Stuff @ the Start
Obligatory Plug for The Wire – I just wanted everyone to know that HBO is airing a half hour special that explains some of the occasionally complex relationships on the show. It’s called The Wire: It’s All Connected and it airs on Friday 8/25 @ 8pm. Watch it!
Mathan watching Survivor? – I despise “reality tv.” I think that it’s fake, choreographed and bears no semblance to reality as I know it. However the prospect of teams being separated by race on the upcoming season of Survivor has certainly piqued my interest. Race is practically a hobby of mine, so to see it actually addressed on a TV program sounds almost promising.
What I Watched Last Week
Psych (USA) – Eh, it was an alright episode. I guess the whole identity thing was “clever” but my interest in this show is fading fast. And with Bill Maher returning this week, if it’s a choice of which one I’m watching, Psych will lose.
Monk (USA) – Funny episode. I loved how Monk got stuck going through the stages, that was pure comedy. It was right up there with when Homer went through them.
I do think that this show suffers from what many of these shows do; the most recognizable guest star is the criminal. It’s sad but that’s usually the case. I did dig Monk having to switch positions in the back of the truck, and the competition he had with the other patient. I dig this show.
Entourage (HBO) – Eh, I’m torn about this week. I did actually care about Drama this outing. But something didn’t ring true about the Bob Ryan story. Maybe it was how he couldn’t get on the Disney Lot, but had no problem striking a deal with Warner. Maybe it how he hurt Vince to get at Ari. I don’t know, but something just didn’t sit right with me. It’s probably because they took a sympathetic character and made him loathsome, yet we really didn’t see it.
Vince and Turtle’s story was almost too light. I don’t think that there’s anyone who doesn’t know about limited editions, so Vince’s naiveté seemed odd. But the fact that he paid the 20G’s to get Turtle his own shoes was a dope gesture, if only I believed that Vince could commission such a piece and have it ready in an afternoon.
Eureka (Sci Fi) – Decent episode, though the line about “which scientist was responsible this time” rang way too true to be cute. But the notion of a Cold War relic was well played. As was how the mirrors on the moon came into play in the end. This is a pretty solid show.
Monkey Dust (Sundance) – This show actually began it’s second season last week, but taped it in favor of watching Gummo. The double dose I had this week was great! I love how this show tackles taboo. I love Clive’s explanations to his wife. I love the guy who just wants to get his cottage on. And the addition of the first-time jihadists is pretty funny. I highly recommend this show.
30 Days (FX) – I think I expected more fireworks this week. Actually I thought it would have clever if the Pro Choice person were gunned down by a Pro Life activist as she stepped in the door, but I’ve got a sick since of humor.
The show was balanced, which kind of took the teeth out of it. She was Pro Choice and she wasn’t going to change. They were Pro Life and they weren’t going to change. There wasn’t even really any debate, which was disappointing. I did like how the home where she stayed had stepped away from the more radical right. But apart from that it was the same old rhetoric without the fireworks. Kind of lame.
Brotherhood (Showtime) – It’s getting tougher and tougher to watch Eileen fall apart. I’m actually beginning to worry about her. It’s sad that she loathes her life that much, and that scares me. Speaking of sad it hurt to see Pete fall of the wagon. Still it’s great to see that Tommy’s moral compass isn’t completely screwed.
It was great to see Tommy and Michael bond. In fact it was downright touching. Yet, you knew before the episode was over they’d be torn apart again. Seeing the theater boarded up at the end of the show just had such an air of finality to it. It was a quiet, but extremely strong episode.
Life on Mars (BBC) – Y’know this episode had a lot going against it. It dealt with a topic that pretty foreign to Americans (hooliganism) and it didn’t have too many allusions to the fact that Sam was in a coma. That said it was a very good episode.
It’s kind of frustrating that Sam still doesn’t quite understand Gene enough, I mean even I knew that Gene wasn’t really drunk. But yeah, Gene and Sam do make a good team. Sam’s speech about hooliganism at the end seemed to border on preachy, but since he’s displaced it made sense for the character. Fortunately I know enough about that culture to appreciate the sentiment. Overall a good episode.
Deadwood (HBO) – Man, talk about a build up. The beginning was a slow burn, but once the blaze began it was a force to be dealt with. So much happened it’s crazy.
I mean Elsworth got killed, which really sucked. Clearly he was fated to die, but for Hearst to have him murked like that was harsh. And having his body brought through camp like that was horrible. Seeing how Alma truly did have love for him was touching, in a heartbreaking way. Seeing Trixie go as hard as she did was crazy.
