. Each episode of Mad Men seems to expose a new side of Don Draper, and Hamm brings the ad exec to life. I'm equal parts confused by, attracted to and repulsed by the character ... and I love every second of it.

5. Vampire Weekend. No band exploded faster than this one, dubbed "the year's best" by Spin ... in March. Their self-titled debut reached everyone from indie fans to baby boomers, proving that skill and a unique sound still goes a long way.

4. Neil Patrick Harris. There was no time for Doogie jokes this year -- the actor was way too busy with How I Met Your Mother, another Harold & Kumar and (of course) the massively popular Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, in which he carried a tune (and a Freeze Ray). Barney Stinson may be a womanizing "bro," but lately Harris has made him a more three-dimensional ladies' man. To be honest, no I care more about his future than Ted's mysterious "mother."

3. Heath Ledger. The year began with the actor's tragic death. However, he leaves a legacy of great work, including his haunting, funny and surprising performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight. His talent and spirit won't be forgotten.

2. Robert Downey Jr. There's no doubt this actor is the comeback king, but his greatest return happened in '08 with the mighty Iron Man. (To watch Downey Jr. soar through the air was magical, if only because we've known how low he has been before.) He followed the heroic part with another blockbuster, Tropic Thunder, and upcoming projects include Sherlock Holmes and Iron Man 2. The man is back, and it's a pleasure to see him in action.

And the No. 1 person of 2008 is ...

1. Tina Fey. Honestly, who else could it be? Tina was everywhere this year, and for good reason: She racked up Emmys and praise for 30 Rock, graced the big screen in Baby Mama and dominated headlines with hilarious Saturday Night Live appearances. She writes, she acts, she makes us laugh. In these tough times, isn't that pretty much all we can ask for? This was her year, and she should enjoy it ... for, like, a couple days. Then I hope she gets back to work.

Thanks again for checking out this year's list -- I look forward to seeing your comments.

Top 100 interview: 'SNL' star Kristen Wiig (No. 25)

Comedian Kristen Wiig -- No. 25 on Pop Candy's list of the Top 100 People of 2008 -- is becoming one of the most popular faces of Saturday Night Live. This year, she continued to perfect her library of original characters (Aunt Linda, the Target Lady, Judy "just kidding" Grimes) while impersonating celebrities like Suze Orman and Nancy Pelosi.

SNL won't return with new episodes until Jan. 10 -- Neil Patrick Harris is hosting -- but Kristen was kind enough to answer a few questions about her stellar year and what lies ahead:

If you had to pick one favorite moment of the year, what would it be?

Easy. Obama winning the election.

You were in several movies this year. What was the best film you saw in theaters?

The best film I saw this year was The Wrestler. The way it was shot, the performances, all the tights ... Just kidding about the tights, but I do love '80s metal.

One great thing about watching you on the show is that your characters are all so different. Is there any accent/type of character you absolutely can't do?

I have tried to do a Tony Soprano mob boss-type character. Cannot get that accent down! Oh boy, did not sound good. But I will continue to find a way where I play a little man with a mustache, holding a gun.

Viewers love the Target Lady, but honestly, when was the last time you shopped at Target, and what did you buy there?

I love Target! I go there every time I'm near one. There's not one in Manhattan, so that sucks.

Now that Amy Poehler is gone, does that mean we'll be seeing even more of you on SNL next year?

I still haven't grasped the fact that she's leaving. I can't imagine the show without her.

Have you spent much time with the new cast members, Abby Elliot and Michaela Watkins?

They are both so amazing and nice. I love having more ladies on the show! I'm so excited to be on the show with them, and watch them grow and work with them.

How are you spending your holiday break until the show returns?

Sleeping, eating, seeing family, sleeping, going to movies and museums. I want to be in New York as much as possible.

What are your favorite things to watch on TV?

Flight of the Conchords, 30 Rock. And I love Gangland ... so fascinating. I'm pretty hardcore.

And finally, what are some of your goals for 2009?

To not worry as much.

