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?
2009/03/29
There's No "I" in OFFICE!
“There’s No “I” In Office: 4293 Meaningless Phrases to Keep Your Coworkers Smiling While Avoiding Actual Conversation – by Jake Lentz and Paul Koehorst (BOOK)
This is one of the funniest books ever about the office place. Lentz and Koehorst have given their all in presenting us with every hilarious meaningless phrase to keep coworkers smiling while not really saying anything. One of the funniest books I’ve read in a LONG TIME. Perfect to pick up and read a few great lines – or to spend an hour with. It makes a great coffee table book, conversation piece and a great gift to anybody about to take or already has an office job – my highest recommendation. I laughed out loud MANY times from this. My highest thumbs up.
Grade: A +
PEARL JAM: “10” Legacy Remaster (and video VH1)
So, after 15 years or so and MANY shitty albums later, Pearl Jam, a GREAT band, decides to celebrate the 15 year anniversary of “10” – their debut CD, by offering up this LEGACY edition – which includes, the original disc, and a newer disc, remixed by their current main producer along with a bunch of extras and demos for songs that never made it to the disc. The new songs are just okay. The real revelation is the remixed CD. Listening to the older version, it sounds a bit stuck in the early 90s musically – a bit too much production – the vocals are kind of cliped - in the remix – you get much more real, ragged vocals, harder mixes for the instruments and an overall hotter sound quality. If you’re a fanatic or a huge fan of that CD, you’ll notice a huge improvement. If you’re a casual fan, you probably wouldn't notice a thing. Still, for this big fan of “10” – this was awesome.
Grade: B +
PEARL JAM: A look back at 10 (VH1)
This was sort of a quick half hour look back at the making of “10” – it seems like it should’ve been included in the package (maybe it was and I didn’t notice) but it’s basically a fluff piece explaining the creation of “10” without really getting into the meat of the package – the remix. But it’s a nice companion piece.
Grade: B -
30 ROCK (NBC)
The show is fine, Balwin is always superb, and Jon Hamm is brilliant, and I was sorry to see his character go. I think they could’ve handled Hamm's exit with a bit more subtlety in the storyline – however – lately subtlety is not 30 ROCK’s strong suit. In fact, the show has gone from low-key funny about a show that could exist, to the alternate universe SEINFELD went to in its final seasons – which is troubling because the show has no reality to it anymore. And sending Tracey Morgan to the moon – that was a bit DEFINITELY stolen from the STERN RADIO SHOW – about 9 months ago they sent “Gary the retard” (an actually mentally handicapped listener and great fan and good sport) into what he thought was space. 30 ROCK probably borrowed the idea –but Stern and Co. did the job better. As far as this great show goes, the more surreal, the more distant and weird it becomes. Every week it seems like they’re not sure what the tone is – I hope they straighten this out soon because when this show is firing on all cylinders, there is nothing better. Still, even at its worst, it’s far better than most.
Grade: B +
THE OFFICE (NBC)
Has anyone noticed that the show is now going completely whole-hog into the BBC version’s storyline? The BBC version did it better – this was sort of clumsy – but definitely gave the show a storyline at least to pursue. I look forward to the Michael Scott Paper Co. with Pam Beasley as head saleswoman.
Grade: B -
THE REAL WORLD: BROOKLYN (MTV)
The thing I always love about THE REAL WORLD – one of the few reality shows that doesn’t get into the whole “competition” and elimination and money prize – which means its basically about how these people simply get along. And every character you start out thinking you know – you realize you’re completely wrong about them and at its best, REAL WORLD really tends to break down stereotypes of what you think someone is. On the other hand – some of these people are EXACTLY who you think they are and there is probably some perverse pleasure in realizing that as well. For this edition they got some youngish, more naïve kids than in seasons past – in other words – they didn’t fill the house with shallow sex addicts this year. These are smart, interesting and thoughtful people. There is a bodybuilder type who seems to be a nice guy. There’s a guy dude (the one who broke the table) who is another example of a gay guy we simply haven’t seen on TV before (and I like his character very much.) There is a VERY weird dude named Chett who dresses metro, seems gay – and yet is a Mourman and quite a bit of a hound. Again – the stereo type goes out the window with this guy – but he IS annoying. He’s also really good at interviewing people and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him hosting some MTV stuff in the future. Then there’s RYAN, the centerpiece of this group of 8 (they went from a half-hour to an hour and gave us another person starting with last year’s edition) a Iraq war veteran who can sing, direct – he’s funny, sometimes gets frightengly mad and angry – and back to his songs – I think he might actually be a star – but what do I know?
The girls aren’t quite as interesting. There’s a HOT black girl who liked the body builder for the first few eps but backed off, and now she stands around looking really hot and mostly stays on the phone for almost the entire production. She also puts on her glasses and tries to speak intelligently when she wants to show her smarts – but she’s kind of an idiot. There’s this girl who’s kind of pretty with tons of tattoos and a real sweetness about her – but she’s also really really fake and tries to hard to be friends with (almost) everybody. There’s a skinny dancer who came out to dance – got into the academy of dance, then turned it down saying she doesn’t like their teaching style – but beyond that – she barely registers on the show. The real wild card is Kaitlin, the show’s first trans-gender female (once male!) who seems to be fairly well – adjusted except that she’s a total slut, she’s broke and she borrowed 1500 dollars from the bodybuilder dude to stay in NYC, then blew most of it gambling in Atlantic City. He/She’s a fucking mess.
Still, I have enjoyed this group and will hope the best for them when this one wraps next week – worst of all Ryan, the singer, has gotten recalled back to the war, so as soon as the show wraps he has to go back and fight for his life. All in all, a pretty interesting edition of THE REAL WORLD – although we BARELY got a chance to know Brooklyn at all! The way they shoot it, you wouldn’t even know it was Brooklyn unless you saw the title.
Grade: B
THE TONIGHT SHOW w/Jay Leno (NBC)
Jay has had some interesting guests of late. Barack – now infamous for its “Special Olympics” crack that Barack threw down. Frankly, I thought the whole thing reeked of Barack wanting to be a guest on a late night talk show and show America that he’s every bit as funny and entertaining as Jay Leno – and frankly, that’s a little scary. I’m a Barack supporter – but I don’t support his trips into late night comedy. Although I must say – he WAS funnier than Jay – but so is my cat, Munchy.
Speaking of Leno, how bad were those new PRINCE songs? Leave it to Jay – Letterman gets U2 for the week, even Conan gets SPRINGSTEEN for a week – who does Leno get? Prince – 20 years after His relevancy ended.
While we’re on the subject of Leno, did anyone happen to see Emma Roberts? She's ten times more annoying than Julia. Her stories about her driving test – I think while Jay Leno openly found them hilarious - because Jay Leno finds everything fucking hilarious – Paul Giamatti looked like he wanted to hang himself.
AMERICAN DAD (FOX)
The Bar Mitvah Heist was very clever, very well plotted and actually snared a very rare win in the FAMILY GUY vs. AMERICAN DAD fight that goes on every Sunday. FAMILY GUY usually wins, but once in a while – DAD hits it out of the park – this one came very close.
Grade: B +
FAMILY GUY (FOX)
Lois became the news anchor for FOX NEWS. It seems like this could’ve been seriously funny – it was seriously just ok.
Grade: B -
WHY IS IT ON TWO SHOWS:
ROCK OF LOVE BUS and CANDY GIRLS there are girls on BOTH SHOWS who keep using the expression “I was thinking O.M.G!” They actually spell the initials instead of saying it. I would say it makes me throw up in my own mouth a little bit every time I hear it, but then I would sound like all of last year’s reality show gals. (My favorite part is how they all say it then mug for the camera as if they’re bringing America something original and smart – only 8 years too late.)
CANDY GIRLS (E!)
Like most E! shows, this one’s premise is as thin as Lindsey Lohan’s waist. This is about an mostly Black/Hispanic model type agency which provides hot girls for videos and parties, etc. There is a modeling aspect to the agency too. Everything is very confused – hard to figure out all the relationships and the loft where some of them live – this thing was edited with a sledgehammer. As far as the “models” – they are typically shallow, thoughtless, selfish, weird, divas, and – unusually – kind of chunky and not really that pretty – for models. Seriously – I initially thought it was a larger woman’s type of show - but it’s relatively harmless, and has no real reason to exist since it lacks and real drama or sense of humor.
Grade: D
PINK FLOYD “WHICH ONE’S PINK?” (VH1 Classic)
I love Pink Floyd – particularly the original lineup. This was a 90 minute attempt to sum up a 30 plus year career with some really mixed results. Some of the best FLOYD stories were missing, and there wasn’t any critical analysis of the band with Waters, without Waters – most questions went glaringly unanswered. However – the nice thing about this docu was that they actually had all the principals talking about the band. I thought it was interesting how Roger Waters, once the notoriously angry man who dismantled the band, was the one who’d like to re-form and do a big tour (that would kind of be like printing money – a PINK FLOYD reunion tour would probably be the biggest thing in 10 years as far as the tour biz goes.) Roger seems to want this very much – and when they asked David Gilmour about a reunion he answered quite quickly “Ain’t never going to happen.”
Fuck.
Grade: B
AMERICAN IDOL (FOX)
I still like Scott M., the blind guy, but his CAN’T HURRY LOVE was awful. I loved that DANNY guy doing that acoustic TRACKS OF MY TEARS. That was hot, dawg! Danny Goki did a good song I forget the name of, but his dancing was so bad it scared my cat. By the way – is it just me or does Danny look exactly like Seth Rogan with a little less weight and straight hair. I like how Howard Stern pointed out the other day how Ryan Seacrest is now SO affected that he couldn’t even pronounce CRAYONS in a badly scripted schtick performed badly by Simon and Paula – but Paula does seem as retarded as ever. And I’m not so much into the new judge – although my favorite quote thus far comes from her. After one of the songs she says “I have six words for you – Best Male Performance Of The Entire Freaking Night.” Better still was Kimmel the other night trying to see if Uncle Frank could figure out what was wrong with that sentence. He sort of did – after 30 tries.
STORYTELLERS: KANYE WEST (VH1)
“Michael Jackson – awesome. O.J. Simpson – awesome. What he did – was he not, was he not awesome?” This was Kanye during one of the interludes and as crazy as it sounds – it kind of worked. I don’t think he was saying these people are still awesome – it had to do with what inspired him and what he did find awesome as a young man. He even says “I’m sorry for being such a bitch at awards shows – but what the hell – they ARE awards shows. I didn’t kill anybody at them.” This is probably the best I’ve seen Kanye – humble, funny, awestruck – and brilliant with his music. The songs here are fantastic and Kanye…aweseome.
Grade: B +
This is one of the funniest books ever about the office place. Lentz and Koehorst have given their all in presenting us with every hilarious meaningless phrase to keep coworkers smiling while not really saying anything. One of the funniest books I’ve read in a LONG TIME. Perfect to pick up and read a few great lines – or to spend an hour with. It makes a great coffee table book, conversation piece and a great gift to anybody about to take or already has an office job – my highest recommendation. I laughed out loud MANY times from this. My highest thumbs up.
Grade: A +
PEARL JAM: “10” Legacy Remaster (and video VH1)
So, after 15 years or so and MANY shitty albums later, Pearl Jam, a GREAT band, decides to celebrate the 15 year anniversary of “10” – their debut CD, by offering up this LEGACY edition – which includes, the original disc, and a newer disc, remixed by their current main producer along with a bunch of extras and demos for songs that never made it to the disc. The new songs are just okay. The real revelation is the remixed CD. Listening to the older version, it sounds a bit stuck in the early 90s musically – a bit too much production – the vocals are kind of cliped - in the remix – you get much more real, ragged vocals, harder mixes for the instruments and an overall hotter sound quality. If you’re a fanatic or a huge fan of that CD, you’ll notice a huge improvement. If you’re a casual fan, you probably wouldn't notice a thing. Still, for this big fan of “10” – this was awesome.
Grade: B +
PEARL JAM: A look back at 10 (VH1)
This was sort of a quick half hour look back at the making of “10” – it seems like it should’ve been included in the package (maybe it was and I didn’t notice) but it’s basically a fluff piece explaining the creation of “10” without really getting into the meat of the package – the remix. But it’s a nice companion piece.
