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Reviews
Head Case (2007)
A show that needs to grow on you
This is a bit of short-attention-span theater for those of us who like a quick-witted catty comedy. It's not entirely superficial, but it can often float in that direction.
Dr. Goode is an atrocious psychologist who's almost entirely consumed with herself above her patients. Though she commands seven hundred dollars a session, she is also apparently unaware that it's illegal to share her patients' personal problems with anyone outside the session. This causes quite a bit of conflict between her and her ever-changing list of clients, who are all b-to-c list celebs.
The comedy comes mainly from improv. Some of it plays into the plot, some doesn't. But, either way, the plot from show-to-show is loose and seemingly thrown together in the editing room.
But the show has a solid supporting cast, which is really the main reason to watch. Steve Landsberg and Candace Brown especially are very very funny. Wenworth is also funny, but she is a bit tough to take after a few minutes.
It's a show that seems to be almost there. Wentworth and Co. are smart and talented, but they haven't found a truly watchable pitch yet. Until they do, the show will remain an acquired taste.
Eastbound & Down (2009)
Eastbound and Yeaaaaaah
Eastbound and Down is a super funk mega tragedy of spectacualrity designed by the Satan of American awesomeness, Kenny Powers lookalike, Danny McBride. Profanity drips out of every one of his pasty pores. He is proud, stupid, and ready to annihilate everything. This show breathes fire into the lunges of a choking victim while simultaneously speaking inappropriately to your children. Eastbound and Diggity is a poop sprinkler of inexcusable and undeniable creativity, spraying in stuttered time across the aluminum paneling on your rented house. This show is funny, brilliant, and it better be making its way into your long-term memory soon!
Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Bat Mitzvah (2007)
Yes!
I have finally seen an episode of Curb that made me feel happy for Larry David. The season six finale throws us a welcomed curve ball, by offering a bit of divine forgiveness to a man who's intentions are always pure, but who's family and friends continually mock and criticize his natural curiosity and independent spirit.
Watching the last few episodes of his television marriage falling apart, especially when considering that his real life marriage is sadly doing the same thing, made me feel especially bad for Larry. His wife on the show, who never really seemed right for him if you ask me, has met a new man within weeks of their breakup, and all of their friends have decided to "side" with her. Larry's medical problems are once again at the forefront of the show, as he is accused of putting a gerbil up his ass, and everyone in the world seems to hate him and find him utterly repugnant, yet again. But this time, Larry finds a bit of light at the end of the tunnel, and in the truest spirit of "life going on," finds a new love.
I loved this episode. It was very funny with the brilliant Michael McKean guest starring as an overrated sitcom director who spreads a ridiculous rumor about Larry to everyone in LA. But the true triumph for me was getting to see Loretta Black (Vivica A. Fox) yell down the nearly insurmountable rage of Susie Green (Susie Essman), defending her man and giving us one of the finest season finales to any show that I have ever been a fan of.
Bravo.
Man vs. Wild (2006)
Excellent
This show is almost too good to be true. The Camera work is excellent, indeed it is at times almost too good. It seemed rather odd that he was able to film himself traversing a 100+ foot ridge on a rope from above, while simultaneously showing us angles from below and too the side without revealing the locations of the camera above him. I also found it curious when they filmed him falling into a crevasse from below. Either way, the show sells me on it's authenticity. I assume the camera guys have tents and supplies for themselves, but they also appear to let him get in and out of trouble on his own. This was proved to me when he jumped into freezing water at the base of glacier and almost drowned, slipping back into it a few times before finally being able to pull himself out. However they film it, it's brilliant, fantastic television, and I strongly recommend the show. Be prepared for some truly gruesome scenes though, as Bear will eat ANYTHING, and I d mean that. I nearly tossed my cookies a few times watching this show. Let's just say that any vegans or veggies out there should probably steer clear. But all in all, a truly fascinating program.
The Sopranos: Made in America (2007)
Tony Toni Tone
OK, so Chase pulled a fast one. Very creative, I absolutely loved this episode. Yes, I could have done with some closure, but am probably much happier without it.
I can see the argument that Tony dies. Sure, it's an interesting way to kill someone. The music stops before the credits etc. etc. But I doubt that's what happened. If it was, it would be explicit, like a gun popping into frame next to Tony's head just before we cut to black. But then again, all the ingrediants for a murder were there, with a Godfather reference to boot.
The fact of the matter is that this ending was designed to be vague. If it was Definitely his death, we would know it. As it stands now, it was perhaps his death, and it perhaps wasn't. That is all the can be said with any certainty.
So, I have decided to make up my own ending:
Tony and Carmela start a good-time band and move to Baltimore. Anthony accidentally eats all the onion rings and farts all over the place. Meadow spends another five minutes opening the door to the diner. And Sil wakes up and rejoins the E-Street band.
Great Stuff Mr. Chase, hope you keep writing, thanks for a great show.
The Showbiz Show with David Spade (2005)
Oops
Oh dear. I feel for Mr. Spade. He seems to be kinda trying here. I guess now that he has yet to find another co-star to insult, he must insult me on his new show "Showbiz blah blah blah." I chuckled a few times, and then searched for something else to watch the rest of the time. I guess he feels like he is "bein himself" or just "tellin it like it is." But sadly, his holy- er than thou shtick is just not working for me. I just can't get past the tragic reality that the Hollywood hasbeens he is mocking are usually in much better shape career-wise than he is. Can't he come up with something original?
Now, I've liked Spade in the past. But I am just not gonna watch this show because he WAS funny once. He insults me, the people of my generation, and he does so poorly. He is also obviously drunk, or at least he slurs his speech during each show, so it is rather uncomfortable to watch as well.
I don't think that his career should be over, but I'm just not interested in this show at all. If he keeps making nerd jokes, or jokes about people who aren't blond, 115 lbs., and narcissistic, than I guess we know that it is all he can do.
Sorry Mr. Spade, but I got better stuff to do.
Mind of Mencia (2005)
Cajones?
It doesn't take balls to make-fun of retarded people. Having to listen to Mencia insist that he is brave to make "retard" jokes is intolerable. Also, it doesn't take balls to bite off of the chapelle show. The racial game-shows, the racial olympics, it seems like a lot of the skits are merely reworked Chapelle Show skits, that are just way less funny.
But the most irksome thing in the show is his insistence that he is just marching to the beat of his own drum, when he is actually marching to the beat of many over-worked, over-done drums that have been drummed many times.
I hate this show. I hate that it presents itself as a voice for Latin America.
And no Carlos, I am not trying to censore you. If people like it, then keep it on. But I personally think that it's a bad show.
30 Rock (2006)
Excellent show.
This is a fantastic show. I really think that NBC needs to nurse this show through the early, difficult years, till it grows it's base. This show is fantastic from both a marketing and a comedic point of view. If NBC gets all short-sighted with this show, then they have truly lost their edge, and will end up looking like FOX, who canceled it's best show just a few years ago. NBC needs to take the lead on this one, see that the reality craze is going to die down, and get out in front for a change. They fell butt-backwards into Seinfeld, and if they can't see how strong this show is, they don't deserve the ratings. Also, Tina Fey is amazingly hot, and I don't care about Baldwin's family life. I mean, isn't that exactly what the networks want anyway, drama surrounding the show. Didn't anyone see Soapdish here?! Anyway, please keep it on the air, you won't regret it.