Top 100 People of 2008: Nos. 20-39

We only have one more day in the countdown before I reveal the No. 1 person of the year! Today's batch is pretty good, though, and I think you'll recognize most of the people below. Check 'em out, and feel free to chime in:

Previously:

- Nos. 40-59 of the Top 100 People of 2008
- Nos. 60-79
- Nos. 80-100 

39. Samantha Bee. Segments by this biting, brave Daily Show correspondent are often my favorite part of the program. I'm eager to see what happens with her CBS sitcom, which she's planning with her real-life husband and fellow Daily Show commentator, Jason Jones.

38. Girl Talk. Copyright laws? What copyright laws? The artist also known as Gregg Gillis released the party record of the year (Feed the Animals) via a "pay what you like" system. It also happened to contain more than 300 unlicensed samples, from Lil Wayne to Metallica to Phil Collins.

37. Kanye West. This year he toured, blogged and fell in love with auto-tuning. Hey, it's good to try new things ... though if he enters any sort of Elvis-style jumpsuit phase in 2009, we might have reason to worry.

36. Lizzy Caplan. Forget the monster, this actress was my favorite part about Cloverfield. And those vamps on True Blood? They were nothing compared to Lizzy's steamy, "V"-fueled love scenes with Jason Stackhouse ...

35. Jim Parsons. His performance as Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory deserves more recognition, if only because he has crafted a character we rarely see: the Southern gentlenerd. Watching him each week helps me forget my case of the Mondays and make me feel a little less geeky and awkward by comparison.

34. David Byrne. Fans rejoiced when he reunited with Brian Eno for Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, their first record in 27 years. He continues to tour, blog and occasionally design things like awesome bike racks. Is there anything the man can't do?

33. David Simon. Fans of HBO's The Wire didn't want to see it end, but the series creator made sure it went out on a high note. He followed it with Generation Kill, an acclaimed miniseries about the invasion of Iraq.

32. R.E.M. The boys returned to form with Accelerate, an album full of the delightful, Athens-bred pop that made us love them in the first place. Old favorites were dusted off during a world tour, and Michael Stipe even found the time to make a T-shirt.

31. Christina Hendricks. As sultry Joan Holloway on Mad Men, she may be the only TV character who can steal a scene just by walking out of a room.

30. Russell Brand. The unpredictable British comedian acquired many new fans after appearing in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Now if he could only acquire a comb ...

29. Taylor Kitsch. As Tim Riggins, Friday Night Lights' beautiful and rebellious fullback, the actor never fails to make me laugh or sigh. I just hope the show lasts long enough so we find out whether he turns out OK.

28. Tom Cruise. I know he made a big deal out of his 25th anniversary in film and all, but this year's real Cruise highlight was seeing the actor make fun of himself in Tropic Thunder. The final scene was priceless.

27. Jimmy Smits. As soon as I heard he was joining the cast of Dexter, I knew it would be an unpredictable season. The talented -- and ageless -- actor kept viewers guessing until the end.

26. Gus Van Sant. With Milk, the director delivered one of the most-anticipated and rewarding films of the year. After more than 20 years of moviemaking, his work keeps getting better.

25. Kristen Wiig. The comedian has become one of Saturday Night Live's funniest players, and it's always a treat to see her on the big screen. Here's hoping she becomes even more visible in '09.

24. Mates of State. The duo released another splendid record (Re-Arrange Us) with soaring harmonies and catchy hooks. (They also appeared on the kids' show Yo Gabba Gabba!, and I'm embarrassed to say how long that tune stuck in my head!)

23. Amy Ryan. As Holly on The Office, she gave heart to Michael Scott, which isn't an easy thing to do. Considering she started the year with an Oscar nomination, 2008 was pretty good for the actress ... though I do wish she'd return to Dunder Mifflin.

22. Henry Ian Cusick. It's hard to pick a standout Lost cast member, because everyone excelled last season. But who didn't cry when Desmond ... oh, wait. I guess some of you haven't watched the DVDs yet. But trust me, it's pretty great.

