January 22, 2010
Friday Comedy Roundup
Also, the Apocalypse is Coming
Not a bad week for random comedy. The HuffPost just published this slideshow of snarky WiFi names (why didn't I think of that?), and someone brought SleepTalkinMan, an awesome blog of random sleep utterances, to my attention. It's great comedy, because this guy is an automatic incongruity generator. My favorites: "Don't leave the duck there. It's totally irresponsible!" and "I can't control the kittens. Too many whiskers!"
Really, John? Really?
John Mayer's lame-ass interview was one of the most unintentionally funny things I've read in a while. Apart from the cover shot, which reaches new heights of douchery, it's always funny when men think they've invented faux-angst for the first time, and especially when they think we're actually going to buy it. Oh, poor John, he was so torn up about not being able to commit to Jen, she was so awesome and everything, but he just, like, couldn't see this going anywhere, and yeah, (all serious for a moment) that made him an asshole, huh? Wow, John, way to say everything that five gazillion other men have said, without any sense of irony.
Why, why, why? And EWWWWW.
Otherwise it looks like we should see the Rapture any day now. The Supreme Court ruled that corporations have the right to free speech (motherfucking 5-4, man), Air America just went bankrupt, and of course Scott Brown got himself elected, despite having posed -- unattractively, I might add -- in Cosmopolitan. And that whole "I did it to pay for college" thing? I doubt that would have worked for woman, Scottie Boy.
What bugs me most is Brown's claim that the voters sent "a powerful message" by electing him. In reality, 50% of the state sent it -- so isn't that more like a half-assed message?
Anyway, at least "The Daily Show" was on hand to do the honors. Stewart claimed MSNBC was having an Irish wake for Coakley's bid, but Comedy Central was doing the jazz funeral. I liked the conceit that Brown was our new president. I loved when they called Coakley a "Democratic log bump." And I couldn't have been happier when John Oliver said "the Democratic party up there is, and I quote, 'wicked retahded'." Damn straight. Then a follow-up on Thursday when Stewart asked Obama (rhetorically), "you thought you could win us over with rational policy decisions and an even temperament?! Ha!" Sigh. I do so love it when "TDS" turns on the citizenry. It's so Aristophanic.
Finally, Thursday. NBC. I'm not so into Jeff and the professor on "Community." I loved the dinner party on "Parks and Rec," and especially Ron's demand that he get to bring deviled eggs and not share them. I'm not so keen on "look back" episodes, either, so "The Office" was meh for me this week. Honestly, I thought it took away from the Jim-Pam moments to set the montage over a cheesy song. And I just plain don't like Julianne Moore stealing Jack's affections on "30 Rock". Of course, Julianne Moore is one of those I actresses I just can't get into, so that's probably the real problem.
And yeah, tonight is Conan's last night on "The Tonight Show." Still don't care that much, but I do think it's really funny that his departure contract bars him from making jokes about NBC. Wha? I've written about fear of comedy before, but I wonder if such demands would hold up in court? I mean, now that NBC has free speech, what right do they have to stifle Conan?
But he's taking it pretty well, and I really respect the fact that he's getting some jibes in at NBC, comparing the network to the Titanic and saying it is run by "brainless sons of goats who crap trouble." Good for him. I also liked his Tuesday night observation that he was "three days away from the biggest drinking binge in history." Don't worry, Conan. Given this week, we're all gonna be right there with you.