Grade: B -
30 ROCK (NBC)
The show is fine, Balwin is always superb, and Jon Hamm is brilliant, and I was sorry to see his character go. I think they could’ve handled Hamm's exit with a bit more subtlety in the storyline – however – lately subtlety is not 30 ROCK’s strong suit. In fact, the show has gone from low-key funny about a show that could exist, to the alternate universe SEINFELD went to in its final seasons – which is troubling because the show has no reality to it anymore. And sending Tracey Morgan to the moon – that was a bit DEFINITELY stolen from the STERN RADIO SHOW – about 9 months ago they sent “Gary the retard” (an actually mentally handicapped listener and great fan and good sport) into what he thought was space. 30 ROCK probably borrowed the idea –but Stern and Co. did the job better. As far as this great show goes, the more surreal, the more distant and weird it becomes. Every week it seems like they’re not sure what the tone is – I hope they straighten this out soon because when this show is firing on all cylinders, there is nothing better. Still, even at its worst, it’s far better than most.
Grade: B +
THE OFFICE (NBC)
Has anyone noticed that the show is now going completely whole-hog into the BBC version’s storyline? The BBC version did it better – this was sort of clumsy – but definitely gave the show a storyline at least to pursue. I look forward to the Michael Scott Paper Co. with Pam Beasley as head saleswoman.
Grade: B -
THE REAL WORLD: BROOKLYN (MTV)
The thing I always love about THE REAL WORLD – one of the few reality shows that doesn’t get into the whole “competition” and elimination and money prize – which means its basically about how these people simply get along. And every character you start out thinking you know – you realize you’re completely wrong about them and at its best, REAL WORLD really tends to break down stereotypes of what you think someone is. On the other hand – some of these people are EXACTLY who you think they are and there is probably some perverse pleasure in realizing that as well. For this edition they got some youngish, more naïve kids than in seasons past – in other words – they didn’t fill the house with shallow sex addicts this year. These are smart, interesting and thoughtful people. There is a bodybuilder type who seems to be a nice guy. There’s a guy dude (the one who broke the table) who is another example of a gay guy we simply haven’t seen on TV before (and I like his character very much.) There is a VERY weird dude named Chett who dresses metro, seems gay – and yet is a Mourman and quite a bit of a hound. Again – the stereo type goes out the window with this guy – but he IS annoying. He’s also really good at interviewing people and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him hosting some MTV stuff in the future. Then there’s RYAN, the centerpiece of this group of 8 (they went from a half-hour to an hour and gave us another person starting with last year’s edition) a Iraq war veteran who can sing, direct – he’s funny, sometimes gets frightengly mad and angry – and back to his songs – I think he might actually be a star – but what do I know?
The girls aren’t quite as interesting. There’s a HOT black girl who liked the body builder for the first few eps but backed off, and now she stands around looking really hot and mostly stays on the phone for almost the entire production. She also puts on her glasses and tries to speak intelligently when she wants to show her smarts – but she’s kind of an idiot. There’s this girl who’s kind of pretty with tons of tattoos and a real sweetness about her – but she’s also really really fake and tries to hard to be friends with (almost) everybody. There’s a skinny dancer who came out to dance – got into the academy of dance, then turned it down saying she doesn’t like their teaching style – but beyond that – she barely registers on the show. The real wild card is Kaitlin, the show’s first trans-gender female (once male!) who seems to be fairly well – adjusted except that she’s a total slut, she’s broke and she borrowed 1500 dollars from the bodybuilder dude to stay in NYC, then blew most of it gambling in Atlantic City. He/She’s a fucking mess.
Still, I have enjoyed this group and will hope the best for them when this one wraps next week – worst of all Ryan, the singer, has gotten recalled back to the war, so as soon as the show wraps he has to go back and fight for his life. All in all, a pretty interesting edition of THE REAL WORLD – although we BARELY got a chance to know Brooklyn at all! The way they shoot it, you wouldn’t even know it was Brooklyn unless you saw the title.
Grade: B
THE TONIGHT SHOW w/Jay Leno (NBC)
Jay has had some interesting guests of late. Barack – now infamous for its “Special Olympics” crack that Barack threw down. Frankly, I thought the whole thing reeked of Barack wanting to be a guest on a late night talk show and show America that he’s every bit as funny and entertaining as Jay Leno – and frankly, that’s a little scary. I’m a Barack supporter – but I don’t support his trips into late night comedy. Although I must say – he WAS funnier than Jay – but so is my cat, Munchy.
Speaking of Leno, how bad were those new PRINCE songs? Leave it to Jay – Letterman gets U2 for the week, even Conan gets SPRINGSTEEN for a week – who does Leno get? Prince – 20 years after His relevancy ended.
While we’re on the subject of Leno, did anyone happen to see Emma Roberts? She's ten times more annoying than Julia. Her stories about her driving test – I think while Jay Leno openly found them hilarious - because Jay Leno finds everything fucking hilarious – Paul Giamatti looked like he wanted to hang himself.
AMERICAN DAD (FOX)
The Bar Mitvah Heist was very clever, very well plotted and actually snared a very rare win in the FAMILY GUY vs. AMERICAN DAD fight that goes on every Sunday. FAMILY GUY usually wins, but once in a while – DAD hits it out of the park – this one came very close.
Grade: B +
FAMILY GUY (FOX)
Lois became the news anchor for FOX NEWS. It seems like this could’ve been seriously funny – it was seriously just ok.
Grade: B -
WHY IS IT ON TWO SHOWS:
ROCK OF LOVE BUS and CANDY GIRLS there are girls on BOTH SHOWS who keep using the expression “I was thinking O.M.G!” They actually spell the initials instead of saying it. I would say it makes me throw up in my own mouth a little bit every time I hear it, but then I would sound like all of last year’s reality show gals. (My favorite part is how they all say it then mug for the camera as if they’re bringing America something original and smart – only 8 years too late.)
CANDY GIRLS (E!)
Like most E! shows, this one’s premise is as thin as Lindsey Lohan’s waist. This is about an mostly Black/Hispanic model type agency which provides hot girls for videos and parties, etc. There is a modeling aspect to the agency too. Everything is very confused – hard to figure out all the relationships and the loft where some of them live – this thing was edited with a sledgehammer. As far as the “models” – they are typically shallow, thoughtless, selfish, weird, divas, and – unusually – kind of chunky and not really that pretty – for models. Seriously – I initially thought it was a larger woman’s type of show - but it’s relatively harmless, and has no real reason to exist since it lacks and real drama or sense of humor.
Grade: D
PINK FLOYD “WHICH ONE’S PINK?” (VH1 Classic)
I love Pink Floyd – particularly the original lineup. This was a 90 minute attempt to sum up a 30 plus year career with some really mixed results. Some of the best FLOYD stories were missing, and there wasn’t any critical analysis of the band with Waters, without Waters – most questions went glaringly unanswered. However – the nice thing about this docu was that they actually had all the principals talking about the band. I thought it was interesting how Roger Waters, once the notoriously angry man who dismantled the band, was the one who’d like to re-form and do a big tour (that would kind of be like printing money – a PINK FLOYD reunion tour would probably be the biggest thing in 10 years as far as the tour biz goes.) Roger seems to want this very much – and when they asked David Gilmour about a reunion he answered quite quickly “Ain’t never going to happen.”
Fuck.
Grade: B
AMERICAN IDOL (FOX)
I still like Scott M., the blind guy, but his CAN’T HURRY LOVE was awful. I loved that DANNY guy doing that acoustic TRACKS OF MY TEARS. That was hot, dawg! Danny Goki did a good song I forget the name of, but his dancing was so bad it scared my cat. By the way – is it just me or does Danny look exactly like Seth Rogan with a little less weight and straight hair. I like how Howard Stern pointed out the other day how Ryan Seacrest is now SO affected that he couldn’t even pronounce CRAYONS in a badly scripted schtick performed badly by Simon and Paula – but Paula does seem as retarded as ever. And I’m not so much into the new judge – although my favorite quote thus far comes from her. After one of the songs she says “I have six words for you – Best Male Performance Of The Entire Freaking Night.” Better still was Kimmel the other night trying to see if Uncle Frank could figure out what was wrong with that sentence. He sort of did – after 30 tries.
STORYTELLERS: KANYE WEST (VH1)
“Michael Jackson – awesome. O.J. Simpson – awesome. What he did – was he not, was he not awesome?” This was Kanye during one of the interludes and as crazy as it sounds – it kind of worked. I don’t think he was saying these people are still awesome – it had to do with what inspired him and what he did find awesome as a young man. He even says “I’m sorry for being such a bitch at awards shows – but what the hell – they ARE awards shows. I didn’t kill anybody at them.” This is probably the best I’ve seen Kanye – humble, funny, awestruck – and brilliant with his music. The songs here are fantastic and Kanye…aweseome.
Grade: B +
2009/03/23
THE LOST BLOG: Amatuer Porn Star Killer, Nip/Tuck, Bad Girls Club, THE BOYFRIEND SHIRT
Sorry – have been really busy – these are not new reviews but you haven’t seen them. When I did last week’s blog, I stuck to the reviews that Ralph had seen so we could have a cohesive blog – but these are the ones left out from last week because I’ve been behind on viewing – hopefully these reviews will tide you over till my next current blog – DIGITAL COUCH.
THE BOYFRIEND SHIRT
If you are a woman and want to drive your man wild, please check out THE BOYFRIEND SHIRT. Go here for details but I think this is the next big thing
I have been having trouble for a long time with BLOGSPOT links - until i figure out why it's not working - I realy would like people to check out this link so please cut and past and let me know what you think:
www.theboyfriendshirt.com
BLACK TO THE FUTURE (VH1)
Is a WE LOVE THE 70s type pop-culture riff with tons of talking heads – only this show focuses on all things black. Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Jesse Jackson, Lionel Richie, Different Strokes, Eddie Murphy’s PARTY ALL THE TIME recording – all the great moments of black pop culture history is presented here and frankly – after watching all those other talking head shows which VH1 seems to specialize in – this one was really good. Focusing on black-only pop culture gave the show an edge and a focus. The comics were hilarious – although Hal Sparks is now sporting a scary rock star hair-do – other than that – this is really one to watch. There are too many things that fly by to really talk about – but this is a four parter that really works.
Grade: B +
ER is winding down with its last few episodes. It's been great to see some familiar faces, and Noah Whylie is particularly good in these episodes as Dr. Carter. Looking forward to seeing more familiar faces as the long running series finally comes to an end.
To everyone who witnessed Steve Harvey and his wife talking about the book they wrote about their love on the Oprah Winfrey show – let me know if you’re planning mass suicide. I might join you - because this was the worst spectacle of pseudo-celebrity ass kissing I’ve ever seen.
SPECTACLE (SUNDANCE)
Elvis Costello is really the best. He sings, he writes, he plays – and he has great questions and insights and a genuine curiosity for all his guests and a true pure love of music. I sometimes wish they’d sing some more familiar tunes instead of playing to the obscure crowd as I don’t know half the songs he’s reeling off – but when something magical happens – like Elvis and Lou Reed singing “Perfect Day” or Elvis singing “Border Song” to an astonished Elton John – this show is alive and pumping. This is a show that needs a first season soundtrack out ASAP. Truly, first rate.
Grade: A
SKINS (BBC DVD)
I had heard so much about this BBC show about the real lives of young adults – I thought I was in for a treat. I was and I wasn’t. It’s good and very watchable – but unlike what I was hoping for – which was realism – it’s really over the top and actually wickedly funny – just not what I was expecting. That said – there are some amazing scenes and some really clever stuff going on here – and the young actors are miraculous and the whole thing has sort of a TRAINSPOTTING vibe. I just don’t think it has the gravity to make you love it. It’s missing a bit of heart - although I’m only in the middle of series 1. Each episode focuses on a different kid – I particularly loved the girl with the eating disorder who kept getting strange texts to her cell that would say “EAT!” Even better was this weird tracking shot of her fingers running down a stairs banister…maybe you had to see it…anyway – if this gets much better I’ll let you know. There’s a little too much “clever comedy” for its good that keeps it from getting to the next level. So far…
Grade: B -
UPDATE: Started watching Disc 2 and it’s getting much better and much deeper.
