In the battle of who has better culture between New York and Washington, it’s never really been a fair fight. I get it — NY wins. There was never really a contest.

But every once in a while we’ll pull something out of our hats that’s completely awesome. It’s nice to know we’re still trying.

That thing I’m referring to is D.C.’s own Pancake Mountain — an TV show made by local indie folk for the next generation of indie folk. Pancake Mountain is a self-described “excuse to act really silly and call it our job” where kids mingle with indie rock stars. And they have managed to get a pretty impressive list of alumni.

Here’s a little selection:

• Ted Leo does both The Wheels on the Bus and Little Dawn
• M.I.A. teaches the kids to dance
• The Arcade Fire plays Wake Up and Haiti
• The Go! Team works the kids into a frenzy

To give you a little taste, here’s Jenny Lewis and her beloved Watson Twins playing “Fernando.” Note the woman to the right holding a baby wearing oversized headphones. Makes my ovaries hurt a little bit.

The show’s newest DVD contains performances by Nellie McKay, Tilly and the Wall and Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips (I can only imagine the kids freaking out at the guys in animal costumes).

• Project Runway might dump Elle for Marie Claire
• RIP Aliens in America, as well as Back To You, Reaper spared
• VH1 reveals the cast of I Love Money
• British show Spaced comes to DVD
• Before & After: Photos of the child stars of TGIF
• Jenny Garth joins the remake of 90210
• The gays: Greek gets gay kiss, Brothers and Sisters features first gay wedding on a network show
• Weeds mixes it up, ditches Little Boxes and Mary-Kate
• Check out the new line of Heroes action figures
• Alec Baldwin thinking about leaving 30 Rock for politics
• While we’re gayin’ it up: Ten of television’s most memorable gay military men

And finally, the most terrifying photo I’ve ever seen. Oscar from Step It Up and Dance as Mr. Mistoffelees from Cats