21. The Kills. The band released what I'd deem the sexiest record of the year, Midnight Boom. Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince generate the kind of rock 'n' roll chemistry that can't be manufactured.

20. Zack Snyder. The director's Watchmen won't hit theaters until March, but the hype machine is already in full effect, and he has done his best to control it with a Comic-Con appearance, behind-the-scenes videos, constant updates and reassurances that he won't screw it up. We trust you, Zack. Don't let us down!

Top 100 interview: Comedian Kristen Schaal (No. 45)

Kristen Schaal has several acting roles and comedy projects on her resume, but she's best known for playing Mel, the sole, rabid fan of Flight of the Conchords on HBO's cult series. (Note: The second season premieres online today at FunnyorDie.com. It airs Jan. 18.)

Schaal also popped up this year on a series of funny Daily Show segments devoted to "women's issues." This year she won the Barry Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, starred in the web series Horrible People and posted installments in Penelope Princess of Pets.

The comedian -- No. 45 on my list of the Top 100 People -- managed to find some free time to call me. We chatted about her busy year, the holidays and FOTC:

Hey, Kristen. How are you?

I'm nursing a cold. It's frustrating, but otherwise, I'm pretty good!

Oh, no! That's too bad.

The problem is, I haven't been feeling good for the last couple nights, but I've been like, "F--k it!" (Laughs) It's the worst week to have a cold, 'cause there's so much going on.

Well, we're talking because you're one of my top people of the year.

Oh, that's so exciting!

If you don't mind being a little reflective, do you have a favorite moment of the past year?

It was a huge year. I think my favorite moments ... most of them were out of the country. I enjoyed winning the Barry Award in Melbourne -- that was exciting. And then doing the Edinburgh Festival was pretty sweet, too. Those were huge events. And then filming the show ... yeah, this year was awesome.

The season premiere of Flight of the Conchords goes online today. Can you give a preview of what we can expect in these new episodes?

Well, I feel like the show gets even more surreal and fantastical. It's gonna be an adventure. (Laughs) I'm proud of the second season, because I do think it goes down a fantastical line. I think it becomes even more into its own than last season.

Does Mel get any episodes of her own? Are you in the spotlight at all?

Yeah, the last episode that we filmed, one of the main storylines was around Mel. And then in another episode, Mel gets to sing her own song. I won't ruin it ... you'll just have to wait to hear the magic. And Mel gets more involved, I think. You find her here and there more.

Were you nervous at all to sing?

I was excited for Mel to get her own song, but for singing I was pretty nervous. I don't consider myself a singer, and I wouldn't ever ask anyone to pay me money to sing. But they were really supportive, and they said I sounded good. But after I recorded this song, I was like, "Wow. If there are any people out there who find me annoying, this is gonna push them over the edge." (Laughs)

There were some reports saying this season could be the show's last. Is that true?

I'm just as in the dark as you about it. It could be true, and everyone sort of feels 50/50 about it. I don't get to know that either, which is really unfortunate, since it's my job, but yeah, I'm in the dark. I don't know.

So have you guys already finished filming?

Yeah, we just wrapped Friday night and had a wrap party on Saturday. It's in the can. I think the editing is still going.

Do you know when your next appearance on The Daily Show will be?

I don't know. I'm leaving the country for a couple weeks in January, and also it really depends on what happens in the news, because Jon Stewart is interested in having me represent the female perspective. So whenever something comes up in the news, if I can figure out a good angle and pitch it to Jon Stewart, and if he likes it, then I get to do it. I'd like to do a piece on high heels, but I don't know if it fits in the news.

Pro or against?

Against. Big time!

Top 100 People of 2008: Nos. 40-59

We're getting closer to the No. 1 spot on our countdown this week -- check out this batch of folks, which includes everyone from rappers to sci-fi masters to cool bald guys.

Previously:
- Nos. 60-79 of the Top 100 People of 2008
- Nos. 80-100

59. Wallace Shawn. After playing one of The L Word's only male characters last season, he injected some much-needed heart into Gossip Girl. Shawn works best when he seems way out of place; perhaps a stint on Lost should be next.