SNUFF: A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT KILLING ON CAMERA (DVD)
Revolting and fascinating, this docu attempts to explore the “myth” of onscreen killing. It’s mostly talking heads with a few really disturbing shots here and there – they even include the entire segment from the end of a 75’ film called “SNUFF.” SNUFF was notorious back in the day for purporting to really kill someone at the end of the film. I remember renting SNUFF with some friends when it came out on VHS - we all were very freaked out at that ending. As the film – which is LAUGHABLE, ends, the “director” starts telling the actress how great she was and it leads to a supposedly impromptu make out session on the bed while the crew packs up. Suddenly – the director turns violent, and with the help of the crew, he kills and literally guts the woman. Now, I have to tell you – back in the day – me and all my friends were completely freaked and convinced we had seen a murder. It didn’t seem possible – and at the time – I should’ve realized that the PARTY CENTER in Brooklyn on Ralph Avenue – a candy, party supply and VHS rental shop would probably not have rented an actual on screen killing to a bunch of young boys. And yet, I always remembered that scene for being completely realistic for it’s time and just plain real. This docu begins early on by showing the entire sequence. 20 years later – I feel a bit snookered. The ending is actually so fake – so obviously fake – that I’m embarrassed I fell for it. Anyway – the film – while just mostly talking heads with some truly disturbing violent shots scattered throughout – is quite entertaining, disturbing and while some of the talking heads don’t really seem qualified to speak on the subject of SNUFF films – we do get a pretty full bodied idea of what a SNUFF film supposedly is. SNUFF is not nessessarily the act of just killing on camera – serial killers have been doing that for years. But a true SNUFF film in the commercial sense means somebody is murdered on camera for profit from the sick people who want to watch it. The film debates whether snuff is real or an urban myth. The answer – I don’t know. It probably doesn’t exist in the massive way some might think – but according to these folks and some news accounts – it exists. I will skip the Russian Child Porn Snuff ring – truly – one of the – I can’t even say. You can always see the movie if you’re interested in knowing about it – but it was apparently real and – wow. As horrifying as that was, there was nothing more horrifying to me than the last 10 minutes of the film, which had adult film producer Marc Rosen give a fully realistic account of the day he went to a LA hotel to meet some distributors who had something “outrageous” they wanted him to distribute. Marc sullenly gives a description of what he saw and starts to cry from the memory of this tape he was shown 20 plus years ago. I can’t recommend this film to anyone – but if you ever had a curiosity about the subject – this film offers a LOT of answers.
Grade: B +
And as far as the 1975 notorious classic SNUFF, For those interested – here is the trailer – probably creepier than anything in the actual movie:
GO HERE
I WAS A TEENAGE IDOL (VH1)
This is turning into a really good show. That kid from Baywatch is insane. Chris Atkins is cool. UPDATE:
I just watched the finale and not only did they try to give all the guys some decent hook ups for the future, some of them even got countdown shows on VH1 – maybe it won’t lead anywhere – but I think we’ll be seeing some of the people featured on this show. I liked the upbeat nature of this and I liked the camaraderie in the house as opposed to the feuding train wrecks that usually happens in these reality shows – I wouldn’t mind seeing another edition of this. Very enjoyable and somewhat cathartic in a way.
Grade: B -
AMATEUR PORN STAR KILLER (DVD)
DIG COUCH NOTE: Regardless of my reviews, these are squalid, hard to get through films and work in the very genre they set out to – but not much else. My deepest warning against watching these unless you have an intense curiosity. – DIG COUCH
Okay, not only did I never think I’d ever review a title like this for my site, but I never thought I’d be giving it a POSITIVE review. The truth is – this is a squalid, depressing little tape that has somehow spawned 2 sequels (I have seen neither – yet) – but it’s insanely real, if a bit overly artistic (I know – it sounds crazy.) The 73 minute film is basically this dude who picks up this girl in his car while he videotapes from either the worst video camera ever to exist, or we’re watching a copy of a copy of a copy – and sometimes the quality jumps from decent to horrendous to just plain annoyingly arty (or what the filmmaker thinks comes off as arty – is actually completely annoying and takes you out of the movie.) What’s left however, is an insanely gripping and mesmerizing 70 minutes of this dude talking this young girl into…well – the title says it all. But that’s all it is – the movie never leaves this shot. And that is the pull of it. And the acting – mostly improv – of the director/star and the girl – is absolutely real and believable – and as it goes on – this becomes one of the creepiest things I’d ever seen. But undeniably alive and raw.
Grade: B
UPDATE:
I watched Part 2. It’s much creepier. Maybe even evil. They offer two dvds – one is the FILM version (more pretense) – the other dvd is simply called THE KILLER’S SNUFF CUT with EVIDENCE marked on the disc – I chose that one just to see how far he would go with this premise. The same killer is back, and he goes much further with the premise this time around. It’s starker, darker, meaner – and much more sexually graphic – and violent. This does not make for feel-good watching – but as an absorbing piece of scripted reality, this is the real deal and you will need many showers and perhaps therapy after watching this.
Grade: B +
Someone just gave me part 3 – I’m extremely hesitant to watch. The only saving grace is its called THE FINAL CHAPTER.
JON BRION at LARGO (3 FRIDAY NIGHTS AGO)
I love Jon Brion – but I didn’t love this 3 hour fest that STARTED at 10 30 and went until the wee hours – with only 2 recognizable songs played the entire night. (Although – I slept through at least 4 songs – so maybe he did something awesome while I was sleeping.) He brought on a merry band of entertainers popular in the indie music world and they basically jammed. Frankly, for the money my friend Adam S. paid for me to attend this, I would’ve preferred some format to the show and maybe some real entertainment – instead it reminded me of being at your friends house when everyone else is drunk and on drugs except you – and they have musical instruments. The only instrument I needed was a gun – for Jon Brion, for my buddy Adam, and then of course for my mouth.
Grade: D +
THE VISITOR (DVD SCREENER)
Richard Jenkins is awesome in a film that somehow was generic, slow and predictable. Not to say it didn’t have some fine offbeat moments, but the only reason to watch this is for Jenkins wonderful performance as a stiff businessman trying to loosen up.
Grade: C -
THE BARBERA WALTERS SPECIAL (ABC)
The Jonas Brothers. Insipid. Ann Hathaway. Insiped. Mickey Rourke. Inspired – and insane.
Grade: eh. Barbera doesn’t ask anything remotely interesting anymore, so – who cares?
FAMILY GUY (FOX)
A stellar outing that saw their paralyzed cop friend in need of 20,000 dollars – Peter’s answer – rob Lois’ dad for millions. There was WAY too much going on in this episode to recount every funny laugh out loud moment – but this was a superlative outing for the show and a reminder of just how great this show could be.
Grade: A
UPDATE: While I was sick I watched MANY FAMILY GUY episodes on TOON. Watching a bunch of them, I have to say that there is a undeniable quality to them that is undeniable. When you are sick in bed and these shows are making you laugh out loud – you know it’s a classic. I saw the one where Stewie goes to High School to prove he’s cool. I saw Brian discover he has a 15 year old troublesome son. I saw Brian the dog nearly seduce Peter’s wife. And I saw Peter get a stroke from eating 80 greasy hamburgers. If you can’t tell – I fucking LOVE this show.
DEEPER THROAT (SHOWTIME)A variation on last year’s hard R-rated DEBBIE DOES DALLAS AGAIN, once again we have a half hour Showtime series that chronicles the remaking of a classic porn film while telling comical stories about the industry and the zany characters that inhabit it. I remember last year’s DEBBIE got very cloying at the end and seemingly either scripted or very tightly produced to get certain results. Credit Showtime with going a little further in the unscripted department this time around. Although that scene with Steve Hersch and his wife in bed might as well have been accompanied by a laugh track. What’s really and truly special about this show – one of the things that made DEBBIE as fun as it was despite its flaws – is the weekly depiction of the artistic porn director, Paul Thomas. He’s great. He simply has the very worst creative instincts every single time around, but because he’s picked up a pretentious Hollywood vibe and way of speaking – he gets away with it all the time because it SOUNDS like he knows what he’s doing. Seeing his boss yell at him over the script for DEEPER THROAT (P.T. thought it should be re-imagined as a fairy tale) was bracing – although – I think Hersch went over the top for the cameras. But this one seems to have a bit more bite than DEBBIE did, and I’ll definitely be watching to see this unfold. I just realized I didn’t mention the bit about the girls who come in to audition to be the new Linda Lovelace. It was pretty funny – all these porn chicks came to show that they have the particular “talent” this role needs. Of course, they needed to demonstrate it with a huge sex toy. And then Showtime would always cut away, which kind of – I mean – I don’t know why they felt the need to censor themselves on that – but that’s the problem with these shows about porn – they want to be lighthearted about a very dark subject matter. It’s literally a show that dwells on the comedy aspect of it (which isn’t really funny since it’s being overproduced with cloying, unfunny music.) The fiery blonde New York girl was hilarious about her skills, and I should mention that they auditioned Sasha Grey, who’s been in porn since she’s 18, and has also been a big staple in articles that cite her age and her mature attitude. She’s even going to be starring in a Soderbergh film in the next few months. Go figure. After the camera spends five minutes with her – you tend to think this very smart girl could do just about anything. She was pretty funny in a way the show is not. She was talking about the fact that “DEEP THROAT” “probably has absolutely nothing to do with Watergate.”
Grade: B
UPDATE: Watched ep 2 – and wouldn’t you know it – we are back to FULLY SCRIPTED PROGRAMMING. At its worst. Sorry, I wanted to love this – but you don’t need to script – just shoot what happens and edit it. Must we get non-actors delivering bad jokes with the worst line readings. It’s almost like a porn except without the sex. Brianna Banks, one of Vivid’s biggest stars is featured in this ep and truly sounded like a man – it was a little scary. And again, we spend just a bit of time with Sascha Grey, who honestly should just have her own show. She’s everything this show is not – smart, funny, ironic – Why, if she wasn’t in porn, I might just be forced to make an honest woman of that ms. Grey. And together, we’d forget about her porno past and start fresh….and then Seinfeld will come back for another season along with a 2 hour finale movie version of HILL STREET BLUES!
(more on the SEINFELD situation later.)
I LOVE MONEY 2 (VH1)
Ridiculous and yet – so very watchable. My money (I think) is on The Entertainer – he gotta get out of his mother’s house! But this show is undeniably fun if not terribly cohesive – actually it’s a mess, but a good kind of mess. Buddha must be stopped.
VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA (DVD)
The Woodman, since marrying his daughter, has stepped out and stepped it up. No longer making sophisticated films about NYC, after a string of almost shitty movies, now makes great films with international locales. This latest, about two best friends on vacation in Barcelona, takes a wild turn when they meet Javier Bardeem – a romantic Spanish artist who, after initially coming on to them for sex, ends up in a truly unique friendship with both of them – he beds one and falls for the other. He and one of the ladies are living in bliss until Penelope Cruz, who one the Oscar for her role (she’s THAT good) as Javier’s ex shows up. This is a great slice of life among the rich, eccentric and talented and it has that air about it that sort of makes you feel like you’re in that lifestyle as you watch it. Woody Allen is an amazing director and if you think he’s not relevant anymore, check out this film, which is both low-key and one of the best of the year.
Grade: A -
THE AMAZING RACE (CBS)
I don’t usually watch this but my friend MIKE WHITE and his dad are on this year – so – I have to watch and I’m enjoying what I’m seeing – this is a class act among reality shows – if a bit frantic and at times hard to follow. Still – it has a great format and Mike and his dad are kicking ass! Grade: B -
LISA LAMPONELLI (HBO)
I loved Lisa when I first became aware of her on the PAM ANDERSON. I like Lisa on the Stern show. But let’s face it – I’ve now seen her COM CENTRAL hour and now her brand new HBO hour. I’m sorry – I know she’s the hot comic of the moment – but she hasn’t changed her act in years, and her act is as thin as she is not. It’s literally the same shtick every single time – she uses the N word frequently – in fact – she slags everyone but believe me, that’s not the problem. If you want to see someone being controversial AND funny – look to Sarah Silverman – if you want to see someone just hoping that the controversial words will bring laughter – here comes Lisa Lamponelli – who not only goes for it with gusto on the racist diatribes – but she doesn’t have any real material behind it. She kind of fashions herself as the female Andrew Dice Clay – only – let’s face it – Dice used to be KILLER FUNNY – love him or hate him – he has a Point Of View to his craft and told a story. Lamponelli should just stick to short sets, the Stern show, the Kimmel show – roasts – she’s great. But for a full hour - I didn’t laugh once. And the crux of her act seems to be “Look how wild I am.” Seriously – half her stories have to do with people finding her offensive. Lisa – let me give you a little advice in that department – the idea is to go out and BE funny and controversial if you have to – THEN OTHER PEOPLE talk about it – when YOU TALK ABOUT it during your act and you pat yourself on the belly for being so “crazy” – it comes off as pathetic. Truly. Sorry – I once considered Lisa one of the best comics out there – these hour specials have exposed her as a true one trick pony. And the one trick is REALLY OLD.
