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?