13 posts tagged “comedy”

I had an all-day movie marathon yesterday (more later on that), and I got to see a lot of new movie trailers. 

I realize this is the second time I've written about "Saturday Night Live" in a week, but I do want to say that Joseph Gordon-Levitt was pretty good last night as host. He wasn't necessarily given the best material, but he certainly showed up with enthusiasm and energy.

While Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker might beg to differ, I most enjoyed JGL's take on Donald O'Connor's "Make 'Em Laugh" from Singin' In the Rain.

However, just when I thought SNL was on the "up," the next host to grace the stage will be Gossip Girl's Blake Lively on December 5, which sounds like another Megan Fox/January Jones episode.  

I caught an episode of "The Daily Show" before it goes on hiatus for the Thanksgiving holiday and forgot how funny Jon Stewart and company are.

In my favorite segment "Gaywatch," a young boy faced bullies at school after refusing to stand for the pledge of allegiance until there truly is justice for all (specifically, equal rights for gays and lesbians). Stewart shot back at the bullies with the help of "Senior Asskicker" Mick Foley (he also schooled CNN's ass in this segment).

I had high hopes for January Jones on "Saturday Night Live" last week, probably because I'm a huge "Mad Men" fan. However, the SNL episode turned out to be one of the worst I've seen in a long time. Although Jones was noticeably nervous (who wouldn't be!), the script and skits did nothing to accommodate her skills.

In the past, "Saturday Night Live" has been able to take the weakest players (for example, Wayne Gretsky) and make them hilarious (Wayne on "Wayne's World")! Nowadays, it appears that the cast is just trying to make anything funny -- including themselves.

This Grace Kelly skit was just awful. I think they missed an opportunity by not parodying the Larry King/Carrie Prejean story instead.

And although some believe Taylor Swift was the best host of the season, I found her quite weak as well, especially in "The View" skit that is normally kinda funny (at least Fred Armisen's Joy Behar always makes me chuckle). She was playing Kate Gosselin for Christ's sake. Anyone else would have had a blast being an octo-witch!

I would like to submit a proposal consisting of five key decisions that will vastly change "Saturday Night Live" for the better. This is a matter of life and death, here. This is turning out to be the unfunniest SNL season ever.

1. A new head writer. I love Seth Meyers and always used to look to "Weekend Update" as the one beacon of funny on the show, but even that skit isn't entertaining anymore. The reviews and ratings indicate it's time for new blood.

2. Keep the funny people. Getting rid of Michaela Watkins was a huge mistake. Watching her grin and bare it as Hoda with Kristen Wiig's Kathie Lee during the "Today Show" sketch was entertaining. Jenny Slate just looked scared as the new Hoda. I also always loved Casey Wilson (also fired).  

3. Don't let Kristen Wiig be in every skit. I've said it once, and I'll say it again: she's not that funny.

4. Get some new African American comedic talent. I always liked Finesse Mitchell. Without him, Kenan Thompson had to learn to play every black character on the show.

5. Find funnier hosts. I think anyone could have predicted Megan Fox would be limited.  Sometimes, I feel like they choose people only because their names are in the headlines.  

The trailer for the action-comedy Date Night is online.

When I read the IMDB synopsis ("In New York City, a case of mistaken identity turns a bored married couple's attempt at a glamorous and romantic evening into something more thrilling and dangerous"), I thought this movie sounded cute. It actually reminded me of Woody Allen's Manhattan Murder Mystery, where Woody Allen and Diane Keaton play a middle-aged married couple who discover a murderer in their apartment complex (with hilarious results!).

However, by the looks of the Date Night preview, it looks a little more Get Smart, a little less New York neurotic. I find this troubling since I like the two leads so much. I just don't know if I want to see them in a pseudo, geeked-down Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

I first sense trouble in this preview when Mark Wahlberg appears, using gadgets and computers like something out of a sci-fi movie. I sense trouble again when James Franco and Mila Kunis show up. Because Carell and Fey are so quirky, we want to see them in something quirky. I just don't think this looks like something that will make them comedically shine.