Grade: D
KURT COBAIN: THE MAN & HIS WORDS (IFC)
Ok, I got the title wrong and I’m too lazy too look It up – but it plays all the time on IFC. A great docu with hours of audio recordings from Kurt himself who I think was writing a book and the dialog is played out over images that were important to Kurt’s life. Slow moving but completely moving – I loved it.
Grade: B +
THE BAD GIRLS CLUB (OXY)
More of the same. Trashy and wild, but somehow not as interesting as seasons past. Yet, this episode that took place in Cancun was pretty wild – even for this show’s standards. Throughout the episode it seemed that some horrifying incident was being foreshadowed, as clouds gathered around the two AMBERS. After a wild wet bikini contest, in which two of our Bad Girls were in and lost to a totally foxy local (sorry, but all the bad girls this season – especially the two in the contest – looks like they have put on 40 pounds each. They’re still lovely – but they ain’t winning no bikini contest – not in America – as they both said was the problem – and not anywhere. After screaming about losing the contest (which the audience voted on) one of the girls complained that she was yelled out for throwing ice – something she claims she didn’t do, somehow the anger turned towards the brighter Amber of the two Ambers. Allyeah, who I truly believe is actually mentally retarded – not just joking – she’s really in need of some help, goaded them into a fight with the Ambers and the hour ended with a disturbing street fight that left one of the Ambers laying in the street half-dead (seemingly.) I can’t wait till next week.
Grade: B -
ONE MAN, ONE CUP (THE WORLD WIDE INTERNET)
Someone evil forwarded this to me. Not only can I not even come close to describing what I saw in print – but I will say this – it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen in all my life – and I don’t know yet that I’ll ever be able to un-see it. Help me. God help me. And all of humanity.
DISTURBIA (HBO)
Catch this – it’s a DJ CARUSO directed variation of Hitchcock’s REAR WINDOW that really works. I liked this a lot, even if it is light as air.
Grade: B –
SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL (SHOWTIME)
Had their season final – this is a show that pretends to know about hooking – they may know some high end details – but the shame here is that it’s a wasted opportunity to really give some insight into the prostitution world with a scripted show – and it’s so concerned with being light and romantic – it has some nice moments here and there – but otherwise, you can skip this one.
Grade: C -
Saw Valerie Bertonelli recently on the RACHEL RAY show. Watching those two together - completely nauseating.
OSCAR UPDATE: I was reminded of the ghastly IN MEMORIUM section – where they decided fancy camera angles were more important than seeing the actual footage and names of the people who died – shameful.
NIP/TUCK: 5th Season Finale’ (F/X)
SO even Sean’s new “crazy” girl – a completely unrealistic portrait of anyone if there ever was one. Vampires, psychos, cryogenics, murder, porn – it was all packed into the last episode of the next to last season of this once flawless show. Now the show is all flaw.
Grade: D
CLASSIC ALBUMS: JOHN LENNON – PLASTIC ONO BAND (VH1 CLASSIC)
What a great testament to awesome music, inspired writing and creation, the love affair between John and Yoko – a woman that tore the world in half. And in the midst of all that, the nuts and bolts that went into making such an amazing album (that might be my favorite in his catalogue – and I love them all but that one – very special CD.) Highly highly recommended.
Grade: A
I will be back with new reviews just as soon as I can - Digital Couch out
.
THE BOYFRIEND SHIRT
If you are a woman and want to drive your man wild, please check out THE BOYFRIEND SHIRT. Go here for details but I think this is the next big thing
I have been having trouble for a long time with BLOGSPOT links - until i figure out why it's not working - I realy would like people to check out this link so please cut and past and let me know what you think:
www.theboyfriendshirt.com
BLACK TO THE FUTURE (VH1)
Is a WE LOVE THE 70s type pop-culture riff with tons of talking heads – only this show focuses on all things black. Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Jesse Jackson, Lionel Richie, Different Strokes, Eddie Murphy’s PARTY ALL THE TIME recording – all the great moments of black pop culture history is presented here and frankly – after watching all those other talking head shows which VH1 seems to specialize in – this one was really good. Focusing on black-only pop culture gave the show an edge and a focus. The comics were hilarious – although Hal Sparks is now sporting a scary rock star hair-do – other than that – this is really one to watch. There are too many things that fly by to really talk about – but this is a four parter that really works.
Grade: B +
ER is winding down with its last few episodes. It's been great to see some familiar faces, and Noah Whylie is particularly good in these episodes as Dr. Carter. Looking forward to seeing more familiar faces as the long running series finally comes to an end.
To everyone who witnessed Steve Harvey and his wife talking about the book they wrote about their love on the Oprah Winfrey show – let me know if you’re planning mass suicide. I might join you - because this was the worst spectacle of pseudo-celebrity ass kissing I’ve ever seen.
SPECTACLE (SUNDANCE)
Elvis Costello is really the best. He sings, he writes, he plays – and he has great questions and insights and a genuine curiosity for all his guests and a true pure love of music. I sometimes wish they’d sing some more familiar tunes instead of playing to the obscure crowd as I don’t know half the songs he’s reeling off – but when something magical happens – like Elvis and Lou Reed singing “Perfect Day” or Elvis singing “Border Song” to an astonished Elton John – this show is alive and pumping. This is a show that needs a first season soundtrack out ASAP. Truly, first rate.
Grade: A
SKINS (BBC DVD)
I had heard so much about this BBC show about the real lives of young adults – I thought I was in for a treat. I was and I wasn’t. It’s good and very watchable – but unlike what I was hoping for – which was realism – it’s really over the top and actually wickedly funny – just not what I was expecting. That said – there are some amazing scenes and some really clever stuff going on here – and the young actors are miraculous and the whole thing has sort of a TRAINSPOTTING vibe. I just don’t think it has the gravity to make you love it. It’s missing a bit of heart - although I’m only in the middle of series 1. Each episode focuses on a different kid – I particularly loved the girl with the eating disorder who kept getting strange texts to her cell that would say “EAT!” Even better was this weird tracking shot of her fingers running down a stairs banister…maybe you had to see it…anyway – if this gets much better I’ll let you know. There’s a little too much “clever comedy” for its good that keeps it from getting to the next level. So far…
Grade: B -
UPDATE: Started watching Disc 2 and it’s getting much better and much deeper.
SNUFF: A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT KILLING ON CAMERA (DVD)
Revolting and fascinating, this docu attempts to explore the “myth” of onscreen killing. It’s mostly talking heads with a few really disturbing shots here and there – they even include the entire segment from the end of a 75’ film called “SNUFF.” SNUFF was notorious back in the day for purporting to really kill someone at the end of the film. I remember renting SNUFF with some friends when it came out on VHS - we all were very freaked out at that ending. As the film – which is LAUGHABLE, ends, the “director” starts telling the actress how great she was and it leads to a supposedly impromptu make out session on the bed while the crew packs up. Suddenly – the director turns violent, and with the help of the crew, he kills and literally guts the woman. Now, I have to tell you – back in the day – me and all my friends were completely freaked and convinced we had seen a murder. It didn’t seem possible – and at the time – I should’ve realized that the PARTY CENTER in Brooklyn on Ralph Avenue – a candy, party supply and VHS rental shop would probably not have rented an actual on screen killing to a bunch of young boys. And yet, I always remembered that scene for being completely realistic for it’s time and just plain real. This docu begins early on by showing the entire sequence. 20 years later – I feel a bit snookered. The ending is actually so fake – so obviously fake – that I’m embarrassed I fell for it. Anyway – the film – while just mostly talking heads with some truly disturbing violent shots scattered throughout – is quite entertaining, disturbing and while some of the talking heads don’t really seem qualified to speak on the subject of SNUFF films – we do get a pretty full bodied idea of what a SNUFF film supposedly is. SNUFF is not nessessarily the act of just killing on camera – serial killers have been doing that for years. But a true SNUFF film in the commercial sense means somebody is murdered on camera for profit from the sick people who want to watch it. The film debates whether snuff is real or an urban myth. The answer – I don’t know. It probably doesn’t exist in the massive way some might think – but according to these folks and some news accounts – it exists. I will skip the Russian Child Porn Snuff ring – truly – one of the – I can’t even say. You can always see the movie if you’re interested in knowing about it – but it was apparently real and – wow. As horrifying as that was, there was nothing more horrifying to me than the last 10 minutes of the film, which had adult film producer Marc Rosen give a fully realistic account of the day he went to a LA hotel to meet some distributors who had something “outrageous” they wanted him to distribute. Marc sullenly gives a description of what he saw and starts to cry from the memory of this tape he was shown 20 plus years ago. I can’t recommend this film to anyone – but if you ever had a curiosity about the subject – this film offers a LOT of answers.
Grade: B +
And as far as the 1975 notorious classic SNUFF, For those interested – here is the trailer – probably creepier than anything in the actual movie:
GO HERE
I WAS A TEENAGE IDOL (VH1)
This is turning into a really good show. That kid from Baywatch is insane. Chris Atkins is cool. UPDATE:
I just watched the finale and not only did they try to give all the guys some decent hook ups for the future, some of them even got countdown shows on VH1 – maybe it won’t lead anywhere – but I think we’ll be seeing some of the people featured on this show. I liked the upbeat nature of this and I liked the camaraderie in the house as opposed to the feuding train wrecks that usually happens in these reality shows – I wouldn’t mind seeing another edition of this. Very enjoyable and somewhat cathartic in a way.
Grade: B -
AMATEUR PORN STAR KILLER (DVD)
DIG COUCH NOTE: Regardless of my reviews, these are squalid, hard to get through films and work in the very genre they set out to – but not much else. My deepest warning against watching these unless you have an intense curiosity. – DIG COUCH
Okay, not only did I never think I’d ever review a title like this for my site, but I never thought I’d be giving it a POSITIVE review. The truth is – this is a squalid, depressing little tape that has somehow spawned 2 sequels (I have seen neither – yet) – but it’s insanely real, if a bit overly artistic (I know – it sounds crazy.) The 73 minute film is basically this dude who picks up this girl in his car while he videotapes from either the worst video camera ever to exist, or we’re watching a copy of a copy of a copy – and sometimes the quality jumps from decent to horrendous to just plain annoyingly arty (or what the filmmaker thinks comes off as arty – is actually completely annoying and takes you out of the movie.) What’s left however, is an insanely gripping and mesmerizing 70 minutes of this dude talking this young girl into…well – the title says it all. But that’s all it is – the movie never leaves this shot. And that is the pull of it. And the acting – mostly improv – of the director/star and the girl – is absolutely real and believable – and as it goes on – this becomes one of the creepiest things I’d ever seen. But undeniably alive and raw.
Grade: B
UPDATE:
I watched Part 2. It’s much creepier. Maybe even evil. They offer two dvds – one is the FILM version (more pretense) – the other dvd is simply called THE KILLER’S SNUFF CUT with EVIDENCE marked on the disc – I chose that one just to see how far he would go with this premise. The same killer is back, and he goes much further with the premise this time around. It’s starker, darker, meaner – and much more sexually graphic – and violent. This does not make for feel-good watching – but as an absorbing piece of scripted reality, this is the real deal and you will need many showers and perhaps therapy after watching this.
Grade: B +
Someone just gave me part 3 – I’m extremely hesitant to watch. The only saving grace is its called THE FINAL CHAPTER.
JON BRION at LARGO (3 FRIDAY NIGHTS AGO)
I love Jon Brion – but I didn’t love this 3 hour fest that STARTED at 10 30 and went until the wee hours – with only 2 recognizable songs played the entire night. (Although – I slept through at least 4 songs – so maybe he did something awesome while I was sleeping.) He brought on a merry band of entertainers popular in the indie music world and they basically jammed. Frankly, for the money my friend Adam S. paid for me to attend this, I would’ve preferred some format to the show and maybe some real entertainment – instead it reminded me of being at your friends house when everyone else is drunk and on drugs except you – and they have musical instruments. The only instrument I needed was a gun – for Jon Brion, for my buddy Adam, and then of course for my mouth.
