February 16th is finally here and tonight is closing in fast. Which means that, after literally weeks of anticipation, Survivor: Redemption Island premieres this evening. But, more importantly, that means the epic, long-awaited, dream come true, clash of the titans showdown between Russell Hantz and Boston Rob is nearly upon us.
When their return was announced a few weeks back we quickly voiced our initial skepticism. And in the intervening time our feelings haven’t really changed. We’re still extremely hesitant about this twist, bringing Rob back for his fourth go ’round and Russell for his third attempt in four seasons, because their personal battle genuinely threatens to be bigger than the game, and we’re nervous about what it means for future seasons. The initial returns could be astronomical, but we could be trading long-term satisfaction for immediate gratification.
But it’s hard to watch this and not get excited. We’re excited.
We’re not sure what kind of black magic you employed to pull it off, Rolling Stone, but clearly you saw the post that we published extremely late on Monday evening and somehow rushed this cover to print in time to be delivered by Tuesday afternoon. Fess up! First Stephen Colbert infringes on our turf, and now Rolling Stone. What happened to the rules of decorum for tweeting and journalism (in that order)? It’s one thing to cop from New York Magazine (which we do from their Vulture blog all the time), but it’s a whole other thing to steal from us.
We guess chivalry IS dead.
(but go ahead and pick up the new issue, or at least read the article, because Fallon most certainly deserves all the attention)
In a little over 24 hours from now Jim Carrey will return to SNL for the first time since 1996, and there’s absolutely no way its going to satisfy our expectations. We’ve already made the fatal mistake of building it up in our heads, so there’s no way it’s not going to be a colossal disappointment. Nevertheless, we’re excited!
And while Carrey was inside 30 Rock he stopped over at Late Night to chat with another Jim. Behold, Carrey on Fallon:
It’s really hard to pinpoint when we fully realized the genius of Late Night with Fallon, because there have been so many brilliant moments, like the California Dreams reunion, or the Muppets dropping by to sing “The 12 Days of Christmas”, or the visit from Zack Morris, or the Lost homage “Late,” or the Parks & Recreation-assisted Glee‘d version of “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” It’s really been an incredible twelve months for Jimmy Fallon and his team, whom we’ve praised over and over again, and plan to keep doing so. But, for us, there was perhaps no greater pop-culture tribute than Late Night‘s very own incarnation of the a capella legends Rockapella, which they gifted us in March of this year. Lost, Glee, even Saved by the Bell, those are rather obvious objects of affection. But to channel something like Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?‘s house band, well that’s truly special, and perhaps more than anything else Late Night has done that showed the depth of their knowledge, humor, intelligence, and a disturbing awareness of references from our childhood that we will go crazy for.
And, just in time for the holiday season, they’ve done it again (this time with more Jason Segel!):
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Hats off, once again, gentleman. Brava.
By the way, did you know that Rockapella founder Sean Altman auditioned for Season 1 of NBC’s The Sing-Off with his new a capella group the GrooveBarbers? They didn’t make the cut. Which somehow feels like if Marcel Marceau was rejected from a mime competition. Must have been the name. Oh, and it sorta sounds like he’s taking credit for the success of The Sing Off. Sure, why not?
…with the news that the Greatest Muppet Movie Ever Made, initially slated to arrive on Christmas 2011, has been pushed up a month to Thanksgiving (yes, we admit that this news is a little outdated, but we’d be remiss not to mention it at all). So rejoice this Christmas, Muppet fans, knowing that a new, fantastic, Muppet movie is less than a year away.
In very much related news, here’s Jason Segel on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon describing his first encounter with Kermit:
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We imagine we’d react the same way.
Anyone know if Hanukkah falls on Thanksgiving next year? That would certainly qualify as a miracle.
And if, for some reason, when you did log on the first place you went was this blog (or maybe Jumped the Snark is your homepage?), this happened last night:
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Jimmy Fallon, man, that guy. Just getting better and better. As his recent profile in NY Mag pointed out, unlike Jay, Dave and Conan, Fallon is a performer, first and foremost, which is why he’s pulling off some of the most entertaining and unique bits in late night. Who else could do something like this (besides Carson Daly, of course)?
…Jimmy Fallon just keeps rolling along, delivering the best, most innovative comedy on the long side of midnight. Adding to their already great pantheon of short videos, like “Late,” “6-bee” and “7th Floor West,” Late Night recently debuted the series “Suckers,” which simultaneously parodies/pays homage to Twilight, True Blood, Broadway and probably two or three other works that we missed (Vampire Diaries, maybe? Help us out).
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According to Bill Carter’s new book, The War for Late Night, when NBCU Chairman Jeff Gaspin phoned the Late Night brain trust – Lorne Michaels, Fallon, producer Michael Shoemaker – to inform them of the possibility of moving their show back 30 minutes to 1am, they acceded, with Shoemaker telling Gaspin “We love what we’re doing. Don’t worry about us.” And that idea, that they love what they’re doing, is so obvious, and is also contagious. Already somewhat left to their own devices at 12:30am, a move to 1am probably wouldn’t impact them that much, as long as they got to keep producing the same slick videos and playing the same silly audience games. Whereas we argued in an earlier post that while Conan is changing the late night game by moving to basic cable, it’s Fallon who’s genuinely doing something different with his hour. And for all the talk of the Team Coco and I’m with Coco web campaigns, it’s Fallon who has truly embraced new media (launching an online version of Late Night before debuting the broadcast show, hosting one of the best blogs on the net, as a couple of examples). As he’s gone on record saying, Fallon doesn’t really care when his show airs, because his audience will find him on their DVRs or online. Of course, if the product isn’t good, no one will watch, even if the show is readily available through several media outlets. Luckily for Jimmy Fallon and Late Night, their product is real good.
Amy Poehler returned to host the 36th season premiere of SNL this past week, but did it feel like she ever really left? Between her frequent appearances last season on the big show and her stint co-anchoring Weekend Update Thursday last fall she was really on the show as much as Jenny Slate was, and probably more times than Jay Mohr during his brief run (cheap shot, sorry, Jay). She even capped last season by coming back for the famed, Emmy-winning Betty White episode, joining her fellow former female castmates like Tina Fey and Molly Shannon in helping White carry the hosting weight. That episode, the 2nd to the last of the season, felt more like a prime-time special than a regular show (indeed, it was billed as a Mother’s Day edition, but as a result of coincidental timing and to justify bringing in the ringers to support White, who then proved she really didn’t need assistance). And while host-in-residence Alec Baldwin made his annual appearance to close out the season a week later, White’s episode really felt like the big finish. And wouldn’t you know it, SNL felt like it picked up just where it left off, by pulling out the big guns and bringing back the all-time greats, starting with Ms. Poehler herself.
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.
Amy Poehler returned to host the 36th season premiere of SNL this past week, but did it feel like she ever really left? Between her frequent appearances last season on the big show and her stint co-anchoring 
Jumped The Snark 