58. Lilli Carre. I was intrigued by the artist's latest book, a haunting tale called The Lagoon, and her wonderful contribution to this year's Best American Comics, The Thing About Madeline. More, please.

57. Saul Williams. After releasing The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust online, he issued a CD with new tracks and performed a series of energetic shows. He does everything he can to be heard, and it's refreshing to encounter an artist with so much to say.

56. Neil Gaiman. As we await his Coraline to arrive in theaters, Gaiman released The Graveyard Book for young adults, plans a Batman story for DC and has other projects in the works. His restlessness is our reward.

55. John C. Reilly. On the big screen, he appeared in Step Brothers and the indie comedy The Promotion. But he made me laugh the most as Dr. Steve Brule on another season of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!. For your health!

54. Aimee Mann. The singer-songwriter released another pop-tastic album, @#%&*! Smilers ... even if the song 31 Today does sort of make me panic.

53. Penelope Cruz. Her small, electric role in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona lit up the screen and showed just how much she can offer to a film in mere minutes.

52. Ruth Jones. On BBC America's Gavin and Stacey, she steals the show as grumpy-but-loyal Nessa. She also writes the series, so it would be great if she saw this plea for another season as soon as possible.

51. Deerhunter. The band's ambient, multilayered Microcastle gets better with each listen.

50. Brian K. Vaughan. The writer delivered a satisfying (but sad) ending to his acclaimed comic-book series, Y: The Last Man. He also penned some of the best episodes of Lost last season, including the dramatic Shape of Things to Come.

49. Charlie Day. The actor can say just one word -- actually, I prefer if he screams it -- and I'll start laughing. Aside from the latest season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, he's co-producing a new sci-fi comedy for Fox.

48. Freema Agyeman. Her return as Martha Jones enhanced the latest seasons of Doctor Who and Torchwood. It's nice to see a smart, tough woman battle the aliens each week next to the dashing leading men.

47. Lykke Li. The singer burst onto the scene this year with her debut album, Youth Novels. Whenever I'm having a bad day, I play Little Bit by the sweet-sounding Swede.

46. Brad Meltzer. As if penning another best-seller weren't enough, Meltzer took on another lofty goal: to save Superman's house. With the help of some comic-book fans -- no superpowers necessary -- he succeeded, too.

45. Kristen Schaal. From her hilarious role as superfan Mel on Flight of the Conchords to her witty Daily Show commentaries, the crushworthy comedian is on the rise.

44. Jack White. This year, he was recruited to complete one of the most daunting tasks in music: to write and record a James Bond song. He also released another impressive album with his band, The Raconteurs, proving the well is far from dry.

43. M.I.A. Even though her album dropped last year, it achieved commercial success in 2008, thanks to the breakout hit Paper Planes. She also created a fashion line and will have another project arriving Grammy night: her first child.

42. Greta Gerwig. She starred, co-wrote and co-directed one of my favorite movies this year, Nights and Weekends. (She also appeared in two other indie films this year, Yeast and Baghead.) Gerwig has been attached to the word "mumblecore" for the last couple years, but the fact is, her talent transcends the need for a label at all.

41. Lil Wayne. There was no escaping the rapper, and Tha Carter III -- the biggest-selling album of the year -- just keeps getting bigger. This month he even dominated the Grammy nominations, proving voters may be more in touch now than they have been in years' past.

40. Guillermo del Toro. He brought a menagerie of creatures to life in Hellboy II: The Golden Army, and he'll do the same with his next film, The Hobbit.

Top 100 interview: Actor Danny McBride (No. 60)

If you went to see Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express this summer, then you got a double dose of Danny McBride, an actor who only seems to get funnier with every role.

McBride gained attention with his performance in the 2006 indie flick The Foot Fist Way, which he also wrote. Upcoming projects include the big-screen adaptation of Land of the Lost with Will Ferrell and East Bound and Down, an HBO series premiering Feb. 15.

"I play a major league pitcher who has lost his fastball, and he's spent all his money and he's just down on his luck," says McBride, who ranks at No. 60 on this year's list of Pop Candy's Top 100 People of the Year. "So he comes back to the town that he grew up in and crashes with his brother."