Grade: D +
THE VISITOR (DVD SCREENER)
Richard Jenkins is awesome in a film that somehow was generic, slow and predictable. Not to say it didn’t have some fine offbeat moments, but the only reason to watch this is for Jenkins wonderful performance as a stiff businessman trying to loosen up.
Grade: C -
THE BARBERA WALTERS SPECIAL (ABC)
The Jonas Brothers. Insipid. Ann Hathaway. Insiped. Mickey Rourke. Inspired – and insane.
Grade: eh. Barbera doesn’t ask anything remotely interesting anymore, so – who cares?
FAMILY GUY (FOX)
A stellar outing that saw their paralyzed cop friend in need of 20,000 dollars – Peter’s answer – rob Lois’ dad for millions. There was WAY too much going on in this episode to recount every funny laugh out loud moment – but this was a superlative outing for the show and a reminder of just how great this show could be.
Grade: A
UPDATE: While I was sick I watched MANY FAMILY GUY episodes on TOON. Watching a bunch of them, I have to say that there is a undeniable quality to them that is undeniable. When you are sick in bed and these shows are making you laugh out loud – you know it’s a classic. I saw the one where Stewie goes to High School to prove he’s cool. I saw Brian discover he has a 15 year old troublesome son. I saw Brian the dog nearly seduce Peter’s wife. And I saw Peter get a stroke from eating 80 greasy hamburgers. If you can’t tell – I fucking LOVE this show.
DEEPER THROAT (SHOWTIME)A variation on last year’s hard R-rated DEBBIE DOES DALLAS AGAIN, once again we have a half hour Showtime series that chronicles the remaking of a classic porn film while telling comical stories about the industry and the zany characters that inhabit it. I remember last year’s DEBBIE got very cloying at the end and seemingly either scripted or very tightly produced to get certain results. Credit Showtime with going a little further in the unscripted department this time around. Although that scene with Steve Hersch and his wife in bed might as well have been accompanied by a laugh track. What’s really and truly special about this show – one of the things that made DEBBIE as fun as it was despite its flaws – is the weekly depiction of the artistic porn director, Paul Thomas. He’s great. He simply has the very worst creative instincts every single time around, but because he’s picked up a pretentious Hollywood vibe and way of speaking – he gets away with it all the time because it SOUNDS like he knows what he’s doing. Seeing his boss yell at him over the script for DEEPER THROAT (P.T. thought it should be re-imagined as a fairy tale) was bracing – although – I think Hersch went over the top for the cameras. But this one seems to have a bit more bite than DEBBIE did, and I’ll definitely be watching to see this unfold. I just realized I didn’t mention the bit about the girls who come in to audition to be the new Linda Lovelace. It was pretty funny – all these porn chicks came to show that they have the particular “talent” this role needs. Of course, they needed to demonstrate it with a huge sex toy. And then Showtime would always cut away, which kind of – I mean – I don’t know why they felt the need to censor themselves on that – but that’s the problem with these shows about porn – they want to be lighthearted about a very dark subject matter. It’s literally a show that dwells on the comedy aspect of it (which isn’t really funny since it’s being overproduced with cloying, unfunny music.) The fiery blonde New York girl was hilarious about her skills, and I should mention that they auditioned Sasha Grey, who’s been in porn since she’s 18, and has also been a big staple in articles that cite her age and her mature attitude. She’s even going to be starring in a Soderbergh film in the next few months. Go figure. After the camera spends five minutes with her – you tend to think this very smart girl could do just about anything. She was pretty funny in a way the show is not. She was talking about the fact that “DEEP THROAT” “probably has absolutely nothing to do with Watergate.”
Grade: B
UPDATE: Watched ep 2 – and wouldn’t you know it – we are back to FULLY SCRIPTED PROGRAMMING. At its worst. Sorry, I wanted to love this – but you don’t need to script – just shoot what happens and edit it. Must we get non-actors delivering bad jokes with the worst line readings. It’s almost like a porn except without the sex. Brianna Banks, one of Vivid’s biggest stars is featured in this ep and truly sounded like a man – it was a little scary. And again, we spend just a bit of time with Sascha Grey, who honestly should just have her own show. She’s everything this show is not – smart, funny, ironic – Why, if she wasn’t in porn, I might just be forced to make an honest woman of that ms. Grey. And together, we’d forget about her porno past and start fresh….and then Seinfeld will come back for another season along with a 2 hour finale movie version of HILL STREET BLUES!
(more on the SEINFELD situation later.)
I LOVE MONEY 2 (VH1)
Ridiculous and yet – so very watchable. My money (I think) is on The Entertainer – he gotta get out of his mother’s house! But this show is undeniably fun if not terribly cohesive – actually it’s a mess, but a good kind of mess. Buddha must be stopped.
VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA (DVD)
The Woodman, since marrying his daughter, has stepped out and stepped it up. No longer making sophisticated films about NYC, after a string of almost shitty movies, now makes great films with international locales. This latest, about two best friends on vacation in Barcelona, takes a wild turn when they meet Javier Bardeem – a romantic Spanish artist who, after initially coming on to them for sex, ends up in a truly unique friendship with both of them – he beds one and falls for the other. He and one of the ladies are living in bliss until Penelope Cruz, who one the Oscar for her role (she’s THAT good) as Javier’s ex shows up. This is a great slice of life among the rich, eccentric and talented and it has that air about it that sort of makes you feel like you’re in that lifestyle as you watch it. Woody Allen is an amazing director and if you think he’s not relevant anymore, check out this film, which is both low-key and one of the best of the year.
Grade: A -
THE AMAZING RACE (CBS)
I don’t usually watch this but my friend MIKE WHITE and his dad are on this year – so – I have to watch and I’m enjoying what I’m seeing – this is a class act among reality shows – if a bit frantic and at times hard to follow. Still – it has a great format and Mike and his dad are kicking ass! Grade: B -
LISA LAMPONELLI (HBO)
I loved Lisa when I first became aware of her on the PAM ANDERSON. I like Lisa on the Stern show. But let’s face it – I’ve now seen her COM CENTRAL hour and now her brand new HBO hour. I’m sorry – I know she’s the hot comic of the moment – but she hasn’t changed her act in years, and her act is as thin as she is not. It’s literally the same shtick every single time – she uses the N word frequently – in fact – she slags everyone but believe me, that’s not the problem. If you want to see someone being controversial AND funny – look to Sarah Silverman – if you want to see someone just hoping that the controversial words will bring laughter – here comes Lisa Lamponelli – who not only goes for it with gusto on the racist diatribes – but she doesn’t have any real material behind it. She kind of fashions herself as the female Andrew Dice Clay – only – let’s face it – Dice used to be KILLER FUNNY – love him or hate him – he has a Point Of View to his craft and told a story. Lamponelli should just stick to short sets, the Stern show, the Kimmel show – roasts – she’s great. But for a full hour - I didn’t laugh once. And the crux of her act seems to be “Look how wild I am.” Seriously – half her stories have to do with people finding her offensive. Lisa – let me give you a little advice in that department – the idea is to go out and BE funny and controversial if you have to – THEN OTHER PEOPLE talk about it – when YOU TALK ABOUT it during your act and you pat yourself on the belly for being so “crazy” – it comes off as pathetic. Truly. Sorry – I once considered Lisa one of the best comics out there – these hour specials have exposed her as a true one trick pony. And the one trick is REALLY OLD.
Grade: D
KURT COBAIN: THE MAN & HIS WORDS (IFC)
Ok, I got the title wrong and I’m too lazy too look It up – but it plays all the time on IFC. A great docu with hours of audio recordings from Kurt himself who I think was writing a book and the dialog is played out over images that were important to Kurt’s life. Slow moving but completely moving – I loved it.
Grade: B +
THE BAD GIRLS CLUB (OXY)
More of the same. Trashy and wild, but somehow not as interesting as seasons past. Yet, this episode that took place in Cancun was pretty wild – even for this show’s standards. Throughout the episode it seemed that some horrifying incident was being foreshadowed, as clouds gathered around the two AMBERS. After a wild wet bikini contest, in which two of our Bad Girls were in and lost to a totally foxy local (sorry, but all the bad girls this season – especially the two in the contest – looks like they have put on 40 pounds each. They’re still lovely – but they ain’t winning no bikini contest – not in America – as they both said was the problem – and not anywhere. After screaming about losing the contest (which the audience voted on) one of the girls complained that she was yelled out for throwing ice – something she claims she didn’t do, somehow the anger turned towards the brighter Amber of the two Ambers. Allyeah, who I truly believe is actually mentally retarded – not just joking – she’s really in need of some help, goaded them into a fight with the Ambers and the hour ended with a disturbing street fight that left one of the Ambers laying in the street half-dead (seemingly.) I can’t wait till next week.
Grade: B -
ONE MAN, ONE CUP (THE WORLD WIDE INTERNET)
Someone evil forwarded this to me. Not only can I not even come close to describing what I saw in print – but I will say this – it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen in all my life – and I don’t know yet that I’ll ever be able to un-see it. Help me. God help me. And all of humanity.
DISTURBIA (HBO)
Catch this – it’s a DJ CARUSO directed variation of Hitchcock’s REAR WINDOW that really works. I liked this a lot, even if it is light as air.
Grade: B –
SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL (SHOWTIME)
Had their season final – this is a show that pretends to know about hooking – they may know some high end details – but the shame here is that it’s a wasted opportunity to really give some insight into the prostitution world with a scripted show – and it’s so concerned with being light and romantic – it has some nice moments here and there – but otherwise, you can skip this one.
Grade: C -
Saw Valerie Bertonelli recently on the RACHEL RAY show. Watching those two together - completely nauseating.
OSCAR UPDATE: I was reminded of the ghastly IN MEMORIUM section – where they decided fancy camera angles were more important than seeing the actual footage and names of the people who died – shameful.
NIP/TUCK: 5th Season Finale’ (F/X)
SO even Sean’s new “crazy” girl – a completely unrealistic portrait of anyone if there ever was one. Vampires, psychos, cryogenics, murder, porn – it was all packed into the last episode of the next to last season of this once flawless show. Now the show is all flaw.
Grade: D
CLASSIC ALBUMS: JOHN LENNON – PLASTIC ONO BAND (VH1 CLASSIC)
What a great testament to awesome music, inspired writing and creation, the love affair between John and Yoko – a woman that tore the world in half. And in the midst of all that, the nuts and bolts that went into making such an amazing album (that might be my favorite in his catalogue – and I love them all but that one – very special CD.) Highly highly recommended.
Grade: A
I will be back with new reviews just as soon as I can - Digital Couch out
.
THE LOST BLOG: E.R., Black 2 Future, Skins, Spectacle, Amateur Porn Sex Killer, Jon Brion, Deeper Throat, Bad Girls Club, Nip/Tuck
Sorry – have been really busy – these are not new reviews but you haven’t seen them. When I did last week’s blog, I stuck to the reviews that Ralph had seen so we could have a cohesive blog – but these are the ones left out from last week because I’ve been behind on viewing – hopefully these reviews will tide you over till my next current blog – DIGITAL COUCH.
By the way - if you want to get the GREATEST female shirt around - seriously - go here.
this is a BOYFRIEND shirt - which is a man-style shirt made for woman and frankly - they are SEXY as HELL.
BLACK TO THE FUTURE (VH1)
Is a WE LOVE THE 70s type pop-culture riff with tons of talking heads – only this show focuses on all things black. Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Jesse Jackson, Lionel Richie, Different Strokes, Eddie Murphy’s PARTY ALL THE TIME recording – all the great moments of black pop culture history is presented here and frankly – after watching all those other talking head shows which VH1 seems to specialize in – this one was really good. Focusing on black-only pop culture gave the show an edge and a focus. The comics were hilarious – although Hal Sparks is now sporting a scary rock star hair-do – other than that – this is really one to watch. There are too many things that fly by to really talk about – but this is a four parter that really works.
Grade: B +
ER is winding down with its last few episodes. It's been great to see some familiar faces, and Noah Whylie is particularly good in these episodes as Dr. Carter. Looking forward to seeing more familiar faces as the long running series finally comes to an end.
