Sorry for that title - just trying to get more hits.
Ok - that joke is a month old - it's been a while since I've posted anything.
Today the blog changes. No major changes, but vastly shorter reviews to adjust to my vastly reduced time to spend on this.
I haven't posted for a few weeks due to lots of personal and professional obligations - but I realized I can do this in an easier version - so bear with me while I try to figure out a stream lined version of this that's a little more do-able.
I was actually going to retire the blog (yet again) but - the truth is - there are simply some shows that come along and their so good that I realized - it's not enough for millions to see it on cable - I need to alert my 58 regular blog readers that these shows exist.
Just kidding, the number is much higher. (I think we're in the hundreds these days.)
In any case - Hope u like the new brevity.
PRINCE: AT PAISLY PARK (DOCU) - VH! CLASSICS
This pretended to be a current docu of the Purple One - it was just a bunch of clips and some REALLY old interviews with people like Sheila E. recorded when THE GLAMOUROUS LIFE was still on the charts. No real insight - just an excuse to listen to Prince for an hour - never really a bad thing - unless it's a CD that came out after 1997 - which is the last time he recorded anything worth any merit. (For the record - I think EMANCIPATION is the last batch of decent tunes he's put together. And SIGN OF THE TIMES is the last great CD he made.) Any good recent Prince song is only good if it reminds you of an older, better song - which is too bad, Prince is still one of my heros. You wouldn't know it from this docu.
Grade: C -
ROCK OF LOVE BUS (VH1)
A fire hazzard. The lamest of all the installments. They need to retire this.
Grade: D
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN at the LA SPORTS ARENA (last night - 4.15.09)Well - I guess it's been a while since I've published. Me and my friend Tony B. went to the show - amazing set list - although I never have to hear 10th Ave. Freeze Out again - seriously, I'm good. Same thing with the detestable AMERICAN LAND - which for the life of me - I have no idea how many shows he's let this ridiculous Irish flavored jig close out every show for the last two years. Other than that - this was probably one of the best shows I've ever been to. The news of possible cheating broke out right before the show, which both explained Patty's absense and Bruce's wrenching vocal on DARKNESS when he sang "I lost my money and I lost my wife, those thing don't seem to matter much to me now." He did SPRIRIT IN THE NIGHT, BORT TO RUN, LONESOME DAY - a bunch of tunes from WORKING ON A DREAM - although not my favorite track from the CD - QUEEN OF THE SUPERMARKET should've been on that list. But more importantly - me & Tony B. got to drink beer and stand on the floor section and listen up close to Bruce - doesn't get much better than that.
Grade: A
ADELE was absolutely captivating on LATER WITH CARSON DALY the other night - she delivered a shimmering TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE that left the viewer slack jawed. She's the real deal.
Speaking of Carson Daly, I love the new format of his LATER show on NBC. And the Digital Couch congratulaters him on the birth of his baby boy a few months ago.
ELTON JOHN - ME, MYSELF & I (LOGO)
This is really interesting - a fairly informative and well done profile of Sir Elton. They hit upon some really interesting times in his life (like his marriage to Renata in the 80s) and have Elton there talking exclusively about each incident. On the downside - the show did some really lame green-screen business with Elton on a roller coaster, running from monsters - all horribly unwatchable and unbelievably embarressing for Sir Elton, who continues to make compelling CDs (ok - THE CAPTAIN AND THE KID really sucked except for THE BRIDGE - however, SONGS FROM THE WEST COAST and - even better, PEACHTREE ROAD are minor masterpieces from a guy in this biz 30 plus years.) You should catch this - but try not to cringe at the "production."
Grade: B +
REAL LOSER: COUPLES (NBC)
Tim Gunn came by to give the losers a makeover - then the losers met their families and went to watch a movie that starred themselves. Recently, the show has mostly gotten back to what we love best - massively overweight people losing huge amounts of weight and getting to see what they look like thin. The show is emotional, educational (except for those RIDICULOUS on screen ads that tout things like EXTRA gum and some other shite) and really inspirational. There is a man on there who started the show at over 400 pounds and is now 380 - and he's in his late 50s with all kind of medical issues. His son went from 380 to 234 - and the workouts do NOT look easy. This is an example of fine reality TV - however - the two hour running time is a bit much.
