NBC COMEDIES HOLIDAY EPISODES: I’ve only seen last night’s COMMUNITY and 30 ROCK episodes and I enjoyed both although of the two, COMMUNITY was far stronger. I feel very odd saying that since 30 ROCK is still one of the top comedies on my list. I loved last night’s Jack and Liz stories and Julianne Moore’s guest turn as Jack’s high school crush from Beantown (sadly, neither of them said “Yer retahded!”) but the B story with Frank, Toofer and Lutz didn’t add many laughs. I’m still loving Cheyenne Jackson as new TGS cast member Danny and the fact that he mentions things like “I’m Canadian – we don’t really get sarcasm.” Hope they let him sing on key in the future as he has a gorgeous voice.
COMMUNITY did a pitch-perfect holiday episode that had Shirley trying a little too hard to force her fellow students to be her new family and celebrate Christmas the way she wanted to celebrate. Yvette Nicole Brown plays Shirley and she too has a fine set of pipes which were showcased in the episode as she sang Christmas carols. There were also a few very funny jokes about Shirley not known Annie was jewish. I’m still hearing Annie’s plaintive cry of “Say the whole word!” whenever anyone said the word “jew.” Anthony Michael Hall also had a funny one-note turn as a bully with a limited vocabulary who decided to pick on Jeff. The verbal sparring between them was even funnier than the actual fight scene. And finally, I absolutely adored the closing tag to the episode that had Abed decorating Troy and singing “Oh Christmas Troy, Oh Christmas Troy” – Don Glover and Danny Pudi may be the new Laurel and Hardy – they’re that good together.
FX THURSDAY COMEDIES: Both IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA and THE LEAGUE both performed well in the ratings last night. SUNNY had it’s highest-rated season to date and THE LEAGUE had its second highest-rated episode to date. Both shows were very funny last night. On SUNNY, Mac and Charlie getting body-painted at a frat was a highlight and last night’s episode also contained a bunch of classic reaction shots.
THE LEAGUE had a fairly vulgar storyline but the guys are so good together that I just go for the ride (like Taco, I love to go for a ride.) Now that the first season has concluded, I think Mark Duplass (Pete), Nick Kroll (Ruxin) and Jon LaJoie (Taco) are three of my favorite new actors. Paul Scheer has been solid in the show too but he was usually the butt of the jokes so he didn’t get to play much in the way of range. If you want to see more of what Scheer can do, rent HUMAN GIANT, the MTV series he did with Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel and Jason Woliner.
ONE MAN’S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE: Sarah Palin is scheduled to appear on THE TONIGHT SHOW this evening. I might have to tune in out of curiosity just to see Conan O’Brien try to get through that interview.
I haven’t seen last night’s JERSEY SHORE episode but the big news for the show is that the ratings for the show jumped 50% higher than last week’s basement-level numbers. There’s been a lot of blogosphere buzz about the show because of the sheer stupidity of the cast. It’s really just another classic MTV reality show: drunken 20somethings hook up and have problems being responsible for even the simplest of jobs. It ain’t Shakespeare when a girl named Snooki sucks on pickles and causes a ratings spike.
SNL: TWILIGHT heartthrob Taylor Lautner (he’s the one who smiles for the fans) hosts with musical guest Bon Jovi. I have to think Jon Bovi will also appear this week.
SUNDAY TV HIGHLIGHTS: The season finale of DEXTER is the hour I’m waiting for as the season has been terrific and the finale has been hyped as containing a very big, show-altering twist. Apparently, the twist is major because everyone working on the show had to sign a confidentiality agreement. The DEXTER season finale airs Sunday night at 9pm on Showtime. I can’t recommend the CALIFORNICATION season finale as this season has been very disappointing and I’ve kicked myself for spending even a half hour watching the show.
TOUGH LOVE 2 continues on VH1 and as the boot camp process continues, Steve Ward’s current bunch of trainees is making stop/start progress. In this Sunday’s episode, Steve has the gals participate in a blind beauty pageant. Tune in Sunday night at 9pm or if you’re watching DEXTER, there’s an 11pm repeat. Look for an interview with Steve Ward next week in THE SURF REPORT; Ward is a very smart, engaging guy and I had a great talk with him.
TODAY’S SURF WRITTEN WHILE LISTENING TO: “Your Luck Is Going To Change” by Coby Brown: http://www.myspace.com/cobybrown
Time for your weekend rundown!
Friday, December 11, 2009
ABC: Supernanny, Ugly Betty, 20/20
CBS: Yes, Virginia (special), The Big Bang Theory (repeat), Medium (repeat), Numbers (repeat)
NBC: Law & Order, Dateline, The Jay Leno Show
FOX: Dollhouse (2 hours)
I’d tell you to watch DOLLHOUSE because last week’s two hours were terrific but given the track record of the show, it’s inconsistent at best so I’m not sure if tonight’s will be great or just middling like the bulk of the season.
THE CW: Smallville (repeat), Smallville (repeat)
PBS: Washington Week, Now on PBS, Bill Moyers Journal
MyNetworkTV: WWE Friday Night Smackdown!
BIO: Mobsters (season premiere)
BBCA: Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Comedy: Live at Gotham: Jim Jeffries (season finale)
E!: 10PM: The Soup
History: Ancient Discoveries
Planet Green: Renovation Nation, Ultimate Power Builders (series debut)
Science: How It’s Made, Heavy Metal Task Force
Starz: Crash
Sundance: Shameless
SyFy: Sanctuary
TeenNick: DeGrassi: The Next Generation
TLC: Say Yes to the Dress, Four Weddings (special)
TOON: Ben 10: Alien Force, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Destroy Build Destroy
Travel: Ghost Adventures
Saturday, December 12, 2009
ABC: The Polar Express (special, repeat), Castle (repeat)
CBS: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (repeat), The Flight Before Christmas (repeat), 48 Hours Mystery
NBC: It’s a Wonderful Life (special, repeat)
Saturday Night Live: Taylor Lautner hosts with musical guest Bon Jovi
FOX: Cops, Cops (repeat), America’s Most Wanted, The Wanda Sykes Show
Animal Planet: Superfetch (season finale), Dogs101/Cats 101 (season finale)
BIO: Ghostly Encounters (season finale), Celebrity Ghost Stories (season finale)
ESPN: 30 for 30: The U (special)
G4: American Ninja (series debut)
Hallmark: Christmas in Canaan (special)
Science: Head Games
Spike: Spike TV’s Video Game Awards (special, 2-hours)
SyFy: Annihilation (special)
TLC: Ghost Intervention
Sunday, December 13, 2009
ABC: America’s Funniest Home Videos, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2-hours), Christmas at the White House (an Oprah special)
CBS: 60 Minutes, The Mentalist (repeat), Cold Case, Criminal Minds (repeat)
NBC: Football Night in America, Sunday Night Football: Eagles @ Giants
FOX: Brothers, Brothers, The Simpsons, Cleveland, Family Guy, American Dad
A&E: The Jacksons (series premiere, special time period)
ABC Family: Santa Baby 2 (special)
Animal: Untamed & Uncut, The Haunted
BIO: I Survived, Shatner’s Raw Nerve
Discovery: Clash of the Dinosaurs (special)
E!: Keeping Up With the Kardashians (season premiere, 1-hour)
History: The People Speak (special, 2-hours), Cowboys & Outlaws
Showtime: 9pm: Dexter (season finale), 10pm: Californication (season finale)
TLC: 6 Going on 60 (series premiere), Born Without Arms (special)
VH1: 9pm: Tough Love, 10pm: Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew
That’s a wrap for this week.