Last week Danny and I chatted on the phone about his big year, what's ahead and, oddly enough, our shared hometown:

Hey, Danny. Well, we're talking because you're one of my top people of the year.

(Laughs) I am thoroughly surprised.

Do you feel like you accomplished everything you hoped to in 2008?

You know, I looked back at my resolutions for last year, and it was just to lose five pounds. So I think I've exceeded what I set out to do for this year.

So if you had to single out one favorite moment from the year, what would it be?

There was a lot. I mean, I had a blast working on Land of the Lost with Will Ferrell earlier this year. There were many nights in Indian gaming casinos with me and Ferrell playing blackjack and taking the casinos down -- that's probably one of my favorite moments of the year.

And who was the most interesting person that you met all year?

Man, I don't know ... Oh, Sid and Marty Krofft. I'm not trying to keep plugging Land of the Lost, but it was pretty incredible to meet them for the first time. I was a big fan of all their shows when I was a kid, so it was cool to see the demented minds who had created all that stuff.

So you appeared in two of my favorite movies this year. What were some of your favorite films?

Besides Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder ...

Yeah, besides your own movies ...

(Laughs) Yeah, I loved The Dark Knight. That was probably my favorite movie of the year, probably of the last few years. I recently saw Slumdog Millionaire and dug that a lot.

And you know, I think we might be from the same town, or we at least went to high school in the same town. I grew up in Fredericksburg, Va.

Bulls--t, that's exactly where I'm from! I actually still have a place back there, I'm getting ready to go back there next week.

No way! Are you going there for Christmas?

Yeah, my family still lives there, and I have a place in downtown Fredericksburg that I haven't been to ... I've been there, like, two weeks this whole year. But I try to get back there whenever I can. When did you graduate over there?

In '95.

Hey, that's the same year I graduated. Our teams probably played each other in football.

I'm sure, and if I went to any of those football games, I might've seen you there! That's crazy. Well, it must've influenced you -- I mean, I see The Foot Fist Way and I think our town had to have an impact on you and your writing.

Most definitely. You know, a lot of those angry sort of Southern man characters that I've been doing are based on different people I might've had as, like, a soccer coach or as a teacher. It's definitely influences of growing up in a town like Fredericksburg. Hanging out at Spotsylvania Mall ... you know the routine.

Oh, yeah. Cruising the parking lot at Taco Bell ...

... All the way down to the Roses parking lot and then back up. (Laughs)

You know, I have high-school kids who read my stuff, and sometimes they ask for advice. I don't know about you, but I spent a lot of my time in high school trying to get out.

I was the same way. You know, Fredericksburg was pretty limited. I definitely was ready to get out of there and my time had come. But once I got out of there and moved to L.A. and stuff, I sort of missed some of the more charming things about the town.

So how do you tell kids -- I mean, sometimes then it's hard to imagine you'll ever escape. So how does someone leave a small town, go to L.A. and have a movie career? How did you do it?

I think you just, like, steal some money from your parents, hitchhike, hop on a train, hopefully it'll take you to someplace in L.A. You can live under a bridge for awhile and resort to hard narcotics, prostitution. And hopefully with all that you can save up for a security deposit and move into an apartment. That was the path I took.

You know, I don't know ... it didn't seem like it was too hard to get out. I just went away to college and then I was like, "You know, I'm not going to move back to Virginia when I get out." So I just came out here to Los Angeles with a bunch of buddies I had gone to film school with. You know, for better or worse, we just tried to slug it out here. So I guess the moral is: Learn to read. Study hard.

Top 100 People of 2008: Nos. 60-79

Today's round of my Top 100 People of the Year includes a bunch of musicians, some talented writers and several folks who made me laugh in 2008. I think you'll recognize a few names, and maybe you'll learn about others.