Grade: B +
UPDATE: since writing that - the show ended and to my shock - the kid did not win - the blonde woman (Susan?) took home the prize. More importantly - these people lost massive amounts of weight and that's what makes them all winners. I highly reccomend this show to anyone who cares about health.
OVERALL GRADE: A -
SOUTH PARK (COM)
If you watched the "Fishsticks" episode, you know that SOUTH PARK can be as funny as ever - and frequetly is. Also great - the episode where Cartman joins up with pirates, telling them that he "swiped the credit card from me mother!"
Grade: A
PRETTY WICKED (OXY)
I don't get it - it's supposed to be a show about inner beauty, yet all the girls are...anyway - I watched this to the end - lost some brain cells - was kind of entertained - don't remember anything about it except the girls were uniquely weird and fake.
Grade: C
CELEB APPRENTICE (NBC)
Where do I begin? Jesse Jane and the midgets? The outragous alcoholism and subsequent major meltdown of Dennis Rodman? The retardation that is Clint Black? Trump's bullshit about throwing Chloe Kardashian off because she got a DUI? (Don't even get me started on that bit of fuckiing hypocrasy.) The insane fighting between Joan Rivers and Annie the poker player? The strange friendship between Annie and the Playboy model Brandy Roderick? The unbeliavable level of conceit of Annie the poker player "I'm a great cook, a superb wife, a superlative mother and I give a great BJ (I'm not kidding - she said this with no trace of humor.)" Then there is the most compelling love story of the year - Joan and her daughter Melissa - when I watch them together - how do I put this...I feel like I'm still in Brooklyn. And as much humor as the relationship invites - it's rather beautiful and rare. These two adult woman are still very much mother and daughter is both touching and a real stunner. What can I say - CELEB APPRENTICE fucking rules!
Grade: A
UPDATE: I watched the end of THE CELEB APPRENTICE - by now everybody knows that Joan Rivers won and that her fight with Annie the poker player was absolutely spectacular. Annie seemed like a jerk - but Joan was really over the top in her pursuit of getting under Annie's skin. But I have to say - this was the most compelling season in years, the tension between Annie and Joan was truly a unique thing - and Joan became our hero somehow. It boiled down to good versus evil - and we love Joan. I mean, to see this - 70 year old woman??? (I know - it's crazy - she's nearly 70 and while her plastic surgery has made her look a bit freakish - its also part of her whole schtick and the engery and tenacity that Joan displays at her advanced age is nothing short of heroic.) While I think that Annie probably won by most standards, thank God Trump gave the world (and me) the ending they wanted and allowed Joan Rivers to wow as again, 30 years later. I can't imagine Trump will ever top this stellar edition.
Grade: A +
TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY: THE HOGAN FAMILY (E!)
A rarity - a TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY that really went for the jugular. The Hogans are a particularly juicy subject, but if you're going to watch this - you must follow it up with the UNBELIEVABLE article on HULK in this month's current ROLLING STONE.
Grade: B
STEVEN WRIGHT/THE LEAVES BLOW AWAY (COM)
Remember when he used to be funny? Remember when he used to say things like "It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it." He's still saying it. The same joke. 30 years later.
Grade: C -
IMPORTANT THINGS WITH DIMITRI (COM)
Umm....I kind of like the tone of this show - if not quite the execution.
I don't even remember what I saw.
Grade: C
SPARTAN (SHOWTIME)
Criminally ignored political gem from writer/director David Mamet. Kristin Bell is the President’s daughter – she’s been abducted and on her trail is Val Kilmer in an absolutely “I’ll make you completely forget I’m insane” role. His tough performance here ranks among his best. Lending support are a cadre of Mamet regulars, David Paymer, William Macy, and a few more from one of the living masters – David Mamet. The film not only plays as an absolute shoot-em-up to get to the truth, but also serves as a nasty commentary on modern day politics. Not much humor – but this is a sweaty, tough as nails hard ass drama that catches flight early on and doesn’t let up till the very last frame. Highly recommended.
