Monthly Archives: September 2010

2010/09/22 · 7:02 pm

‘Survivor: One-Star’; Thoughts on the ‘Survivor: Nicaragua’ Premiere

Well, Survivor: Nicaragua certainly has its work cut out for itself, following arguably the greatest season in the series’ illustrious history.  Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, AKA Buried Knives and Burnt Hats: Boston Rob vs. Russell, brought us back from several seasons of indifference.  Really, our interest in the show had waned years ago,  and we really only returned to see Tom Westman defend his title.  But we found ourselves sucked back in, charmed by Russell, strangely tolerant of Boston Rob, amused by Coach, infuriated by Sandra, disappointed by Colby, baffled by JT, and it ended up being one of the strongest, and probably most enjoyable, season in memory.  But how will Survivor: Nicaragua stack up?  Without the familiarity of the castaways, the pang of nostalgia and the promise of alpha male vs. alpha male vs. alpha male vs. alpha male fireworks, will this new season hold our attention?

Well, the show is not All-Stars, but it does have one star, that being perpetually erect Super Bowl Champion coach Jimmy Johnson (not to be confused with his former boss, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, or 90s talk show host Jenny Jones, or top race car driver Jimmie Johnson or former wrestler and member of the Fabulous Freebirds Jimmy Garvin).  Turns out that Jimmy Johnson (or “Jimmy J”) is kind of a bizarro Tom Westman.  They’re both silver-topped elder statesman, but where Westman excelled in physical prowess and strong morals, Johnson oozes charm and good ol’ boy wit, matching his elite leadership skills with just enough self-deprecation and humor (although, no indication yet of how Johnson’s beard is going to fill in).  Turns out that this season might be worth watching just for Jimmy Johnson alone.

Read on: Goodbye, Chatterbox! And “The Faces of Jimmy Johnson”

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2010/09/21 · 11:17 am

Some Muppets Have All The Luck

I know it’s kinda fashionable to rag on Katy Perry, and she’s certainly no Brendan Fraser when it comes to acting in front of a green screen, but she’s good fun and so is this Sesame Street‘d version of “Hot & Cold.”

However, did her co-star have to be Elmo?  That Muppet wouldn’t know what to do with a woman if he (?) had an instruction manual.  When’s Bert going to catch a break?

From Vulture

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2010/09/17 · 6:15 pm

Gut Yontiff, Jews

In honor of the high holidays, and the impending arrival of the holiest of holies, we present the opening to Bridget Loves Bernie, a short-lived, high-rated CBS sitcom from 1972 that was canceled by CBS execs in response to complaints from viewers about the interfaith relationship between a gentile and a gentleman that serves as the show’s core.  We must thank the A.V. Club’s Primer of 70s sitcoms, which brought this forgotten program to our attention just yesterday.

What is especially interesting about this is that after the show was canceled, stars Meredith Baxter and David Birney (not a Jew) wed.  And what’s especially interesting about that is that 35 years and one husband later Meredith Baxter came out as a lesbian.  Now imagine what that show would have been like!  Too soon, America?  Too real?

Alright, the sun will soon set so get in that last slice of pizza.  Let’s have an easy fast, guys.  A lot of hustle, a lot of focus.  And we’ll meet to break the fast tomorrow night.  I’ll bring the bagels, you bring the napkins.

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Filed under Lady Holiday, Makes You Think, Nostalgia Corner, Other people's stuff, Woody Allen, Bar Mitzvahs & Bagels

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2010/09/17 · 5:50 pm

Muppet Friday: If You Didn’t Love Jim Henson Already Then You Will Now

And, come to think of it, if you didn’t love Jim Henson already then you probably hate this blog (and we hate you).

Everyone’s favorite PBS affiliate, Iowa Public Television, has unearthed a charming video from 1969 featuring Jim Henson teaching local Ioawans how to craft their own homemade Muppets.  Watching this little gem, it’s no wonder that the Muppets just years later make Henson a household name.  I’d like to attempt one of these little guys, but I think there’s just something special about Henson that brings the creatures to life.  Just as soon as he slips his hand in they seem to become living, breathing entities.  Also, eyes really help.

This reminds me, if you’re still looking for a birthday gift for me (only 2 months left!), I’m still hoping for one of these.

Vulture via BoingBoing

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2010/09/08 · 6:39 pm

‘SNL’ Shake-Ups & Sensationalism: Slate & Sudeikis

It’s hard to believe that a year has passed by since we waved goodbye to Michaela Watkins (we hardly knew ye) and Casey Wilson (probably for the best) and welcomed with skeptical arms the rookies Jenny Slate and Nasim Pedrad.  And it’s sad to report that a year later we’re already saying goodbye to the former of that dynamic young duo.  And once again, the changes are sure to raise eyebrows.  However, this time around, we don’t have a good theory as to what precipitated the moves.

With Will Forte’s departure two weeks ago the whispers began to circulate and the dominoes began to fall.  Except, they really didn’t fall so much as erect themselves next to already firmly planted playing pieces, with Taran Killam (best known from Scrubs), Paul Brittain and Vanessa Bayer from the iO Chicago, and Jay Pharoah, a comedian and talented impressionist, joining the cast, while veterans Andy Samberg, Jason Sudeikis, Kenan Thompson – rumored to possibly be following Forte out the door – remain (as of press time) at their posts.  So it came as a bit of a shock when word got out yesterday that the show had released a cast member, but not one of its established male veterans with s burgeoning film careers (or even Kristen Wiig, who may have already over-stayed her welcome a season or two), but, instead, Slate, who had only put in a season’s worth of work.

