Wellllll, no, not really. But it’s really curious that no less than a month ago we posted a video of Taboo, the fifth member of the Black Eyed Peas, visiting the 4th hour of Today and then this past weekend SNL presented a sketch called “Our Time With Taboo and apl.de.ap.” Sure, we hadn’t written any sketch featuring the weird, pale, vaguely Asian, definitely creepy Taboo. And we’ve completely ignored apl.de.ap (wouldn’t even have been able to name him. He’s just be “the one that’s not will.i.am”). But the fact of that matter is that a few weeks ago we were pointing out this somewhat obscure, bizarre pop culture figure, bringing him to the masses, and now he’s the subject of a sketch on Saturday Night Live. First Mark McGrath and Don’t Forget the Lyrics and now this. Where’s the justice? Where’s the honor? So this question is this: Saturday Night Live, have you been reading our diary?
Vodpod videos no longer available.‘Survivor: Redemption Island’: Russell’s Razor (Director’s Cut)
Over the last couple years we’ve become ardent devotees to the concept of “Occam’s Razor,” the tenet that the “simplest explanation is most likely the correct one.” There’s a similar paradigm that works itself into any season of Survivor, but focuses less on the simplest explanation and more on the theory that players will make their moves based on the belief that the other competitors will make the correct, smartest decisions. Unfortunately, as the show as often proved, playing that way does not always lead to the best results. And we saw an example of this again last night.
But more on that later. First, (as teased last week) Matt arrives on Redemption Island and Francesca is shocked (shocked!) it wasn’t Phillip who was voted out by the Ometepe tribe earlier in the night. He had no allies, posed no threat, and basically begged for mercy, so why would Ometepe (and its leader, Boston Rob) want to keep him around? Oh, yeah, for those very reasons. Phillip may be a loose cannon, intolerable, and borderline bipolar, but right now, as Rob says, he’s a loyal solider. Plus, he’s endlessly entertaining. Back at Ometepe camp Rob breaks down the alliance, explicitly telling Phil that he’s the fifth person on a five-person alliance and Phil is basically responds “Cool! Just happy to be here! Thanks, Rob!” And then they seal Phil’s blind allegiance with a first bump, which in the three federal agencies that Phil used to serve in is tantamount to swearing on one’s parents’ graves.
Filed under Analysis, Century 21 Reality, Huh?, It's gross., Top Scallop, Tribal Council
This Is What a Teenage Starlet on ‘SNL’ Looks Like
Miley Cyrus came by SNL this week and, despite generally positive reviews, we still found it pretty average. Nothing egregious about it, nothing particularly horrible, but really nothing to write home about. And the feedback for Cyrus was mostly polite, praiseworthy even, commending her for at the very least not embarrassing herself, at the best acquitting herself remarkably well. But we really weren’t surprised by that. It’s no fluke that she was a star of a hit cable show and a pop music phenomenon. She’s got talent. Sure, she might have headlined a terrible, cloying cable show for Tweens, and she might perform grating, insipid kidz bop, but she’s been tremendously successful at it, and there’s really no denying that she has some kind of talent. So by all rites she should have been fine on SNL. And she was. And she parodied her image, parodied Justin Bieber, parodied Fergie, all to perfectly okay results. But nothing transcendent. Nothing special. Nothing that resonated like a sketch from a few years ago that featured an at the time teenage superstar. Lindsay, show Miley how it’s done:
Vodpod videos no longer available.Sure, Miley had fun. She sang and danced. She even impersonated Lohan. But, unlike Lohan, none of Cyrus’ sketches will be remembered in five years.
Oh, and Jason Sudeikis reprised his Satan on “Weekend Update” and it was pretty cool. The dude can do no wrong (Sudeikis, not the Devil).
Filed under Analysis, Saturday Night Live
Gratuitous Search Term Bait of the Day: Go Fisch
Pleased and a little puzzled by today’s search term “”jenna fischer.”” Pleased because we think she’s just terrific, the modern-day Kelly Kapowski. And puzzled because the term appears with the quotation marks (hence the extra set above). We guess those out there in web-land just wanted to make sure they didn’t wind up with Jenna Elfman or Carrie Fischer. Fortunately, on this blog that’s very unlikely (well, much more likely now).