Grade: A
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!
(This review is a month old)
Don Rickles was a guest – so in the opening, Kimmel mentions that Don Rickles is going to be on that night – he then says that people have slept there and are going crazy – he then cuts to footage of hot young girls with signs saying “DON WE LOVE YOU AND WANT TO MARRY YOU.” It was Beatlemania! Fantastic bit - also really funny -Jimmy showed a clip of Obama meeting the Queen, then did an insert of them doing a real ghetto handshake. I wish I could link to it but BLOGSPOT refuses to make links easy. (Which is why the links have dissapeared from my blog.)
Speaking of Jimmy, who knew that having Depeche Mode on would force them to close down Hollywood Blvd? I was alive in the 80s - was Depeche Mode THAT fucking big? Jesus Christ - I sort of remember "Master & Servant" - but closing down Hollywood Blvd? That should only happen when Meatloaf performs.
Billy Bob Thorton came on the show and frankly - I thought he'd humbly explain all that insanity he started with the nice guy radio reporter who Billy fucked with in Canada. If you don't know what happened - just YOUTUBE in BILLY BOB RADIO INTERVIEW and listen to Billy Box quicly become Asshole of The Year. So Billy Bob comes on - not only did Billy Bob NOT apologize or humbly explain - he proceeded to boast about his own insanity and proudly wear his asshole-esque personality on his arm. His only concession to the insanity was saying "Is this really news?" Yeah, Billy Bob - when you act like a moron, try to humiliate a nice guy trying to interview you, and then continue to believe you did something good - people are interested in that.
Fuck Billy Bob. Seriously. Fuck him.
Jamie Foxx was on - Wholy Christ - if there has ever been a man more full of himself on the planet - I swear I can't imagine who it is. And Jamie calling himself "the black Howard Stern" to apologize for his remarks about Miley Cyrus - give us all a break, bro. Howard is one of the funniest guys alive - you are one of the most annoying men alive. But - you were pretty good on IDOL with the kids. I'll give you that.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE w/TRACEY MORGAN & Kelly Clarkson (NBC)
Tracey Morgan is HILARIOUS - so, how was his return to the NBC show that made him famous?
Eh.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE /SETH ROGAN & ????? (NBC)
Seth Rogan is one of the funniest guys around. So the show had to be great, right?
Even more eh. (Deep shrug/sigh)
RIGHT AMERICA FEELING WRONGED “OBAMA vs. McCAIN” (HBO)
White people are angry! And embarrassing!
I really loved BLACK TO THE FUTURE on VH1.
NITRO CIRCUS (MTV)
GREAT stunts. Sort of like JACKKASS without the humor or personality.
GONE CONTRY (CMT)
I loved the finale – Tara Conner was aghast because right before the final show she lost her voice – only she has a terrible fucking voice, so it was like losing a horrible apendage. She should've been happy. I don't remember much about this season as it was pretty unmemorable. I don't even remember who won to be honest.
THE EX (Showtime)
Unseen little gem starring Zach Braff and Jason Bateman - small comedy - huge laughs. Highly reccommended.
Grade: B +
ELVIS COSTELLO “MIGHTY LIKE A ROSE” (CD/Digital Download)
I totally forgot how great this CD from the late 90s is – one of Elvis’ later era best. And it holds up like he cut it yesterday.
Grade: A +
Speaking of Costello - his SPECTACLE on SUNDANCE is literally the best music show since "MUSICIANS" on the now defunct .. something channel (I forgot the name - but it was a great weekly acoustic show.) - But SPECTACLE is even better because you get Elvis to sing on many of the tunes. There have been so many highlights already I can't believe there's not a CD out yet - but he and Jenny Lewis singing CARPETBAGGERS, he and Lou Reed doing PERFECT DAY, it goes on and on. This might be the best music show in 30 years, as good as when Johnny Cash has musical guests on to Old Grey Whistle Test - Elvis' show is THAT good. Killer guests and killer sets and great interviews.