To everyone who witnessed Steve Harvey and his wife talking about the book they wrote about their love on the Oprah Winfrey show – let me know if you’re planning mass suicide. I might join you - because this was the worst spectacle of pseudo-celebrity ass kissing I’ve ever seen.
SPECTACLE (SUNDANCE)
Elvis Costello is really the best. He sings, he writes, he plays – and he has great questions and insights and a genuine curiosity for all his guests and a true pure love of music. I sometimes wish they’d sing some more familiar tunes instead of playing to the obscure crowd as I don’t know half the songs he’s reeling off – but when something magical happens – like Elvis and Lou Reed singing “Perfect Day” or Elvis singing “Border Song” to an astonished Elton John – this show is alive and pumping. This is a show that needs a first season soundtrack out ASAP. Truly, first rate.
Grade: A
SKINS (BBC DVD)
I had heard so much about this BBC show about the real lives of young adults – I thought I was in for a treat. I was and I wasn’t. It’s good and very watchable – but unlike what I was hoping for – which was realism – it’s really over the top and actually wickedly funny – just not what I was expecting. That said – there are some amazing scenes and some really clever stuff going on here – and the young actors are miraculous and the whole thing has sort of a TRAINSPOTTING vibe. I just don’t think it has the gravity to make you love it. It’s missing a bit of heart - although I’m only in the middle of series 1. Each episode focuses on a different kid – I particularly loved the girl with the eating disorder who kept getting strange texts to her cell that would say “EAT!” Even better was this weird tracking shot of her fingers running down a stairs banister…maybe you had to see it…anyway – if this gets much better I’ll let you know. There’s a little too much “clever comedy” for its good that keeps it from getting to the next level. So far…
Grade: B -
UPDATE: Started watching Disc 2 and it’s getting much better and much deeper.
SNUFF: A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT KILLING ON CAMERA (DVD)
Revolting and fascinating, this docu attempts to explore the “myth” of onscreen killing. It’s mostly talking heads with a few really disturbing shots here and there – they even include the entire segment from the end of a 75’ film called “SNUFF.” SNUFF was notorious back in the day for purporting to really kill someone at the end of the film. I remember renting SNUFF with some friends when it came out on VHS - we all were very freaked out at that ending. As the film – which is LAUGHABLE, ends, the “director” starts telling the actress how great she was and it leads to a supposedly impromptu make out session on the bed while the crew packs up. Suddenly – the director turns violent, and with the help of the crew, he kills and literally guts the woman. Now, I have to tell you – back in the day – me and all my friends were completely freaked and convinced we had seen a murder. It didn’t seem possible – and at the time – I should’ve realized that the PARTY CENTER in Brooklyn on Ralph Avenue – a candy, party supply and VHS rental shop would probably not have rented an actual on screen killing to a bunch of young boys. And yet, I always remembered that scene for being completely realistic for it’s time and just plain real. This docu begins early on by showing the entire sequence. 20 years later – I feel a bit snookered. The ending is actually so fake – so obviously fake – that I’m embarrassed I fell for it. Anyway – the film – while just mostly talking heads with some truly disturbing violent shots scattered throughout – is quite entertaining, disturbing and while some of the talking heads don’t really seem qualified to speak on the subject of SNUFF films – we do get a pretty full bodied idea of what a SNUFF film supposedly is. SNUFF is not nessessarily the act of just killing on camera – serial killers have been doing that for years. But a true SNUFF film in the commercial sense means somebody is murdered on camera for profit from the sick people who want to watch it. The film debates whether snuff is real or an urban myth. The answer – I don’t know. It probably doesn’t exist in the massive way some might think – but according to these folks and some news accounts – it exists. I will skip the Russian Child Porn Snuff ring – truly – one of the – I can’t even say. You can always see the movie if you’re interested in knowing about it – but it was apparently real and – wow. As horrifying as that was, there was nothing more horrifying to me than the last 10 minutes of the film, which had adult film producer Marc Rosen give a fully realistic account of the day he went to a LA hotel to meet some distributors who had something “outrageous” they wanted him to distribute. Marc sullenly gives a description of what he saw and starts to cry from the memory of this tape he was shown 20 plus years ago. I can’t recommend this film to anyone – but if you ever had a curiosity about the subject – this film offers a LOT of answers.
Grade: B +
And as far as the 1975 notorious classic SNUFF, For those interested – here is the trailer – probably creepier than anything in the actual movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggP5cG1gLqg
I WAS A TEENAGE IDOL (VH1)
This is turning into a really good show. That kid from Baywatch is insane. Chris Atkins is cool. UPDATE:
I just watched the finale and not only did they try to give all the guys some decent hook ups for the future, some of them even got countdown shows on VH1 – maybe it won’t lead anywhere – but I think we’ll be seeing some of the people featured on this show. I liked the upbeat nature of this and I liked the camaraderie in the house as opposed to the feuding train wrecks that usually happens in these reality shows – I wouldn’t mind seeing another edition of this. Very enjoyable and somewhat cathartic in a way.
Grade: B -
AMATEUR PORN STAR KILLER (DVD)
DIG COUCH NOTE: Regardless of my reviews, these are squalid, hard to get through films and work in the very genre they set out to – but not much else. My deepest warning against watching these unless you have an intense curiosity. – DIG COUCH
Okay, not only did I never think I’d ever review a title like this for my site, but I never thought I’d be giving it a POSITIVE review. The truth is – this is a squalid, depressing little tape that has somehow spawned 2 sequels (I have seen neither – yet) – but it’s insanely real, if a bit overly artistic (I know – it sounds crazy.) The 73 minute film is basically this dude who picks up this girl in his car while he videotapes from either the worst video camera ever to exist, or we’re watching a copy of a copy of a copy – and sometimes the quality jumps from decent to horrendous to just plain annoyingly arty (or what the filmmaker thinks comes off as arty – is actually completely annoying and takes you out of the movie.) What’s left however, is an insanely gripping and mesmerizing 70 minutes of this dude talking this young girl into…well – the title says it all. But that’s all it is – the movie never leaves this shot. And that is the pull of it. And the acting – mostly improv – of the director/star and the girl – is absolutely real and believable – and as it goes on – this becomes one of the creepiest things I’d ever seen. But undeniably alive and raw.
Grade: B
UPDATE:
I watched Part 2. It’s much creepier. Maybe even evil. They offer two dvds – one is the FILM version (more pretense) – the other dvd is simply called THE KILLER’S SNUFF CUT with EVIDENCE marked on the disc – I chose that one just to see how far he would go with this premise. The same killer is back, and he goes much further with the premise this time around. It’s starker, darker, meaner – and much more sexually graphic – and violent. This does not make for feel-good watching – but as an absorbing piece of scripted reality, this is the real deal and you will need many showers and perhaps therapy after watching this.
Grade: B +
Someone just gave me part 3 – I’m extremely hesitant to watch. The only saving grace is its called THE FINAL CHAPTER.
JON BRION at LARGO (3 FRIDAY NIGHTS AGO)
I love Jon Brion – but I didn’t love this 3 hour fest that STARTED at 10 30 and went until the wee hours – with only 2 recognizable songs played the entire night. (Although – I slept through at least 4 songs – so maybe he did something awesome while I was sleeping.) He brought on a merry band of entertainers popular in the indie music world and they basically jammed. Frankly, for the money my friend Adam S. paid for me to attend this, I would’ve preferred some format to the show and maybe some real entertainment – instead it reminded me of being at your friends house when everyone else is drunk and on drugs except you – and they have musical instruments. The only instrument I needed was a gun – for Jon Brion, for my buddy Adam, and then of course for my mouth.
Grade: D +
THE VISITOR (DVD SCREENER)
Richard Jenkins is awesome in a film that somehow was generic, slow and predictable. Not to say it didn’t have some fine offbeat moments, but the only reason to watch this is for Jenkins wonderful performance as a stiff businessman trying to loosen up.
Grade: C -
THE BARBERA WALTERS SPECIAL (ABC)
The Jonas Brothers. Insipid. Ann Hathaway. Insiped. Mickey Rourke. Inspired – and insane.
Grade: eh. Barbera doesn’t ask anything remotely interesting anymore, so – who cares?
FAMILY GUY (FOX)
A stellar outing that saw their paralyzed cop friend in need of 20,000 dollars – Peter’s answer – rob Lois’ dad for millions. There was WAY too much going on in this episode to recount every funny laugh out loud moment – but this was a superlative outing for the show and a reminder of just how great this show could be.
Grade: A
UPDATE: While I was sick I watched MANY FAMILY GUY episodes on TOON. Watching a bunch of them, I have to say that there is a undeniable quality to them that is undeniable. When you are sick in bed and these shows are making you laugh out loud – you know it’s a classic. I saw the one where Stewie goes to High School to prove he’s cool. I saw Brian discover he has a 15 year old troublesome son. I saw Brian the dog nearly seduce Peter’s wife. And I saw Peter get a stroke from eating 80 greasy hamburgers. If you can’t tell – I fucking LOVE this show.
DEEPER THROAT (SHOWTIME)
A variation on last year’s hard R-rated DEBBIE DOES DALLAS AGAIN, once again we have a half hour Showtime series that chronicles the remaking of a classic porn film while telling comical stories about the industry and the zany characters that inhabit it. I remember last year’s DEBBIE got very cloying at the end and seemingly either scripted or very tightly produced to get certain results. Credit Showtime with going a little further in the unscripted department this time around. Although that scene with Steve Hersch and his wife in bed might as well have been accompanied by a laugh track. What’s really and truly special about this show – one of the things that made DEBBIE as fun as it was despite its flaws – is the weekly depiction of the artistic porn director, Paul Thomas. He’s great. He simply has the very worst creative instincts every single time around, but because he’s picked up a pretentious Hollywood vibe and way of speaking – he gets away with it all the time because it SOUNDS like he knows what he’s doing. Seeing his boss yell at him over the script for DEEPER THROAT (P.T. thought it should be re-imagined as a fairy tale) was bracing – although – I think Hersch went over the top for the cameras. But this one seems to have a bit more bite than DEBBIE did, and I’ll definitely be watching to see this unfold. I just realized I didn’t mention the bit about the girls who come in to audition to be the new Linda Lovelace. It was pretty funny – all these porn chicks came to show that they have the particular “talent” this role needs. Of course, they needed to demonstrate it with a huge sex toy. And then Showtime would always cut away, which kind of – I mean – I don’t know why they felt the need to censor themselves on that – but that’s the problem with these shows about porn – they want to be lighthearted about a very dark subject matter. It’s literally a show that dwells on the comedy aspect of it (which isn’t really funny since it’s being overproduced with cloying, unfunny music.) The fiery blonde New York girl was hilarious about her skills, and I should mention that they auditioned Sasha Grey, who’s been in porn since she’s 18, and has also been a big staple in articles that cite her age and her mature attitude. She’s even going to be starring in a Soderbergh film in the next few months. Go figure. After the camera spends five minutes with her – you tend to think this very smart girl could do just about anything. She was pretty funny in a way the show is not. She was talking about the fact that “DEEP THROAT” “probably has absolutely nothing to do with Watergate.”
Grade: B
UPDATE: Watched ep 2 – and wouldn’t you know it – we are back to FULLY SCRIPTED PROGRAMMING. At its worst. Sorry, I wanted to love this – but you don’t need to script – just shoot what happens and edit it. Must we get non-actors delivering bad jokes with the worst line readings. It’s almost like a porn except without the sex. Brianna Banks, one of Vivid’s biggest stars is featured in this ep and truly sounded like a man – it was a little scary. And again, we spend just a bit of time with Sascha Grey, who honestly should just have her own show. She’s everything this show is not – smart, funny, ironic – Why, if she wasn’t in porn, I might just be forced to make an honest woman of that ms. Grey. And together, we’d forget about her porno past and start fresh….and then Seinfeld will come back for another season along with a 2 hour finale movie version of HILL STREET BLUES!
(more on the SEINFELD situation later.)
I LOVE MONEY 2 (VH1)
Ridiculous and yet – so very watchable. My money (I think) is on The Entertainer – he gotta get out of his mother’s house! But this show is undeniably fun if not terribly cohesive – actually it’s a mess, but a good kind of mess. Buddha must be stopped.
VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA (DVD)
The Woodman, since marrying his daughter, has stepped out and stepped it up. No longer making sophisticated films about NYC, after a string of almost shitty movies, now makes great films with international locales. This latest, about two best friends on vacation in Barcelona, takes a wild turn when they meet Javier Bardeem – a romantic Spanish artist who, after initially coming on to them for sex, ends up in a truly unique friendship with both of them – he beds one and falls for the other. He and one of the ladies are living in bliss until Penelope Cruz, who one the Oscar for her role (she’s THAT good) as Javier’s ex shows up. This is a great slice of life among the rich, eccentric and talented and it has that air about it that sort of makes you feel like you’re in that lifestyle as you watch it. Woody Allen is an amazing director and if you think he’s not relevant anymore, check out this film, which is both low-key and one of the best of the year.
Grade: A -
THE AMAZING RACE (CBS)
I don’t usually watch this but my friend MIKE WHITE and his dad are on this year – so – I have to watch and I’m enjoying what I’m seeing – this is a class act among reality shows – if a bit frantic and at times hard to follow. Still – it has a great format and Mike and his dad are kicking ass! Grade: B -
LISA LAMPONELLI (HBO)
I loved Lisa when I first became aware of her on the PAM ANDERSON. I like Lisa on the Stern show. But let’s face it – I’ve now seen her COM CENTRAL hour and now her brand new HBO hour. I’m sorry – I know she’s the hot comic of the moment – but she hasn’t changed her act in years, and her act is as thin as she is not. It’s literally the same shtick every single time – she uses the N word frequently – in fact – she slags everyone but believe me, that’s not the problem. If you want to see someone being controversial AND funny – look to Sarah Silverman – if you want to see someone just hoping that the controversial words will bring laughter – here comes Lisa Lamponelli – who not only goes for it with gusto on the racist diatribes – but she doesn’t have any real material behind it. She kind of fashions herself as the female Andrew Dice Clay – only – let’s face it – Dice used to be KILLER FUNNY – love him or hate him – he has a Point Of View to his craft and told a story. Lamponelli should just stick to short sets, the Stern show, the Kimmel show – roasts – she’s great. But for a full hour - I didn’t laugh once. And the crux of her act seems to be “Look how wild I am.” Seriously – half her stories have to do with people finding her offensive. Lisa – let me give you a little advice in that department – the idea is to go out and BE funny and controversial if you have to – THEN OTHER PEOPLE talk about it – when YOU TALK ABOUT it during your act and you pat yourself on the belly for being so “crazy” – it comes off as pathetic. Truly. Sorry – I once considered Lisa one of the best comics out there – these hour specials have exposed her as a true one trick pony. And the one trick is REALLY OLD.
Grade: D
KURT COBAIN: THE MAN & HIS WORDS (IFC)
Ok, I got the title wrong and I’m too lazy too look It up – but it plays all the time on IFC. A great docu with hours of audio recordings from Kurt himself who I think was writing a book and the dialog is played out over images that were important to Kurt’s life. Slow moving but completely moving – I loved it.
Grade: B +
THE BAD GIRLS CLUB (OXY)
More of the same. Trashy and wild, but somehow not as interesting as seasons past. Yet, this episode that took place in Cancun was pretty wild – even for this show’s standards. Throughout the episode it seemed that some horrifying incident was being foreshadowed, as clouds gathered around the two AMBERS. After a wild wet bikini contest, in which two of our Bad Girls were in and lost to a totally foxy local (sorry, but all the bad girls this season – especially the two in the contest – looks like they have put on 40 pounds each. They’re still lovely – but they ain’t winning no bikini contest – not in America – as they both said was the problem – and not anywhere. After screaming about losing the contest (which the audience voted on) one of the girls complained that she was yelled out for throwing ice – something she claims she didn’t do, somehow the anger turned towards the brighter Amber of the two Ambers. Allyeah, who I truly believe is actually mentally retarded – not just joking – she’s really in need of some help, goaded them into a fight with the Ambers and the hour ended with a disturbing street fight that left one of the Ambers laying in the street half-dead (seemingly.) I can’t wait till next week.
Grade: B -
ONE MAN, ONE CUP (THE WORLD WIDE INTERNET)
Someone evil forwarded this to me. Not only can I not even come close to describing what I saw in print – but I will say this – it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen in all my life – and I don’t know yet that I’ll ever be able to un-see it. Help me. God help me. And all of humanity.
DISTURBIA (HBO)
Catch this – it’s a DJ CARUSO directed variation of Hitchcock’s REAR WINDOW that really works. I liked this a lot, even if it is light as air.
Grade: B –
SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL (SHOWTIME)
Had their season final – this is a show that pretends to know about hooking – they may know some high end details – but the shame here is that it’s a wasted opportunity to really give some insight into the prostitution world with a scripted show – and it’s so concerned with being light and romantic – it has some nice moments here and there – but otherwise, you can skip this one.
Grade: C -
Saw Valerie Bertonelli recently on the RACHEL RAY show. Watching those two together - completely nauseating.
OSCAR UPDATE: I was reminded of the ghastly IN MEMORIUM section – where they decided fancy camera angles were more important than seeing the actual footage and names of the people who died – shameful.
NIP/TUCK: 5th Season Finale’ (F/X)
SO even Sean’s new “crazy” girl – a completely unrealistic portrait of anyone if there ever was one. Vampires, psychos, cryogenics, murder, porn – it was all packed into the last episode of the next to last season of this once flawless show. Now the show is all flaw.
Grade: D
CLASSIC ALBUMS: JOHN LENNON – PLASTIC ONO BAND (VH1 CLASSIC)
What a great testament to awesome music, inspired writing and creation, the love affair between John and Yoko – a woman that tore the world in half. And in the midst of all that, the nuts and bolts that went into making such an amazing album (that might be my favorite in his catalogue – and I love them all but that one – very special CD.) Highly highly recommended.
Grade: A
By the way - if you want to get the GREATEST female shirt around - seriously - go here.
this is a BOYFRIEND shirt - which is a man-style shirt made for woman and frankly - they are SEXY as HELL.
BLACK TO THE FUTURE (VH1)
Is a WE LOVE THE 70s type pop-culture riff with tons of talking heads – only this show focuses on all things black. Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Jesse Jackson, Lionel Richie, Different Strokes, Eddie Murphy’s PARTY ALL THE TIME recording – all the great moments of black pop culture history is presented here and frankly – after watching all those other talking head shows which VH1 seems to specialize in – this one was really good. Focusing on black-only pop culture gave the show an edge and a focus. The comics were hilarious – although Hal Sparks is now sporting a scary rock star hair-do – other than that – this is really one to watch. There are too many things that fly by to really talk about – but this is a four parter that really works.
Grade: B +
ER is winding down with its last few episodes. It's been great to see some familiar faces, and Noah Whylie is particularly good in these episodes as Dr. Carter. Looking forward to seeing more familiar faces as the long running series finally comes to an end.
To everyone who witnessed Steve Harvey and his wife talking about the book they wrote about their love on the Oprah Winfrey show – let me know if you’re planning mass suicide. I might join you - because this was the worst spectacle of pseudo-celebrity ass kissing I’ve ever seen.
SPECTACLE (SUNDANCE)
Elvis Costello is really the best. He sings, he writes, he plays – and he has great questions and insights and a genuine curiosity for all his guests and a true pure love of music. I sometimes wish they’d sing some more familiar tunes instead of playing to the obscure crowd as I don’t know half the songs he’s reeling off – but when something magical happens – like Elvis and Lou Reed singing “Perfect Day” or Elvis singing “Border Song” to an astonished Elton John – this show is alive and pumping. This is a show that needs a first season soundtrack out ASAP. Truly, first rate.
Grade: A
SKINS (BBC DVD)
I had heard so much about this BBC show about the real lives of young adults – I thought I was in for a treat. I was and I wasn’t. It’s good and very watchable – but unlike what I was hoping for – which was realism – it’s really over the top and actually wickedly funny – just not what I was expecting. That said – there are some amazing scenes and some really clever stuff going on here – and the young actors are miraculous and the whole thing has sort of a TRAINSPOTTING vibe. I just don’t think it has the gravity to make you love it. It’s missing a bit of heart - although I’m only in the middle of series 1. Each episode focuses on a different kid – I particularly loved the girl with the eating disorder who kept getting strange texts to her cell that would say “EAT!” Even better was this weird tracking shot of her fingers running down a stairs banister…maybe you had to see it…anyway – if this gets much better I’ll let you know. There’s a little too much “clever comedy” for its good that keeps it from getting to the next level. So far…
Grade: B -
UPDATE: Started watching Disc 2 and it’s getting much better and much deeper.
SNUFF: A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT KILLING ON CAMERA (DVD)
Revolting and fascinating, this docu attempts to explore the “myth” of onscreen killing. It’s mostly talking heads with a few really disturbing shots here and there – they even include the entire segment from the end of a 75’ film called “SNUFF.” SNUFF was notorious back in the day for purporting to really kill someone at the end of the film. I remember renting SNUFF with some friends when it came out on VHS - we all were very freaked out at that ending. As the film – which is LAUGHABLE, ends, the “director” starts telling the actress how great she was and it leads to a supposedly impromptu make out session on the bed while the crew packs up. Suddenly – the director turns violent, and with the help of the crew, he kills and literally guts the woman. Now, I have to tell you – back in the day – me and all my friends were completely freaked and convinced we had seen a murder. It didn’t seem possible – and at the time – I should’ve realized that the PARTY CENTER in Brooklyn on Ralph Avenue – a candy, party supply and VHS rental shop would probably not have rented an actual on screen killing to a bunch of young boys. And yet, I always remembered that scene for being completely realistic for it’s time and just plain real. This docu begins early on by showing the entire sequence. 20 years later – I feel a bit snookered. The ending is actually so fake – so obviously fake – that I’m embarrassed I fell for it. Anyway – the film – while just mostly talking heads with some truly disturbing violent shots scattered throughout – is quite entertaining, disturbing and while some of the talking heads don’t really seem qualified to speak on the subject of SNUFF films – we do get a pretty full bodied idea of what a SNUFF film supposedly is. SNUFF is not nessessarily the act of just killing on camera – serial killers have been doing that for years. But a true SNUFF film in the commercial sense means somebody is murdered on camera for profit from the sick people who want to watch it. The film debates whether snuff is real or an urban myth. The answer – I don’t know. It probably doesn’t exist in the massive way some might think – but according to these folks and some news accounts – it exists. I will skip the Russian Child Porn Snuff ring – truly – one of the – I can’t even say. You can always see the movie if you’re interested in knowing about it – but it was apparently real and – wow. As horrifying as that was, there was nothing more horrifying to me than the last 10 minutes of the film, which had adult film producer Marc Rosen give a fully realistic account of the day he went to a LA hotel to meet some distributors who had something “outrageous” they wanted him to distribute. Marc sullenly gives a description of what he saw and starts to cry from the memory of this tape he was shown 20 plus years ago. I can’t recommend this film to anyone – but if you ever had a curiosity about the subject – this film offers a LOT of answers.
Grade: B +
And as far as the 1975 notorious classic SNUFF, For those interested – here is the trailer – probably creepier than anything in the actual movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggP5cG1gLqg
I WAS A TEENAGE IDOL (VH1)
This is turning into a really good show. That kid from Baywatch is insane. Chris Atkins is cool. UPDATE:
I just watched the finale and not only did they try to give all the guys some decent hook ups for the future, some of them even got countdown shows on VH1 – maybe it won’t lead anywhere – but I think we’ll be seeing some of the people featured on this show. I liked the upbeat nature of this and I liked the camaraderie in the house as opposed to the feuding train wrecks that usually happens in these reality shows – I wouldn’t mind seeing another edition of this. Very enjoyable and somewhat cathartic in a way.
Grade: B -
AMATEUR PORN STAR KILLER (DVD)
DIG COUCH NOTE: Regardless of my reviews, these are squalid, hard to get through films and work in the very genre they set out to – but not much else. My deepest warning against watching these unless you have an intense curiosity. – DIG COUCH
Okay, not only did I never think I’d ever review a title like this for my site, but I never thought I’d be giving it a POSITIVE review. The truth is – this is a squalid, depressing little tape that has somehow spawned 2 sequels (I have seen neither – yet) – but it’s insanely real, if a bit overly artistic (I know – it sounds crazy.) The 73 minute film is basically this dude who picks up this girl in his car while he videotapes from either the worst video camera ever to exist, or we’re watching a copy of a copy of a copy – and sometimes the quality jumps from decent to horrendous to just plain annoyingly arty (or what the filmmaker thinks comes off as arty – is actually completely annoying and takes you out of the movie.) What’s left however, is an insanely gripping and mesmerizing 70 minutes of this dude talking this young girl into…well – the title says it all. But that’s all it is – the movie never leaves this shot. And that is the pull of it. And the acting – mostly improv – of the director/star and the girl – is absolutely real and believable – and as it goes on – this becomes one of the creepiest things I’d ever seen. But undeniably alive and raw.