So without further ado:

- See Nos. 80-100 on the list

79. John Darnielle. While he's best known for his band, The Mountain Goats, this year the musician grabbed my attention with his book about Black Sabbath's Master of Reality. Instead of delivering a dry history of the record for Continuum's 33 1/3 series, he penned a moving, fictional account of a metal-loving teen trapped in a mental hospital. By the end, readers get a sense of why the music matters -- and feel an overwhelming urge to spin some Sabbath.

78. Juana Molina. The Argentinian singer followed up her critically acclaimed Son with another stunning record, Un Dia, proving she always has a surprise up her sleeve.

77. Sean Moeller. His website, Daytrotter, offers exclusive tracks from indie musicians every weekday. Everyone from Bon Iver (No. 88) to Death Cab for Cutie to Fleet Foxes has stopped by the Daytrotter studio, and it keeps getting better all the time.

76. Danica Novgorodoff. Her graphic novel, Slow Storm, was one of my favorite books of the year; the watercolors alone make it worth the purchase. And how often do we get to read stories that take place in rurual Kentucky? Not enough, I say!

75. Marnie Stern. The songwriter blew my mind with her guitar prowess at this year's CMJ festival ... so much so that my ears may still be ringing.

74. Beck. His collaboration with Danger Mouse on Modern Guilt turned out to be a welcome addition to the catalog.

73. Mathieu Amalric. I'm becoming a major fan of this actor, who I thought was the best part of Quantum of Solace -- yeah, I can take or leave Bond and his harem. This month, Amalric lights up A Christmas Tale with Catherine Deneuve, and he also starred in last year's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Here's hoping we keep seeing this French actor in the States.

72. Kat Dennings. She stole Michael Cera's indie cred in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and she has lips and eyes that ... well, she's pretty young, so I think maybe I should just stop there.

71. Of Montreal. The band's Skeletal Lamping was only topped by mythical-sounding shows that involved everything from nudity to live animals. (Though, wait, those things don't sound so right when you put them in the same sentence.)

70. Paul Newman. After his death, we were reminded of what a kind, well-respected man he was throughout his life. There can only be only Paul Newman, and he'll be missed for a long, long time.

69. James Marsters. His guest stint as the rebellious, flirtatious Captain John added a spark to Torchwood's second season, and Smallville fans enjoyed his run as the evil Brainiac. When will the guy get a regular gig so his roles won't be such a rare delicacy?

68. Jonathan Ames. His first graphic novel, The Alcoholic, shed light on a troubled writer with a drinking problem who may or may not share some characteristics with Jonathan Ames. Judging by its success, he should consider making a habit out of writing comics and not quitting cold turkey.

67. Rachel Maddow. She joined the MSNBC lineup with a fresh, funny and relaxed take on the nightly news. And hey, I'll always support a sneaker-lovin' woman!

66. Brad Neely. His animations for SuperDeluxe (and now Adult Swim) never fail to make me laugh out loud. I'm a Baby Cakes fan for life.

65. Hannah Bailey. Viewers of the documentary American Teen understood the student's frustrations with living in a small town, coping with a broken heart and yearning for a more creative life. She now has quite a few fans hoping she'll get her happy ending.

64. David Sedaris. He proved the well hasn't run dry with When You Are Engulfed in Flames, another collection of essays that blends smoking, France and his crazy family memories into bizarre, memorable tales.

63. Clementine Ford. I was unexpectedly enamored with Ford's guest appearances on The L Word as Molly (she played the daughter of her real-life mother, Cybill Shepherd). Unfortunately, Molly turned out to be a little insane, but hopefully this is just the beginning for our darling Clementine.

62. Stephanie Izard. Finally, a woman took the top prize on Top Chef. Stephanie's food and sweet, ego-free demeanor were a pleasure to watch. I await further developments on her new eatery in the Windy City.

61. Elizabeth Banks. From W. to Zack and Miri to Role Models to Wainy Days ... if it was funny this year, there was a good chance Banks was in it. (We don't have to mention Meet Dave or Definitely, Maybe, but she was probably the best thing about those, too.)

60. Danny McBride. The actor managed to land hilarious roles in the summer's biggest comedies: Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express. And I'd quote one of his lines here if I could, but i think all of my favorites are R-rated.