Grade: A +
HELL'S KITCHEN (NBC)
I love Chef Ramsey and particularly KITCHEN NIGHTMARES. But frankly, in its 4th or 5th season, this is just starting to seem tired and the beats all seem similar from the week before. This was fun for a while - and I'm sure it's still enjoyable - I'm just over it. I won’t be watching.
E.R. (NBC)“Old Times” – what a trip seeing those names in the opening credits – written and directed by John Wells. Starring George Clooney, Noah Wylie, Eriq LaSalle, Sherry Stringfield, Julia Marguiles - it did feel like old times - and it was a great episode that picked up the Dr. Doug Ross character and the whole 2 hour finale was also really well done. An very respectable ending to a long running show. Extra points for throwing on the old title sequence for the final episode. This is the way a long running show goes out in style.
Grade: A
John Lennon “Plastic Ono Band”After watching CLASSIC ALBUMS I went ahead and listened to this CD in its original song sequence. Awesome.
Grade: A +
TOUGH LOVE (VH1)
The best reality show you're not watching (if you are - you know why I love it so much.)
Grade: B
UPDATE: They did their season finale - it began a little more exciting than it ended - but this was a class act in the reality show world. A rarity.
Overall Grade: B
TWO LOVERS (ON DEMAND)
Great, low key, intensely moody film with Joequin Phoenix playing a suicidal man in Brooklyn living with his parents and romancing two very different women. This is James Grey's 4th film set in Brooklyn and the 3rd time he's used Phoenix - and I'm a huge fan of what seems like an ongoing anthology of Brooklyn.
Grade: B +
HECKLER (Sundance)
I loved this film, and I loathe Jamie Kennedy (he's unbelievably unlikable here - yet since he left his annoying stuff in - he was one of the producers - he gets some credit for recognizing his annoyingness.) But there was some truly great stuff about the nature of criticism, and every great heckling story was either told or had clips to represent it.
Grade: B
DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS (ABC)
Meatloaf was fun with his daughter. Bababooey was even better. Gary really does know his music and I was almost surprised he didn't make it to the million - but to sing in that voice in front of millions...he has guts. It was also fun to see him outside of the Stern show doing something for a charity he really believes in.
Grades:
Meatloaf and his daughter: B
Ba Ba Booey: A
I have some more reviews - but I'll probably put them up next week. Sorry it's been so long. I'm sure I was missed.
2009/04/07
JAY MOHR is less funny than ZACK EFFRON. That's saying something.
DANCING WITH THE STARS (ABC)
They got rid of everyone good – although Steve-O is kind of compelling, but for me - after seeing these guys dance a few numbers - this show always loses steam.
HOUSE (FOX) (SPOILERS)
Had a surprising episode that killed off one of the regulars in a really out of left field way (the actor wasn't even in the hour.) It was a very surprising move and a well written teleplay that also came with a - believe it or not - a GREAT PERFORMANCE by MEATLOAF and Colleen Camp as a dying couple with a mysterious disease. Meatloaf was shockingly good and real. And Hugh Laurie has never been better as one of the guys left wondering by a friend's passing.
LAKEVIEW TERRACE (DVD)
Highly under-rated film that has a lot more to do with race than the ads suggested at the time of its release. The story is about Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington, an interracial couple (by the way – Patrick Wilson is becoming the bomb – he’s great in HARD CANDY, LITTLE CHILDREN and one of the few bright spots in WATCHMEN.) Sam Jackson gives a truly scary, menacing and original performance. Neil LaBute is a masterful director and he helps elevate this story which has some familiar notes into something very original and tense. Up until the inevitable show down – LaBute and the actors ratchet up the tension quite nicely. A genuinely unique surprise.
Grade: B +
Mike “Boogie” Malin made a GREAT guest appearance on FROM G’s TO GENTS a few weeks ago as I’m just catching up. Boogie can liven up any show and here he did it again. Maybe time to give this guy his own show?
