Television Worth Watching.

There is a tremendous amount of T.V. going on right now and you're missing it. Fuck this blog, don't read it. It's 2:34 PM and you're wasting your precious T.V.-watching potential time on reading this dribble when you could be watching King of Queens re-runs on TBS, or Judge Joe Brown laying it down. I'm glad the cliche of T.V. rotting your brain has been laid to rest. This signifies a qualitative change in television, and not just in television but also on the silver screen as well. I'd like to take the time to list some of the show I've been enjoying recently. (Re-Runs included)

The Jon Dore Television Show:
Dry Humor. Deadpan delivery of some fucked up one-liners. It's scripted like a sketch comedy show, but has some reality tv aspects as well (uncomfortable interviews with army sergeants, health advocates, adult-film directors, etc.)
The basic framework of the show and all episodes revolve around Jon facing a personal crisis, or worse a world problem. Each episode plays out a like "a day in the life of Jon" mockumentary...I just wish Canada would export their single-payer healthcare like they do their comedians.

Favorite bit:

IFC Independent Film Channel





The Whitest Kid's U'Know:
Outlandish, rugged, obscene, twisted comedy troupe, I love them. Bless their little hearts. After being on Fuse for a while, they set sail for bigger and better things on IFC. Seriously who cares about Fuse? It's a true sketch comedy show, and usually never runs over 15 minutes. Their jokes and bits are unique and unforgettable, I see these guys becoming comedy classics over a short period of time, most likely to get a movie deal by August 2010.... Callin' it*.

Favorite bit:

IFC Independent Film Channel

Real Time With Bill Maher:
Other than the Daily Show, this is pretty much the only show that really discusses political issues. Bill Maher for all my disagreements with him, asks poignant questions about domestic and foreign policy, and he's pretty much right on the ball about Obama's performance lately. Also he has been having some legit guests on recently I sat down with Jon and Steve (Kenny Bloggins!)
to watch Real Time...
...and Paul Krugman (Nobel Laureate in Economics) Michael Moore (Radical filmmaker extraordinaire) and Jon Waters (writer, director, trendsetter)and sigh* Eliot Spitzer (lame ass self-promoting douchetard politician)were on one episode together. It's insane I mean...Leno can get Kanye and a nobody to show up on his show, but can he get Kanye, Jay-Z, and Christopher Walken to just stroll in all on one night? Hardly. Maher makes it happen, and he's funnier than shit too.

Favorite bit:

HBO Home Box Office

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Shows that should be Syndicated until the Sun Explodes.

The Nanny:
I have a strange attraction to Fran Dreshcer and her psychedelic color schemes framed with mod fashion sense. But what's really appealing to me is her character's lack of pretensions, endless amounts of scheming, and "amirite?" humor. The casting of this show was pretty damn good, with the exception of the children who you couldn't care less about. (perhaps this is also the fault of the writers) Niles (I'm sorry to say) takes a shit on Jeffrey from Fresh Prince. He's wittier, much more maniacal, bitter and Niles (though native born) plays a more convincing Brit to boot! The cast has great chemistry, and the writers did a great job with them.

King of Queens
This is the holiest of holys. One of the greatest shows to ever grace the Television screen. It is vital. It is real. Show me a mouth that criticizes this show, and I'll show a mouth that doesn't deserve to eat.King of Queens has a deep bench: Jerry Stiller, Kevin James, Patton Oswald, Leah Remini,Alex Skuby Victor Williams, Gary Valentine, Lou Ferrigno (as a side character!)Doug and Carry Heffernon are a couple sketched by realists, they play games with each other, they plot against their friends, they're (in my mind) an inseparable duo, their love is a spectacle I cannot look away from. Arthur (Carry's father) is a definite crowd favorite, and the chemistry between Victor (Deacon) and Doug is phenomenal. The satire of office life (Carry as a secretary), and the alienating experience of labor (Doug as delivery man)is a telling account of the politics of working life. Even the writer's of King of Queens addressed the UPS strike in a series of episodes. Even Economist Paul Krugman mentioned King of Queens the other night in a serious political discussion... c'mon give it up King of Queens haters!

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air:
This is a no brainer. When our sun swallows up Mercury and disintegrates Venus I think it would be a shame that the charred remains of humanity don't enjoy a little bit of Will Smith smacking Carlton in the back of the head. Fresh Prince was genius, if I were to meet the main writers of the show right now, I'd probably attempt to shake their hand but would most likely slip in the puddle of urine that streamed down by nervous legs. Philip Banks was the reflection of my scary ass dad. Will was the model of sophisticated 'coolness' 'freshness' 'dopeness' that I would never be. Carlton was the family member we all want to kill due to their numerous character flaws but still love them because it's not really their fault. Hillary is just someone you want to ignore, and I did since she as a comic character never worked for me. In fact all Legally Blonde-esque archetypical retards NEVER make me laugh. this show captured the dynamics of family, and pressure youth face in real terms, not bullshit 7th Heaven terms. Fresh Prince was radical and on the right side of history when it came to racial issues. The late 80's and 90's saw an explosion of racial tension in the U.S. especially in Los Angeles and New York. (Where the PD's were most notorious)If I am not mistaken, (which I am not) the first episode of The Fresh Prince had will wearing a Malcolm X hat. That's fucking insane. I can't imagine white America's reaction to that at the time. But I cannot help but conclude that it occurred radical to whites and obvious to blacks. What is obvious to both, then and now is that this show was a masterpiece. There will never be a Prince so dear and near.