I'll be sticking to the marital hijinks of Carol and Larry Lipton, thank you very much.

It's no secret that the sitcom is dead. People have been talking about this for years. However, when probed about why I like the NBC show "Community," I say that "I like the characters even though nothing really happens."

Then, I got to thinking about all of the other shows I watch on television. This year, more than ever, I am more excited about the shows on the air right now, including "Modern Family," "Community," "30 Rock," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and "Mad Men." Yet, these shows are character driven. Aside from "Mad Men" ("Who are you Don Draper?"), there's no major conflict looming over the heads of the characters on the other shows, meaning there's no "situation" in these comedies. People tune in each week because they like the characters. I think nowadays people tune in for the characters and not the situation. If you can write a great character, you have it made.

The cancellation of "Arrested Development" marked the ultimate death of the sitcom, in my opinion. Even though it was pretty fresh and subversive in its execution, at the heart of the story was a sitcom premise: a man has to help his crazy family get back on their feet (emotionally and financially). Yet, I think its character development has inspired some of these shows on the air today.  

I think most shows on the air today have great characters. "Modern Family' is a perfect example. Every character on the show is believably flawed and entertaining to watch. The scenarios feel real.

With "Community," I think it isn't the leads that carry the show. It's the side characters. Senor Chang is probably the funniest character on the show. Professor Ian Duncan and Professor Whitman ("I'll have. . .a birthday cake!") are also standouts. Without all of these wacky characters, the show about Community College life has the potential to wane because, again, nothing really happens. (I have a theory that "Community" is really like "Lost," where the characters are all stuck in some sort of purgatory known as Community College. We never see their home life! It almost appears as if they all live on campus -- which I actually like).

Like any trend, the sitcom could make a comeback sometime in the future (although who would have thought the reality show craze would still be around). But for now, it's good to know that people like Sweet Dee, Dennis, Mac, Charlie, and Frank will continue to be misanthropes, blindly repelling people in every episode with no end or goal in sight. I'll continue to tune in.    

I was watching Jay Leno's revamped "The Jay Leno Show" the other night and came across the funniest skit I've seen in a while. It starred Australian comedic duo Hamish and Andy, and it involved "ghosting" -- where you follow closely behind someone walking in front of you. They've made it into a pretty hilarious competition.

This video takes a while to get into the competition, but it's well worth it. It also explains the rules and techniques of "ghosting."

I guess I related to this skit because sometimes when you're walking down a sidewalk and someone is walking in front of you (SLOWLY), you tend to "ghost" them accidentally. And it's completely awkward. This makes a game out of a social mishap people are always trying to avoid.

Hamish and Andy's "ghosting" also reminds me of something Andy Sandberg would do on "Saturday Night Live." It would probably involve a digital short or something. The only difference is that this is actually funny.

I really enjoyed Stephen Colbert's MeTunes of the Summer. Based on the crap out there that Colbert mentioned, my song of the summer is an unconventional one, too. "Deacon Blues" by Steely Dan -- I just rediscovered them in the last couple of weeks.

Last night, I caught part of the season finale of "Saturday Night Live" with guest host Will Ferrell. Tom Hanks made an appearance in the "Jeopardy" sketch and stole the show from the other SNL players.

Tom Hanks' appearance in this sketch marks the first time I've laughed out loud at SNL in over a year -- especially when he voiced into his pen-microphone "sibilance," which made reference to his appearance on SNL almost 20 years ago in a famous Wayne's World sketch. You can actually hear someone in the audience recognize the word and yell, "Sibilance!"  

"The Soup"'s Joel McHale is the kind of television personality I would just love to see in a deserving sitcom. I've always thought that if Will Arnett hadn't been available for the role of Gob Bluth on "Arrested Development" that McHale would have been a hilarious equivalent.

With guest stints on "Pushing Daisies" and "Will & Grace," Joel McHale has never had a chance to showcase his talents as the headliner. It looks like NBC wants to give him that chance with the new show "Community."