Stay tuned for the third batch in the countdown, which I'll post tomorrow. Also, don't forget yesterday's interview with cartoonist Dash Shaw, who lands at No. 81.

Top 100 interview: Artist Dash Shaw (No. 81)

I read many graphic novels this year, but the one I've recommended to most people (and enjoyed the most) is Dash Shaw's Bottomless Belly Button (Fantagraphics, $29.99), an epic tale of a family that gathers together at the same time it's splitting apart.

Shaw first caught my eye with his 2006 book, The Mother's Mouth. Since then, his work has appeared in several anthologies, magazines, 7-inch record covers and much more. In 2008 he also launched the webcomic BodyWorld, which you can read on his website.

Dash -- No. 81 on my list of the Top 100 People of 2008 -- chatted with me via e-mail about BBB's critical success, his upcoming projects and some highlights of his year. Judging by the way things have gone for him recently, I predict many great things for the future:

Me: How has life changed for you in the past year?

Dash Shaw: I’m more or less doing the same thing, drawing, but at the start of the year I didn’t have any distractions, and now I have a lot of distractions. That sounds negative, but a lot of these distractions are good things.

Bottomless Belly Button was my favorite book of 2008. What was the best book you read all year?

Travel by Yuichi Yokoyama.

Who are some artists/writers that you're excited about right now?

Trevor Von Eeden’s layouts, in particular his Green Arrow and Thriller miniseries, are changing how I think about layouts and comics storytelling in general. Also Richard Prince’s nurse and car hood paintings are making me think about how to appropriate other people’s stories/images into comics.

It takes a certain confidence to publish a 700-page book. Were you also confident that it would be well-received, or have you been surprised by the critical reaction?

Of course I’ve realized by now that the length of the book is attractive to people, but at the time I was making it I was thinking about creating an unusual reading experience that comes more from the pace of Japanese comics. Bottomless is long, but very little happens. It reads very quickly. There’s a lot of negative space and there’s no page numbers. I was trying to make sequences that were more “flowing” and less page-page-page like most comics. It’s hard to explain. Also, it was really my first character-driven book, so I was thinking about that and how to use scenes and character designs. I figured more people would like it, since people tend to like character-driven stories. If you have characters, you can get away with a lot. But, honestly, I don’t feel particularly attached to making character-driven comics.

The book has attracted some readers who are fairly new to graphic novels. What is it about the work that you think appeals to them and makes BBB a good entry point for new comics readers?

I’m not a good person to answer this question. I’ve read comics since I was very little and I liked comics before I could read them. And I’ve read comics ever since. I never took a break from reading them or making them. Different comics have different ways of reading them. There’s a wide range of ways to read comics. Good comics invent their own language and boundaries.

Who was the most interesting person you met this year?

Diego Cortez.

Top 100 People of 2008: Nos. 80-100

Yep, it's that time of year again!

As longtime Pop Candy readers know, each December I count down the year's top 100 people. What makes this list different from other "Best of 2008" lists? Well, for one thing, I spotlight a wide range of musicians, actors, writers and other artists, not just A-list folks. Also, I try to concentrate on those who made artistic contributions rather than stars who dominated gossip rags.

In other words, getting divorced, having plastic surgery or being on a reality show doesn't land you on this list. Making good music or a must-see film does. You may not recognize all of the names on here, and that's OK.

Below are Nos. 80-100. I'll reveal 20 names each day this week:

100. Laura Silverman. Her sister may get top billing on Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program, but Laura's sweet nature, swift sense of humor and willingness to play the straight girl in Sarah's dirty world deserve some attention, too. Who's to say she shouldn't get a spinoff?

99. Herb and Dorothy Vogel. One of the most uplifting documentaries I saw this year was Herb and Dorothy, a film that profiles two art collectors who came from modest means. This couple illustrates that art is for everyone, and passion is a rare and important commodity.

98. Quitzow. The musician impressed me with her debut, Art College, which recalls Liz Phair and Peaches and makes me swivel my hips within the first five notes.