SOUTH PARK (COMEDY CENTRAL)
Has done a spate of shows – THE RING, which concerned Kenny, his new girlfriend, The Jonas Bros. and Chastity rings – THE COON – about a crime fighting Cartman and then an interesting installment that concerned a practice known as Queefing. This is a show in its – I don’t know how many seasons – but the fact that its still ran by the two guys who started it – that it’s still very relavant and funny – this show could go forever. The last quartet of episodes were as fresh as anything they’ve been doing – this show still has the ability to be laugh out loud funny and very often is.
Grade: A -
THE OFFICE (NBC)
Has picked up steam with the new storyline of Michael losing his job – hoping it continues on that road. The storylines of the office with the new boss and Michael's new company are really funny and getting the show out out of the rut it was stuck in. Well done.
I LOVE YOU, MAN (IN THEATERS)
Someone said this is “the best Judd Apatow film that Judd Apatow had nothing to do with.” I’ll go with that. The film certainly has both the Apatow vibe and most of Apatow’s players – but an originality and a sweet comic take on Paul Rudd’s friendship with a never-better Jason Siegal – I laughed pretty much from beginning to end. A tight script and some great direction gives I LOVE YOU, MAN an….
Grade: A +
Speaking of funny, just how unfunny does Zack Efron come off in the ads for 17 AGAIN? Have you seen his facial comic exaggerations? Yikes. Head 4 ze hillz!
It was great to see JOE THE PLUMBER match wits with Bill Maher on HBO’s REAL TIME. All things considered, Maher took it very easy on his grossly outmatched friend. But Joe really does see himself as a politician now – it’s a little scary.
Ben Affleck was hilarious with his former on-screen lover, James Kimmel on KIMMEL LIVE! the other night.
SKINS (BBC)
The more I watch – the more I love.
Not so into the Lady Gaga.
The last batch of THE SIMPSONS – not so much.
JIMMY FALLON (NBC)
I saw him with Jason Siegal – one of the funniest guys around right now. Fallon shut him down.
I saw Fallon with Lady Dita (is that her name – the woman who used to go out with Marylin Manson?) – anyway – I think she’s one of the most beautiful people on earth. Fallon shut her down.
I don’t know what it is – but that show is just….tons of fake enthusiasm and Fallon unfortunately doesn’t seem very curious about the lives of his guests – just if people are laughing at his over rehearsed asides. A good host can sort of do both – be funny while engaging with the guest. I will tune out for the moment but in a few months (if he’s still there) I will check back on Mister Fallon. Right now you should move it along, there’s nothing to see here.
HOUSE (FOX)
Has been on a great roll lately with great episodes and great personal development for the characters. Specifically, the stuff between House and Cuddy, House’s Methadone addiction and the superb work of Jay Karnes from THE SHIELD as a man whose brain damage impacts his ability to filter what thoughts come from his head to his mouth. Instead of the usual stakes of House trying to save someone’s life, in this, he was trying to save someone’s personanal life – knowing that if this man continued to be so bluntly and offensively honest – he would alientate everyone in his life forever – just like House. Karnes could get an Emmy nomination for his perfect performance. Jay has has really been on a roll latealy since THE SHIELD – he was great on SONS OF ANARCHY in a very twisted arc and he was superlative here.
Grade: A
BEST WEEK EVER (VH1)
Is the best weekend wrap up ever. Hands down.
Grade: A
WATCH MEN (IN THEATERS)
I went in cold not knowing anything about these characters or history – I left with the same feeling. While often amazing to look at – I knew nothing of the WATCHMEN and they decided to do the first movie as sort of a “whatever happened to the WATCHMEN” tale. I was lost for the first hour – and then I kind of got into it – but probably just for fans only. The last half tried for real pathos and came close – but it was too little too late.
Grade: C –
Z ROCK is pretty good based on the single episode I saw. Really good, actually. Some great, unexpected moments and dialogue.
UPDATE: I watched another episode and didn't really like it.
ZROCK: TO BE CONT'D...
TRUE BEAUTY (ABC) and PRETTY WICKED (OXY)
BEAUTY was a noble experiment – but ultimaly it felt like the basis of the show was really catching people in bad moments – and the truth is that it felt like people were sort of being peonnilized for these weird setup situations – I don’t know – not a huge fan but it was fun for a minute. They just didn’t have it set up to truly measure inner beauty because that one guy came in second and he was saying he was about to choke out some stranger!
