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November 12, 2007

New Ted Leo And The Pharmacists Video - "Colleen" (Stereogum Premiere)

We always knew Ted Leo was an intense performer, but never equated him with Sylvester Stallone until this Tom Scharpling-penned, Mike Bellino-directed video for "Colleen." In it, Mr. Leo sets up shop in a motel, applies a proper amount of powder, finds himself a referee, and takes on all comers in intense arm wrestling wrangles, handing his hapless victims pink Ted Leo & The Pharmacists t-shirts. Losers. Of course he puts down the pasty white guy with ease, but then what? Will he run the table against his toughest opponent? What about the dude in the black muscle shirt? Regardless of the outcome, we're just happy we get to see the chiseled Jersey rude boy make a Hulk Hogan face. (By the way, Ted, what's that you're eating for lunch? Reminds us of the beans in the flashlight from that old Brady Bunch episode.)

Metaphor! Indeed, everyone wants something from Colleen, but no one gets it 'cause she's no one's Colleen...

See Ted Leo live. Test his arm strength.

11/30 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's
12/01 - Boston, MA @ The Roxy
12/02 - Portland, ME @ Space 538
12/04 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg
12/05 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
12/06 - Philadelphia, PA @ Starlight Ballroom
12/07 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
12/08 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club

The band's fifth full-length, the Brendan Canty-produced Living With The Living is out now on Touch And Go.

Posted at 9:52 AM in
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44 Comments

Great video. Ted Leo's the friendliest guy in indie rock.

Posted by: Brian at 11/12/07 12:00 PM | Reply
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I don't like it. I LOVE IT

Posted by: User at 11/12/07 12:14 PM | Reply
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Who is that girl at the end and how can I get her to marry me immediately?

Posted by: rockthefaces at 11/12/07 12:34 PM | Reply
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That video was "Over The Top" !!

Posted by: RT at 11/12/07 12:38 PM | Reply
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I love you, Ted Leo!! Detroit loves you too, and wants you to come back!

Posted by: camelle at 11/12/07 12:40 PM | Reply
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I think it's Maria Bamford

http://www.mariabamford.com/

As far as the marrying partthing, I think there would be some paperwork involved, maybe a blood test.. oh and some mutual admiration on her part

Posted by: Jo Jo at 11/12/07 12:43 PM | Reply
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Further proof that Ted is a stone cold FOX. DAAAAMN.

Posted by: ted for brains at 11/12/07 12:48 PM | Reply
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that lady at the end is ted's ladyfriend.

Posted by: j at 11/12/07 1:29 PM | Reply
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That's not Maria Bamford indie name droppas.

Posted by: Captain Obvious at 11/12/07 1:30 PM | Reply
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Not only was that "Over The Top", but when he's in the car in the beginning you see Rahway State Prison where the movie was filmed. That hotel is on 1&9, not too far away.
I can only assume my man stopped by Vintage Vinyl afterwards...

Posted by: Texecution at 11/12/07 1:58 PM | Reply
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I have to agree with the poster below me. Stone. Cold. Fox

Posted by: janelle at 11/12/07 3:05 PM | Reply
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have to agree with the person below me...
Stone. Cold. Fox.

Posted by: Janelle at 11/12/07 3:05 PM | Reply
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If you want more chicks on the site, put up lots of Ted Leo posts. That's some real talk.

Posted by: I brake for Ted at 11/12/07 3:27 PM | Reply
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ted drives a prius. shocking.

Posted by: brent at 11/12/07 3:44 PM | Reply
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>>>That's not Maria Bamford indie name droppas.

Ok..I was just guessing & I did say "I think"
.. wasn't trying to drop names as much as maybe answer the guy's question...also is mentioning Maria Bamsford really name dropping ? (or name droppa-ing as you so cooly put it..... )
Hell, Ted Leo is a bigger name than her...

Posted by: Jo Jo at 11/12/07 4:47 PM | Reply
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Office Tom!

Posted by: whut at 11/12/07 7:30 PM | Reply
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I think the woman at the end is Ted's wife.

Posted by: wendy at 11/12/07 9:52 PM | Reply
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Maria Bamford is the new Judy Tenuta, only without the accordion.

Posted by: James at 11/12/07 10:56 PM | Reply
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>Maria Bamford is the new Judy Tenuta, only without the accordion.

then who's the new Emo Phillips ?

Posted by: RT at 11/12/07 11:42 PM | Reply
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Brendan Canty HAS to be tuffer than that! Pahjeesus!