Grade: B
UPDATE:
I watched Part 2. It’s much creepier. Maybe even evil. They offer two dvds – one is the FILM version (more pretense) – the other dvd is simply called THE KILLER’S SNUFF CUT with EVIDENCE marked on the disc – I chose that one just to see how far he would go with this premise. The same killer is back, and he goes much further with the premise this time around. It’s starker, darker, meaner – and much more sexually graphic – and violent. This does not make for feel-good watching – but as an absorbing piece of scripted reality, this is the real deal and you will need many showers and perhaps therapy after watching this.
Grade: B +
Someone just gave me part 3 – I’m extremely hesitant to watch. The only saving grace is its called THE FINAL CHAPTER.
JON BRION at LARGO (3 FRIDAY NIGHTS AGO)
I love Jon Brion – but I didn’t love this 3 hour fest that STARTED at 10 30 and went until the wee hours – with only 2 recognizable songs played the entire night. (Although – I slept through at least 4 songs – so maybe he did something awesome while I was sleeping.) He brought on a merry band of entertainers popular in the indie music world and they basically jammed. Frankly, for the money my friend Adam S. paid for me to attend this, I would’ve preferred some format to the show and maybe some real entertainment – instead it reminded me of being at your friends house when everyone else is drunk and on drugs except you – and they have musical instruments. The only instrument I needed was a gun – for Jon Brion, for my buddy Adam, and then of course for my mouth.
Grade: D +
THE VISITOR (DVD SCREENER)
Richard Jenkins is awesome in a film that somehow was generic, slow and predictable. Not to say it didn’t have some fine offbeat moments, but the only reason to watch this is for Jenkins wonderful performance as a stiff businessman trying to loosen up.
Grade: C -
THE BARBERA WALTERS SPECIAL (ABC)
The Jonas Brothers. Insipid. Ann Hathaway. Insiped. Mickey Rourke. Inspired – and insane.
Grade: eh. Barbera doesn’t ask anything remotely interesting anymore, so – who cares?
FAMILY GUY (FOX)
A stellar outing that saw their paralyzed cop friend in need of 20,000 dollars – Peter’s answer – rob Lois’ dad for millions. There was WAY too much going on in this episode to recount every funny laugh out loud moment – but this was a superlative outing for the show and a reminder of just how great this show could be.
Grade: A
UPDATE: While I was sick I watched MANY FAMILY GUY episodes on TOON. Watching a bunch of them, I have to say that there is a undeniable quality to them that is undeniable. When you are sick in bed and these shows are making you laugh out loud – you know it’s a classic. I saw the one where Stewie goes to High School to prove he’s cool. I saw Brian discover he has a 15 year old troublesome son. I saw Brian the dog nearly seduce Peter’s wife. And I saw Peter get a stroke from eating 80 greasy hamburgers. If you can’t tell – I fucking LOVE this show.
DEEPER THROAT (SHOWTIME)
A variation on last year’s hard R-rated DEBBIE DOES DALLAS AGAIN, once again we have a half hour Showtime series that chronicles the remaking of a classic porn film while telling comical stories about the industry and the zany characters that inhabit it. I remember last year’s DEBBIE got very cloying at the end and seemingly either scripted or very tightly produced to get certain results. Credit Showtime with going a little further in the unscripted department this time around. Although that scene with Steve Hersch and his wife in bed might as well have been accompanied by a laugh track. What’s really and truly special about this show – one of the things that made DEBBIE as fun as it was despite its flaws – is the weekly depiction of the artistic porn director, Paul Thomas. He’s great. He simply has the very worst creative instincts every single time around, but because he’s picked up a pretentious Hollywood vibe and way of speaking – he gets away with it all the time because it SOUNDS like he knows what he’s doing. Seeing his boss yell at him over the script for DEEPER THROAT (P.T. thought it should be re-imagined as a fairy tale) was bracing – although – I think Hersch went over the top for the cameras. But this one seems to have a bit more bite than DEBBIE did, and I’ll definitely be watching to see this unfold. I just realized I didn’t mention the bit about the girls who come in to audition to be the new Linda Lovelace. It was pretty funny – all these porn chicks came to show that they have the particular “talent” this role needs. Of course, they needed to demonstrate it with a huge sex toy. And then Showtime would always cut away, which kind of – I mean – I don’t know why they felt the need to censor themselves on that – but that’s the problem with these shows about porn – they want to be lighthearted about a very dark subject matter. It’s literally a show that dwells on the comedy aspect of it (which isn’t really funny since it’s being overproduced with cloying, unfunny music.) The fiery blonde New York girl was hilarious about her skills, and I should mention that they auditioned Sasha Grey, who’s been in porn since she’s 18, and has also been a big staple in articles that cite her age and her mature attitude. She’s even going to be starring in a Soderbergh film in the next few months. Go figure. After the camera spends five minutes with her – you tend to think this very smart girl could do just about anything. She was pretty funny in a way the show is not. She was talking about the fact that “DEEP THROAT” “probably has absolutely nothing to do with Watergate.”
Grade: B
UPDATE: Watched ep 2 – and wouldn’t you know it – we are back to FULLY SCRIPTED PROGRAMMING. At its worst. Sorry, I wanted to love this – but you don’t need to script – just shoot what happens and edit it. Must we get non-actors delivering bad jokes with the worst line readings. It’s almost like a porn except without the sex. Brianna Banks, one of Vivid’s biggest stars is featured in this ep and truly sounded like a man – it was a little scary. And again, we spend just a bit of time with Sascha Grey, who honestly should just have her own show. She’s everything this show is not – smart, funny, ironic – Why, if she wasn’t in porn, I might just be forced to make an honest woman of that ms. Grey. And together, we’d forget about her porno past and start fresh….and then Seinfeld will come back for another season along with a 2 hour finale movie version of HILL STREET BLUES!
(more on the SEINFELD situation later.)
I LOVE MONEY 2 (VH1)
Ridiculous and yet – so very watchable. My money (I think) is on The Entertainer – he gotta get out of his mother’s house! But this show is undeniably fun if not terribly cohesive – actually it’s a mess, but a good kind of mess. Buddha must be stopped.
VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA (DVD)
The Woodman, since marrying his daughter, has stepped out and stepped it up. No longer making sophisticated films about NYC, after a string of almost shitty movies, now makes great films with international locales. This latest, about two best friends on vacation in Barcelona, takes a wild turn when they meet Javier Bardeem – a romantic Spanish artist who, after initially coming on to them for sex, ends up in a truly unique friendship with both of them – he beds one and falls for the other. He and one of the ladies are living in bliss until Penelope Cruz, who one the Oscar for her role (she’s THAT good) as Javier’s ex shows up. This is a great slice of life among the rich, eccentric and talented and it has that air about it that sort of makes you feel like you’re in that lifestyle as you watch it. Woody Allen is an amazing director and if you think he’s not relevant anymore, check out this film, which is both low-key and one of the best of the year.
Grade: A -
THE AMAZING RACE (CBS)
I don’t usually watch this but my friend MIKE WHITE and his dad are on this year – so – I have to watch and I’m enjoying what I’m seeing – this is a class act among reality shows – if a bit frantic and at times hard to follow. Still – it has a great format and Mike and his dad are kicking ass! Grade: B -
LISA LAMPONELLI (HBO)
I loved Lisa when I first became aware of her on the PAM ANDERSON. I like Lisa on the Stern show. But let’s face it – I’ve now seen her COM CENTRAL hour and now her brand new HBO hour. I’m sorry – I know she’s the hot comic of the moment – but she hasn’t changed her act in years, and her act is as thin as she is not. It’s literally the same shtick every single time – she uses the N word frequently – in fact – she slags everyone but believe me, that’s not the problem. If you want to see someone being controversial AND funny – look to Sarah Silverman – if you want to see someone just hoping that the controversial words will bring laughter – here comes Lisa Lamponelli – who not only goes for it with gusto on the racist diatribes – but she doesn’t have any real material behind it. She kind of fashions herself as the female Andrew Dice Clay – only – let’s face it – Dice used to be KILLER FUNNY – love him or hate him – he has a Point Of View to his craft and told a story. Lamponelli should just stick to short sets, the Stern show, the Kimmel show – roasts – she’s great. But for a full hour - I didn’t laugh once. And the crux of her act seems to be “Look how wild I am.” Seriously – half her stories have to do with people finding her offensive. Lisa – let me give you a little advice in that department – the idea is to go out and BE funny and controversial if you have to – THEN OTHER PEOPLE talk about it – when YOU TALK ABOUT it during your act and you pat yourself on the belly for being so “crazy” – it comes off as pathetic. Truly. Sorry – I once considered Lisa one of the best comics out there – these hour specials have exposed her as a true one trick pony. And the one trick is REALLY OLD.
Grade: D
KURT COBAIN: THE MAN & HIS WORDS (IFC)
Ok, I got the title wrong and I’m too lazy too look It up – but it plays all the time on IFC. A great docu with hours of audio recordings from Kurt himself who I think was writing a book and the dialog is played out over images that were important to Kurt’s life. Slow moving but completely moving – I loved it.
Grade: B +
THE BAD GIRLS CLUB (OXY)
More of the same. Trashy and wild, but somehow not as interesting as seasons past. Yet, this episode that took place in Cancun was pretty wild – even for this show’s standards. Throughout the episode it seemed that some horrifying incident was being foreshadowed, as clouds gathered around the two AMBERS. After a wild wet bikini contest, in which two of our Bad Girls were in and lost to a totally foxy local (sorry, but all the bad girls this season – especially the two in the contest – looks like they have put on 40 pounds each. They’re still lovely – but they ain’t winning no bikini contest – not in America – as they both said was the problem – and not anywhere. After screaming about losing the contest (which the audience voted on) one of the girls complained that she was yelled out for throwing ice – something she claims she didn’t do, somehow the anger turned towards the brighter Amber of the two Ambers. Allyeah, who I truly believe is actually mentally retarded – not just joking – she’s really in need of some help, goaded them into a fight with the Ambers and the hour ended with a disturbing street fight that left one of the Ambers laying in the street half-dead (seemingly.) I can’t wait till next week.
Grade: B -
ONE MAN, ONE CUP (THE WORLD WIDE INTERNET)
Someone evil forwarded this to me. Not only can I not even come close to describing what I saw in print – but I will say this – it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen in all my life – and I don’t know yet that I’ll ever be able to un-see it. Help me. God help me. And all of humanity.
DISTURBIA (HBO)
Catch this – it’s a DJ CARUSO directed variation of Hitchcock’s REAR WINDOW that really works. I liked this a lot, even if it is light as air.
Grade: B –
SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL (SHOWTIME)
Had their season final – this is a show that pretends to know about hooking – they may know some high end details – but the shame here is that it’s a wasted opportunity to really give some insight into the prostitution world with a scripted show – and it’s so concerned with being light and romantic – it has some nice moments here and there – but otherwise, you can skip this one.
Grade: C -
Saw Valerie Bertonelli recently on the RACHEL RAY show. Watching those two together - completely nauseating.
OSCAR UPDATE: I was reminded of the ghastly IN MEMORIUM section – where they decided fancy camera angles were more important than seeing the actual footage and names of the people who died – shameful.
NIP/TUCK: 5th Season Finale’ (F/X)
SO even Sean’s new “crazy” girl – a completely unrealistic portrait of anyone if there ever was one. Vampires, psychos, cryogenics, murder, porn – it was all packed into the last episode of the next to last season of this once flawless show. Now the show is all flaw.
Grade: D
CLASSIC ALBUMS: JOHN LENNON – PLASTIC ONO BAND (VH1 CLASSIC)
What a great testament to awesome music, inspired writing and creation, the love affair between John and Yoko – a woman that tore the world in half. And in the midst of all that, the nuts and bolts that went into making such an amazing album (that might be my favorite in his catalogue – and I love them all but that one – very special CD.) Highly highly recommended.
Grade: A
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)