PRETTY WICKED is the truly dumbed down and totally addictive version. These girls are just hateful, mean and insane.
I'm addicted.
Julia Roberts is now fake-laughing her way through Regis, watching her fake-laugh her way through Letterman was tough. Watching her fake laugh on that horrible promo for DUPLICITY where a de-balled Clive Owen says “you’re gaming me!” and Julia goes into that huge fake laugh which she (wrongfully) believes America will embrace – I want to never hear laughter again. Ever.
The SHOCKINGLY UNFUNNY yet RIDICULOUSLY CONFIDENT Jay Mohr was on the detestable and nauseating Hollywood phony Rachel Ray Show doing the 1000th impression of Tracey Morgan and not even doing it well. Jay, all kidding aside - you suck, dude.
For serious dueche chills – check out the horrible Mr. Mohr on THE VIEW cracking the ladies up with his TRACEY MORGAN impression (literally every comic in America – and everyone else not in show biz – does this impression) – then Jay launched into his so-so Chris Walken impression for the 1,424,534,633,345th time – and again – this is impression that about – 89,324,342 comics already do.
Jay – dude, seriously – seriously?
They got rid of everyone good – although Steve-O is kind of compelling, but for me - after seeing these guys dance a few numbers - this show always loses steam.
HOUSE (FOX) (SPOILERS)
Had a surprising episode that killed off one of the regulars in a really out of left field way (the actor wasn't even in the hour.) It was a very surprising move and a well written teleplay that also came with a - believe it or not - a GREAT PERFORMANCE by MEATLOAF and Colleen Camp as a dying couple with a mysterious disease. Meatloaf was shockingly good and real. And Hugh Laurie has never been better as one of the guys left wondering by a friend's passing.
LAKEVIEW TERRACE (DVD)
Highly under-rated film that has a lot more to do with race than the ads suggested at the time of its release. The story is about Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington, an interracial couple (by the way – Patrick Wilson is becoming the bomb – he’s great in HARD CANDY, LITTLE CHILDREN and one of the few bright spots in WATCHMEN.) Sam Jackson gives a truly scary, menacing and original performance. Neil LaBute is a masterful director and he helps elevate this story which has some familiar notes into something very original and tense. Up until the inevitable show down – LaBute and the actors ratchet up the tension quite nicely. A genuinely unique surprise.
Grade: B +
Mike “Boogie” Malin made a GREAT guest appearance on FROM G’s TO GENTS a few weeks ago as I’m just catching up. Boogie can liven up any show and here he did it again. Maybe time to give this guy his own show?
SOUTH PARK (COMEDY CENTRAL)
Has done a spate of shows – THE RING, which concerned Kenny, his new girlfriend, The Jonas Bros. and Chastity rings – THE COON – about a crime fighting Cartman and then an interesting installment that concerned a practice known as Queefing. This is a show in its – I don’t know how many seasons – but the fact that its still ran by the two guys who started it – that it’s still very relavant and funny – this show could go forever. The last quartet of episodes were as fresh as anything they’ve been doing – this show still has the ability to be laugh out loud funny and very often is.
Grade: A -
THE OFFICE (NBC)
Has picked up steam with the new storyline of Michael losing his job – hoping it continues on that road. The storylines of the office with the new boss and Michael's new company are really funny and getting the show out out of the rut it was stuck in. Well done.
I LOVE YOU, MAN (IN THEATERS)
Someone said this is “the best Judd Apatow film that Judd Apatow had nothing to do with.” I’ll go with that. The film certainly has both the Apatow vibe and most of Apatow’s players – but an originality and a sweet comic take on Paul Rudd’s friendship with a never-better Jason Siegal – I laughed pretty much from beginning to end. A tight script and some great direction gives I LOVE YOU, MAN an….
Grade: A +
Speaking of funny, just how unfunny does Zack Efron come off in the ads for 17 AGAIN? Have you seen his facial comic exaggerations? Yikes. Head 4 ze hillz!
