Today's the day for a comedy with great taste!

Until today, I had forgotten there were some real gems in The American President, including this monologue about freedom:

America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech?" Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the "land of the free."

Returning for its annual romp in the summer sun, here's my hand-picked music videos to help you bring the sexy back.

Headlining this year is Justin Timberlake's icy cool My Love with dance moves that could make a girl swoon. And in a more serious moment, enjoy the epic What Goes Around Comes Around, featuring a tragic Scarlett Johansson. The new kid on the block is Ne-Yo (not to be confused with this guy)... and while the vid itself is lackluster and a bit cheesy, Because of You is one tight pop number. Looking for the girls of summer? Christina Aguilera channels her inner-USO with a modern throwback to the 40s and 50s in Candyman, producing herself in triplicate no less. Not to be outdone, Gwen Stefani also goes for a trio (albeit flanked and chased by harajuku girls) in her silly, sparkly fantasy, The Sweet Escape, featuring Akon. Finally, a passionately jet-set Maroon 5 heads for the runway with their new hit, Makes Me Wonder. Andiamo!

Not enough, you say? Well there's always my own attempts at music video gold.

I've promised it before, and now I'm super excited to tell you all about CHALK, a new film about a year in the life of teachers. In the comedic spirit of mockumentaries like This Is Spinal Tap and Best In Show, CHALK follows three teachers and an assistant principal through a frenetic, awkward, and memorable school year.

Not only do I have the honor of knowing these brilliant actors, but I enjoyed a screening of director Mike Akell's film this past year, and it really delivers. The industry seems to think so too: CHALK has taken film festivals by storm, including Austin, Boston, and LA (where they won an unprecedented Best Ensemble award). This is a portrayal of teachers and what they put up with that's so true, it hurts. Not like a raw Half Nelson hurt. More like Knocked Up or The Office for its sincerity and sharp wit.

You see, I also have the dubious/distinct honor of having two parents who are teachers: my dad spent 20+ years as a high school teacher and administrator; my mom still teaches first graders how to read, something she's been doing since before I was around. And I can't expound enough on how close the cast of CHALK (all former teachers themselves) capture the inner-workings of teachers' lives. One dear friend in particular, Shannon Haragan, plays the role of Mrs. Reddell, hilariously trying to maintain control of the school (walkie-talkie in hand) as the new assistant principal. Just watch the trailer and you'll see what I mean.

Now what I'm really excited about is that CHALK is getting released in select theaters around the country this month! Thanks to Morgan Spurlock, the film is showing at theaters like the Sunshine in New York and the Ken in San Diego, with special discounts for teachers. In fact, the cast and crew have been at many of the openings to host a Q&A with the audience! All the more reason to get a ticket now...