97. Alex Robinson. He dared to transport readers back to high school with his time-traveling graphic novel, Too Cool to Be Forgotten. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to correct your teenage mistakes, this provides answers ... and they're not always the expected ones.

96. Tilly and the Wall. The band released a fun record (o) that even landed them screen time on 90210. (Unfortunately, a date with Kelly Taylor was not part of the deal.)

95. Bradford Anderson. Yeah, I'll admit to an occasional General Hospital fix. And these days, the reason to watch is Anderson's gleefully awkward Spinelli, who I'm pretty sure is the only geek on daytime TV. Give guys like this more screen time, and soap ratings might start to soar.

94. Brigid Brannagh. Confession No. 2: I watched every episode of Army Wives' second season. And if I could hear Pamela's radio show at my apartment, I'd probably listen to that every day, too. Don't judge.

93. David Hajdu. The author delved into a fascinating (and horrifying) moment in history with The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America. If the scenes involving flaming comics don't give you nightmares, it makes for excellent bedtime reading.

92. Rebecca Hall. The relative unknown stole scenes from Scarlett Johansson in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Now she could take home a Golden Globe as a reward for her fresh and funny performance.

91. Chip Kidd. The author and designer kept busy this year by publishing a new novel (The Learners) and a book of Japanese Batman comics (Bat-Manga!). His work always delights the eye and pleases the brain, so I'll take as much as I can get.

90. Simon Pegg. How to Lose Friends and Alienate People may have fizzled at the box office, but next year Pegg's role as Scotty in Star Trek will surely be devoured by hordes of sci-fi fans. And this year American fans finally got their hands on his cult TV series, Spaced, which was accompanied by a fun publicity tour.

89. Aziz Ansari. The comedian is rising beyond Human Giant proportions, thanks to a national tour, a funny blog and upcoming roles in the new Judd Apatow flick, Scrubs and the mysterious new series from Office producers. Whew -- I'm tired just from typing all of that.

88. Bon Iver. The band, led by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, transfixed fans of all ages with a winning debut, For Emma, Forever Ago, and must-see live performances. (They're in Philly tonight, if you wanna see 'em.)

87. Terry Moore. The beloved comic-book author and artist stayed busy this year with his new self-published series, Echo, and a revamped version of Marvel's Runaways. Here's hoping he delivers those issues much faster than Joss Whedon did!

86. Carrie Brownstein. The former Sleater-Kinney rocker entered the blogosphere with Monitor Mix, her survey of the music world for NPR. She offers a fresh perspective and, occasionally, some delightful unreleased tracks.

85. Natalie Morales. Her character on ABC Family's The Middleman is smart, creative and tough -- and you don't get a lot of those on TV these days. Now all we can do is cross our fingers that the gang will return for another season ...

84. Duff Goldman. The Ace of Cakes baked the best dessert I ate all year, the toe-shaped Big Lebowski cake with White Russian icing. His Food Network series provides a delicious pop-culture fix each week, and I can think of no greater indulgence than to watch it while eating something iced and/or cream-filled.

83. Alina Simone. It's true that I can't decipher what Simone sings on her latest record, Everyone is Crying Out to Me Beware. But the singer's emotions come through on this powerful tribute to Russian punk/folk musician Yanka Dyagileva.

82. Eric Roberts. Who would've dreamed that 2008 would be the year of this Roberts' return? From Heroes to The Dark Knight to Entourage, the actor nabbed several small-but-memorable roles. (And if there's one lesson to be learned, it's never to eat Eric Roberts' mushrooms unless you're well-supervised and prepared.)

81. Dash Shaw. The young cartoonist produced the unforgettable, emotional 720-page Bottomless Belly Button. I finished it in a few hours, and I'm still sad that I couldn't remain in that world a little longer.

80. Ed Helms. Somehow I've gone from despising Andy on The Office to feeling somewhat protective of him, and I can't help but think Helms has something to do with it. Forgive me for any previous wishes I may have had for him to abandon Dunder Mifflin.

- Related: The top 100 people of 2007