Now, if you recall last year’s history lesson on women & SNL, you’ll recall that going into the season with four women (Slate, Pedrad, Wiig & Abby Elliott most recently) was on the high side.  In fact, going a whole season with four veteran female cast members is just about as good as it’s ever been on the show.  So, with the addition of Bayer, it’s not surprising that SNL & head honcho Lorne Michaels decided to cut loose a lady.  It was a numbers game.  That we understand.  But then why add one in the first place?

Read on: The curious case of Jenny Slate. Also, Jason Sudeikis is the new Ben Affleck.

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2010/09/07 · 6:27 pm

Not Really News: Dave Letterman Approves Norm MacDonald’s Impression

Considering that MacDonald is just recounting a conversation from about 13 years ago.  But hey, slow news day.

However, it’s a great excuse to repost this clip:

All-time classic.

NYT via Vulture

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2010/09/06 · 2:18 pm

Happy Labor Day!

Holds up surprisingly well.

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2010/09/03 · 5:20 pm

Muppet Friday: Something Old, Something New, Something Drew

Just going to do a little bit of Muppet housekeeping and get out a couple overdue Kermit & Co related items as we head into the long weekend.

First, as widely reported last week (thanks, Yahoo! News), the original Kermit the Frog and some of Jim Henson’s other early creations have been donated to the Smithsonian, where they will sit alongside another more modern Kermit that has been on display for several years.  Many of the Muppets, including Kermit, are from Henson’s local DC television show Sam and Friends, which you may remember from “The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years” (because I certainly wasn’t around to see it when it originally aired in 1955). Scroll to about three minutes to see the Sam and Friends clips:

When there’s a crossover between two or more of our favorite things, like here, we like to think of it in terms of the intersection on a Venn diagram, where something awesome meets something equally awesome.  However, College Humor went ahead and took that idea a bit further, creating a Venn diagram by parsing out just one thing we love, that thing, of course being the Muppets.  Below, the Muppet Names Etymology:

I feel silly for never seeing this before.  And I have a human name.  So I guess I’d fall into the top left intersection.  Very illuminating.

Coming up next week: More Muppet news and/or links and/or old videos!

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Filed under Intersection of the venn diagram of things that I love, Muppets, Nostalgia Corner, Other people's stuff

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2010/09/03 · 4:12 pm

Nostalgia Corner: Any Time I Hear The Words “Several Options” I Think Of This Sketch

Similar, and just as good:

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Thank you, VHS copy of “SNL Goes Commercial” that my brother taped on off TV in 1991.

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2010/09/03 · 3:45 pm

‘Delocated’: Another Best Show You’re Not Watching. Unless You Are. In Which Case Nevermind.

We talk a lot about the best show you’re not watching on this blog (Friday Night Lights, Community, Party Down before its unfortunate demise).  To that list we now proudly add Delocated.

If you’re a fan of Adult Swim you might have caught Delocated on a random night/morning around 1:45am.  The show was created by and stars Jon Glaser,  longtime NY comedian and former writer (and performer) on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.  If you’ve been around comedy in NY you probably know him, and if you own a TV you’ve probably seen him and not even known it, with appearances on 30 Rock, Human Giant, and Cheap Seats.  In his early days he was also a writer on The Dana Carvey Show, which was basically to up and coming comedians as The Outsiders was to young, hunky, male actors (The line-up included Carvey, Glaser, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Louis CK, Robert Smigel, Dave Chappelle and, curiously, Charlie Kaufman.  It was pretty much the ’27 Yankees of comedy).

The first season of Delocated comprised six 10-min episodes (and an amazing Paul Rudd cameo), and features Glaser as “Jon,” a member of the Witness Protection Program who agrees to move his family to NY and turn their life into a reality show, despite the fact that this requires wearing masks and using voice modulators.

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The show also stars Eugene Mirman as Yvegni Mirminksy, an aspiring stand-up comedian who happens to also be a member of the Russian crime family that Jon ratted out.

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The second season has been expanded to twelve 22-min episodes, and with the added length the show has broadened its scope, increased the violence, heightened the drama, and upped the absurdity.  It’s a dumb-smart, surreal, brilliant show, capable of silly comedy, and, as we find out in the season two premiere, silly drama.   It’s one of TV’s best kept secrets, but unlike “Jon’s” identity this is one secret that should be revealed to all.

Catch up on season one on the Adult Swim website, and then move right onto the new season (below!).  Also, catch new episodes Sundays at 10pm, just before Childrens Hospital (which, now that we mention it, is another best show you’re not watching).

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Bonus features:

Jon Glaser on Jimmy Fallon last night!

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Also, Jon Glaser reads letters from his deceased father, Dave Glaser, to his father’s former band mates ZZ Top.  One of the funniest things I have ever heard.

And finally, for extra credit check out the Delocated Blog and the PFFR website.

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