It’s a credit to the writers and directors of the series that, I was so into the program that I didn’t believe that Trixie was going to do what she did, because that’s unheard of. Al and Seth did great jobs, but man did I feel for Alma. I’m really going to miss this show when it ends.
Saved (TNT) – I really liked this episode, but I tend to dig claustrophobic tales and settings. The jacking was pretty scary. I’d never even considered that to be a hazard of the job, despite it happening in the first episode.
I really dug how the sympathy shifted from one brother to the other during the course of the show. I also dug how Wyatt and Sack’s reputations were citywide, it added a real layer of believability to the show, and it reminded of the days of Doug Ross on Er. This has been a consistently good show all summer, and this episode was on exception.
Greatest Show Ever…this week – Weeds (Showtime)
Ok, so this show’s cliffhanger really put it over the top. Don’t get me wrong it was good before that end too, but that ending sealed the deal. More on that later.
Actually a lot happened this episode. Silas was a real prick to his girl, and I mean a real prick. Doug and Andy got blazed testing product. The scenes at the convention were great for showcasing how intricate the world of weed is. And seeing Andy write his rabbinical school paper on paper towels was hilarious.
Seeing Conrad struggle to find backing for his operation was tough, especially since the reason given (Heylia) makes her seem much more ruthless than she was in the first season. I am worried that the one gent who was open to working out a deal will come into play to devastating effects.
And now the final scene; wow. Like, that was the heaviest realest scene I’ve seen in awhile. Those six words that he says that catches everyone (viewers and Nancy) off guard and even caused my head to spin. Just like Nancy, I panicked, though, while I felt queasy I didn’t hurl. Plus I didn’t get a preview of next week. This is the show that I can’t wait to see next week, which makes it the greatest show this week.
Faux Chappelle Critique
I’ve been one of Dave Chappelle’s most outspoken critics and supporters here at IPTV. I blasted his show for exposing too much and crossing lines that didn’t need to be crossed and later praised his decision to walk away from it all.
So when the abbreviated final season aired, Aaron from IP Music asked me what my thoughts on those episodes were. And now that I’ve finally seen them I’ll comment.
Like most material cobbled together after their chief architect has departed (the project or life) this feels slapdash and the quality varied wildly.
I’ll start off with the skits that I didn’t really dig and why.
Dave’s Revenge – It wasn’t really funny. Like the ex-girlfriend was kind of funny, because we’ve all felt that way at some time or another, but the other examples of revenge were too specific to Dave.
$55 Million – Kind of funny, but it got old, quick.
Black Howard Dean – This made the show seem even more dated. Howard Dean was what, 2003? Boo.
Sex, Snacks and Television – I didn’t really smile.
Showbiz – It was kind funny, but when it wasn’t funny it really wasn’t funny. I felt they could have lampooned the popularity of Dave’s Lil Jon a bit more, as it stood it was just another Lil Jon skit. The Cribs bit was the funniest bit.
The Real Side of Gary Coleman – Boo. Was this even an attempt at humor? I’ll admit to being biased; the production values sucked. I mean that “low budget” stuff worked…before you Dave was making $55 Million. I find it hard to believe that he’s making that much and this skit couldn’t have looked better.
I didn’t really dig the Racial Pixies, but I’ll get into that later.
The skits that I did dig;
Tupac: Rhymes for the Ages – It was clever in the “I wish I’d thought of it” way. I dug how over the top it was. It was just darn funny.
Hip Hop Newsbreak – Yo, I loved this skit. But I’m ol’ time Wu head, so I’m going to be biased toward it. But I was slayed.
The Monsters – It went on kind of long, but it was funny.
And now for the infamous Racial Pixies. It was a deep skit, so I’m going to take my time with it.
First off, I appreciated how grounded in reality it was. Just like the Jewish dude in the feedback segment, I always over tip, because I know that restaurant folks don’t think that Black folks tip. So, the notion of being conscious of your actions because of how people perceive you it a genuine phenomenon that I experience all the time.
That said the execution could have been better. It really suffered from the lack of having Dave introduce the skit, as I’m sure he could explained it much better than Donnell or Charlie. Secondly I can state emphatically that the skit did more harm than good.
In my workplace Chappelle’s Show is a favorite. It’s an oft-quoted show that’s watched by at least half of my coworkers. Well ever since the show aired “Herro Ra Ra!” has been the new “WHAT!” Naturally we’ve got zero Asian presence in the workplace.
I mean it takes a certain level of self-awareness to truly appreciate the skit. But sadly it’s a self-awareness that not everyone possesses. Dave walked away because he thought that people were taking the wrong thing away from that skit, and that’s exactly what happened. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
It sucks that Comedy Central ran the episodes, which really tarnish the memory of a pretty funny show. I’m glad that Dave walked away and now that I’ve seen the product I honestly say that he did the right thing.