Ted. I miss you. Brendan, I miss you too.
Chris & Dave, not so much.

Slan! Sin Ceart!

Posted by: no one's Ciara at 11/13/07 2:14 AM | Reply
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just when you thought ted couldn't get any cooler, he gets taken in arm wrastlin' by a hot chick and suddenly i love him a little more.

Posted by: Px at 11/13/07 12:36 PM | Reply
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I'm going to sponsor Canty with some free tanning sessions.

Posted by: tony little tans at 11/13/07 12:52 PM | Reply
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This video is awesome! HEARTS to you Ted!

Posted by: b at 11/13/07 1:40 PM | Reply
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Is that Ted's dad officiating?

Posted by: Yay Chisel at 11/13/07 3:24 PM | Reply
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I love you, Ted Leo!! Detroit loves you too, and wants you to come back!

yes yes yes.

also, how is his wife? is she well? I thought she had been diagnosed with an illness the day prior to his performance at lolla?

Posted by: autumn at 11/13/07 4:31 PM | Reply
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Confirmed - Ted Leo's dad is the referee. Funny friggin' guy...

Posted by: crispin glover at 11/13/07 5:05 PM | Reply
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Sick! Funny how Jodi kicks his ass. He should have arm-wrsetled Aziz next time!

Posted by: JGx at 11/13/07 5:16 PM | Reply
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The man just doesn’t disappoint. Humble but explosive, I can’t wait to see him again.

Posted by: K Swiss at 11/13/07 5:23 PM | Reply
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Yes, the referee is his dad/my uncle. Yes, the girl at the end is his wife, Jodi. And I'm his first cousin. :)

Posted by: F. M. Leo at 11/14/07 1:53 AM | Reply
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Damn cute video. How is Jodi doin' these days?!

Posted by: aces at 11/14/07 2:45 AM | Reply
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Jodi is in the post-treatment holding pattern, hoping she stays in remission. As you can see, she's up and about, looking good. People are wondering if it's a wig she's wearing but it's her fabulous post-chemo hairdo. I hear about her from my friend that works at her local co-op. I'm a huge fan of both Ted and Jodi (I also had cancer).

Posted by: fanfanfan at 11/14/07 9:37 AM | Reply
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I would've liked to see Ted arm wrestle the ABBA Box. Now *that's* over the top.

Posted by: Texecution at 11/14/07 9:45 AM | Reply
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no idea he is a heart throb? do you not recognize hot sex in a can when you see it? shit is bona fide. all women bow to jodi.

Posted by: meow at 11/14/07 11:11 AM | Reply
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What does it say on the pink shirts?

Posted by: songbird at 11/14/07 3:03 PM | Reply
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i think they are ted leo and the pharmacists shirts, right?

Posted by: scooby at 11/14/07 3:25 PM | Reply
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They say TL/RX. I have that shirt in green, and whenever I wear it people always stare at me confusedly and ask me what my shirt means.

Posted by: green at 11/14/07 4:52 PM | Reply
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The song is awesome. The video is great except for the weird looking referee guy. He must be a related to the band or something. Great work Ted we love it.

Zack
Jess
and the boys

Posted by: Zack P. at 11/14/07 6:35 PM | Reply
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The video was filmed at the King's Inn, a sleazy motel on Routes 1 & 9 in Rahway, NJ. I believe that it is slated for demolition, as a developer is trying to buy the property (or maybe already purchased it). Yes, that is East Jersey State Prison in the background.

Here's some trivia for ya:
What 1990s music video features numerous shots of the King's Inn?

Posted by: The Contrarian at 11/15/07 3:06 PM | Reply
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After about a minute and a half you'll see the landmark in question.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FWI_fLkw3k

Posted by: vin rock at 11/15/07 9:29 PM | Reply
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OH SNAP that's OPP

Posted by: army with harmony at 11/16/07 2:30 PM | Reply
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fun

very fun

Ted Leo must be good
cause down here in DC James Canty is known as the Arm Wrestling King!

Posted by: gwadzilla at 11/17/07 8:31 PM | Reply
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Could the song be more boring?

Posted by: zzzzzzz at 11/27/07 12:49 PM | Reply
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Could the song be more boring?

Posted by: zzzzzz at 11/27/07 1:30 PM | Reply
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"I have that shirt in green, and whenever I wear it people always stare at me confusedly and ask me what my shirt means."

I have the TL/RX hoodie, and I get so many questions when I wear it.

Pretty interesting video. Have to say though, not a big fan of that song.

Posted by: Liz at 01/10/08 4:53 PM | Reply
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