We’ve sung Fischer’s praises for years for her portrayal of the loveable, dorky Pam Beesley on The Office. And we’re thrilled that she’s gotten her first big movie role , as Owen Wilson’s understanding spouse in Hall Pass (unless you count her part in Walk Hard. Which we’re not). But tonight we’re going to highlight one of her lesser known early performances, one that significantly enhanced her position on the Judd Apatow Chart. We’re talking about her somewhat scandalous turn on Apatow’s Undeclared, a saucier side of Fischer we’re not used to seeing:
And while that was her most memorable appearance on the show it wasn’t her first, as she actually appears briefly in the pilot episode. Talk about starting off on the right foot.
One time about five years ago our friend texted us “Jenna Fischer on Undeclared. Ha.” To this day it’s still one of our most cherished texts.
A Boomer & Carton Gigglefest to Pull You Out of the Monday Morning Duldrums
Got a case of the Mondays? Well, you’re in luck, because we saved this clip from last week’s Boomer & Carton in the Morning (on the flagship station for NY sports WFAN) just for that scenario. Uncontrollable Boomer Esiason laughter is quickly becoming one of our favorite things, and he comes through with another giggle fit in response to Craig Carton’s two-minute run of Suzyn Waldman impressions (Waldman, as you probably don’t know, is a radio commentator for the Yankees). A truly impressive one-man performance from Carton.
(and we do apologize for the glare)
Filed under Good Humor, Marconi & Cheese, Matt Christopher Books
This Is What An ‘American Idol’ Finalist Looks Like
While there are indisputably some tremendous voices left on American Idol we were thoroughly bored by this week’s Top 24 performances. Personally, we found both the male and female showcases underwhelming, totally uninspired. Nothing new, interesting or fun about them. Pretty much, wake me up when Steven Tyler says something ridiculous.
So we thought we’d offer up a little panacea, and provide an example to the remaining 13 contestants of how it should be done.
Listen to Haley, guys. Turn that beat around.
We’re Not Above Finding This Funny
Nope. Not by a long shot.
But where have you gone, funky Chris Medina?
Parting Shot: Rough on the Diamond
(in keeping with our mini-Judd Apatow theme to end the week)
“Meeting on the mound. Very cool.”
Filed under Discos and Dragons, Judd Apatow, Parting Shot
Two Years Later, Our Judd Apatow Chart Reaches Judd Apatow!
Well, maybe not exactly. It’s possible he still hasn’t seen it. Or maybe just took a cursory glance. But he definitely saw our Tweet from last night, linking to the Judd Apatow Chart in commemoration of the Blu-Ray release of The Cable Guy. How do we know he saw it? Because he retweeted it:
We did it guys! Nearly two years later, we finally got through. Now we can say this blog was not created in vain.
So, Judd, thank you so much for taking the time to click “retweet.” We know that sounds sarcastic, but we certainly don’t mean it that way. Just the fact that you paused for a second to acknowledge our work gives us renewed inspiration. So to all you new Jumped the Snark readers, brought here by Apatow’s retweet, welcome and get ready. We could retire now and be satisfied, but we’re not going to stop here. Hate to break it to you, every out there, but now we’re emboldened to do even more.
And, why not, let’s end this with a little Gordon Crisp. Possibly our favorite three seconds of all-time.
Filed under Count Bleh, Discos and Dragons, Freak Out Control, Judd Apatow
Last Week on ‘Top Chef: All-Stars’: You’re Gonna Fry
Quickly, before new one, last time on Top Chef: All-Stars:
– Paula Deen stops by for the Quickfire to annoy the hell out of us! And, of course, to tell everyone to FRY their foods. Oil, butter, DEATH.
MORE: Mike is a thief AND a fraud. But justice is served. And it’s delicious…
Filed under Century 21 Reality, Rip-off, The Sixth Taste, Top Scallop
Jumped The Snark 