Double Date Night
Last week I posed the following scenario;
Good news; you’ve got a date. Bad news; it’s a double date. Good news; you know the other female. Bad news; you’ve got no idea about her date. Maybe he’s an ex-con. Maybe he’s a serial killer. Maybe he’s a dashingly charming chap. Who knows the point is that you’ve got to deal with a mystery guy on your double date.
So would you rather go on a double date with Arthur Fonzarelli (Happy Days) or Sam Malone (Cheers)?
Pirate Paulie is uber decisive;
I’d have to go with the Fonz. Cause Sam Malone is a butthead. With the Fonz, my girl may swoon a lil bit, but the Fonz at least has the respect to not go with it and make sure she stays with me. Malone, on the other hand, would surreptitiously weasel my chick away for a threesome in the bathroom and I’d be left holding the camera.
Captain Spaulding disagrees;
As much as I’d LIKE to take the Fonz, I’d have to go with Sam Malone. I think just the opposite of what Paulie said would happen.
We’d go on our date and the Fonz shows up, and I’m automatically out-cooled. The guy is going to show up in the leather jacket and t-shirt looking all studly. Then he’s going to go over to the jukebox and elbow it on showing I up on ANYTHING I could do the entire night already.
Sam Malone is a big cheeseball. His date will more then likely get turned off by his contant cheesey lines, awkward groping, and he’d probably end up piss-faced drunk within the hour. He’s laying face down on the table…the conversation turns interesting between me, my date, and the other girl…and when Same wakes up? He finds a note saying “we’d rather make it a threesome and he’s the odd one out,” and he’s left staring blankly with a cashew stuck to his forehead.
IP Movies own Michaelangelo has a different opinion;
There’s no way in hell I’d double date with Sam Malone. Of course he’s going to try and screw you over and shag your chick. The Fonz, on the other hand, would make it a point of pride to make sure you got laid. And if you struck out with your date, he’d probably hook you up with another chick he knows. The Fonz wins hands down.
A Faceless Name applies different logic;
Just being in the aura of cool the Fonz radiates would be worth losing your date. Besides, if he takes her, just challenge him to do something death defying and take him out.
IPTV’s own Kevin Wong agrees;
Too true. Tis better to get the rub from being near the Fonz than get slapped for being near Mayday Malone. Besides which, it’s hard to feel sympathetic for someone who dated Diane… unless of course you marry a cold fish like Lilith.
IP Wrestling’sSteve Murray gets meta on us;
No contest. Sam Malone is a former pro ballplayer, tall and good-looking. And I guarantee he’s got hours and hours worth of good “first date” material to make himself appear charming and intelligent. I’d have to work way too hard to keep my date’s attention on me.
But the Fonz? And more importantly – Henry Winkler? C’mon, be serious – the guy is about 5’8″ (at most), and doesn’t say much more than “Heyyyy…”. Seriously, I could kick the guy’s ass without breaking a sweat. (Haven’t any of you people seen “Night Shift”? Jeezus).
Thomasina is concise;
Fonz of course. Who wants to hear about Sam’s old baseball stories. Lame-o!
As for me; I’ve got to go with The Fonz. I’m way not a “sports guy” and Sam would make me seem like I belonged on Bravo or Logo in comparison. However, as noted, The Fonz has a heart. He wouldn’t be so cool that he’s overshadow me. And really who’s passing down a chance to dine at Arnold’s?
Naturally this brings us to…
Good News/Bad News/Question of the Week
Good news; you’re an American. Bad news; jury duty is part of American life. Good news; you don’t have to go to work. Bad news; you’ve been selected to be part of the jury. Maybe it’s a capital case. Perhaps it’s simple assault. Who knows? The point is that you’ve got to sit on a jury and deliberate a case. Good news; you’re not sequestered. Bad news; you’re the foreperson.
So would you rather sit on a case being tried by Crane, Poole & Schmidt (Boston Legal) or by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office (Law & Order)?
(Feel free to email me your answer or post it on the Remote Destination Thread!)
Links
The normally reality oriented Murtz reviews the DVD for the first season of Weeds (which I think is the greatest show ever…this week.)
Romo & Murtz take a sneak peek at some of Fox’s new shows.
Matt discusses roasting.
Josh discusses the upcoming season with some optimism.
Help Me, Joe (Reid)
Joe has been super busy. On his blog Joe celebrates his birthday, remember Janet Jackson, discusses film trailers and predicts the Emmy’s®! I would have given my Emmy® rundown, but Aaron nagged me to Chappelle’s Show. Sorry.
And that does it for me this week. I’ll catch you in around a week. Laters.