It was great to see JOE THE PLUMBER match wits with Bill Maher on HBO’s REAL TIME. All things considered, Maher took it very easy on his grossly outmatched friend. But Joe really does see himself as a politician now – it’s a little scary.
Ben Affleck was hilarious with his former on-screen lover, James Kimmel on KIMMEL LIVE! the other night.
SKINS (BBC)
The more I watch – the more I love.
Not so into the Lady Gaga.
The last batch of THE SIMPSONS – not so much.
JIMMY FALLON (NBC)
I saw him with Jason Siegal – one of the funniest guys around right now. Fallon shut him down.
I saw Fallon with Lady Dita (is that her name – the woman who used to go out with Marylin Manson?) – anyway – I think she’s one of the most beautiful people on earth. Fallon shut her down.
I don’t know what it is – but that show is just….tons of fake enthusiasm and Fallon unfortunately doesn’t seem very curious about the lives of his guests – just if people are laughing at his over rehearsed asides. A good host can sort of do both – be funny while engaging with the guest. I will tune out for the moment but in a few months (if he’s still there) I will check back on Mister Fallon. Right now you should move it along, there’s nothing to see here.
HOUSE (FOX)
Has been on a great roll lately with great episodes and great personal development for the characters. Specifically, the stuff between House and Cuddy, House’s Methadone addiction and the superb work of Jay Karnes from THE SHIELD as a man whose brain damage impacts his ability to filter what thoughts come from his head to his mouth. Instead of the usual stakes of House trying to save someone’s life, in this, he was trying to save someone’s personanal life – knowing that if this man continued to be so bluntly and offensively honest – he would alientate everyone in his life forever – just like House. Karnes could get an Emmy nomination for his perfect performance. Jay has has really been on a roll latealy since THE SHIELD – he was great on SONS OF ANARCHY in a very twisted arc and he was superlative here.
Grade: A
BEST WEEK EVER (VH1)
Is the best weekend wrap up ever. Hands down.
Grade: A
WATCH MEN (IN THEATERS)
I went in cold not knowing anything about these characters or history – I left with the same feeling. While often amazing to look at – I knew nothing of the WATCHMEN and they decided to do the first movie as sort of a “whatever happened to the WATCHMEN” tale. I was lost for the first hour – and then I kind of got into it – but probably just for fans only. The last half tried for real pathos and came close – but it was too little too late.
Grade: C –
Z ROCK is pretty good based on the single episode I saw. Really good, actually. Some great, unexpected moments and dialogue.
UPDATE: I watched another episode and didn't really like it.
ZROCK: TO BE CONT'D...
TRUE BEAUTY (ABC) and PRETTY WICKED (OXY)
BEAUTY was a noble experiment – but ultimaly it felt like the basis of the show was really catching people in bad moments – and the truth is that it felt like people were sort of being peonnilized for these weird setup situations – I don’t know – not a huge fan but it was fun for a minute. They just didn’t have it set up to truly measure inner beauty because that one guy came in second and he was saying he was about to choke out some stranger!
PRETTY WICKED is the truly dumbed down and totally addictive version. These girls are just hateful, mean and insane.
I'm addicted.
Julia Roberts is now fake-laughing her way through Regis, watching her fake-laugh her way through Letterman was tough. Watching her fake laugh on that horrible promo for DUPLICITY where a de-balled Clive Owen says “you’re gaming me!” and Julia goes into that huge fake laugh which she (wrongfully) believes America will embrace – I want to never hear laughter again. Ever.
The SHOCKINGLY UNFUNNY yet RIDICULOUSLY CONFIDENT Jay Mohr was on the detestable and nauseating Hollywood phony Rachel Ray Show doing the 1000th impression of Tracey Morgan and not even doing it well. Jay, all kidding aside - you suck, dude.
For serious dueche chills – check out the horrible Mr. Mohr on THE VIEW cracking the ladies up with his TRACEY MORGAN impression (literally every comic in America – and everyone else not in show biz – does this impression) – then Jay launched into his so-so Chris Walken impression for the 1,424,534,633,345th time – and again – this is impression that about – 89,324,342 comics already do.
Jay – dude, seriously – seriously?
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