Don’t Miss This Episode: SNL’s “Steve Martin/The Blues Brothers”

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Bailey C.

Image Source: amazon.com

Our blog series Don’t Miss This Episode takes you in to the standout episodes of your favorite shows.

Who in their right mind would set about trying to pinpoint the most unmissable Saturday Night Live? What deranged mind could possibly sift through thirty-seven seasons’ worth of episodes, searching for the best of the best? Internet, meet moi. I am said crazy individual–well, me and these guys. And maybe these ones, too. Whatever. They are my brethren and this is my quest. Continue reading →

Six Reoccurring Saturday Night Live Sketches That Should Be Retired

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Kris M.

Image: hulu.com

The thing about a good Saturday Night Live sketch is that you can always guarantee you’ll see it again some day. Since sketch comedy can be so hit-or-miss, the sketches that get a big response are often repeated because they know it’s a guarantee for laughs.

The problem with this particular approach is that jokes often lose their humor the more you hear them, so even the greatest comedy sketches become tedious to watch after multiple viewings. These six currently reoccurring SNL sketches should be retired from the show because they haven’t been funny in a long time.

Herb Welch

Image: paperblog.com

The geriatric news reporter played by Bill Hader was a riot in his first appearance, but repetition has not been good to ol’ Herb. Jamming a microphone into someone’s face is really only funny the first time. Herb would have been a riot on Weekend Update but the concept isn’t funny enough to base an entire sketch around it.

The Manuel Ortiz Show

An embarrassingly unfunny sketch that seems to get put into rotation every other episode, the Manuel Ortiz Show features Fred Armisen playing a samba dancing Mexican talk show host. Armisen is hilarious as Manuel Ortiz, the problem is that nobody else featured in the skit—neither guest hosts nor regular cast members– can ever keep up with him. So instead we get five minutes of people sort of gyrating to samba music while slipping in and out of bad Spanish accents.

Scared Straight

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The problem with the Scared Straight sketches is that Kenan Thompson always performs with another actor—typically the host for the week. That means that the quality of this sketch is almost always dependent on the quality of the host. But even an amazing host can only do so much with tired cliché prison jokes. At its best the sketch is merely watchable.

Garth and Kat

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The unprepared folk-singers played by Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen feel less like a comedy sketch and more like an acting exercise from an improv class. It was funny at first when you had Armisen throwing out weird lines and Wiig scrambling to keep up, but they’ve done this so many times now that over-rehearsing has killed the spontaneity.

The Vogelchecks

You might know them simply as “The Kissing Family,” because that’s the entire premise of the sketch—a family that is a little too intimate when it comes to expressing their love. The first instance of the sketch was hilarious because the stakes were only upped a little bit each time a member of the family came in for a smooch. Now that we’re used to it, they’ve had to go to ridiculous lengths to keep shocking the audience—and there’s only so much that they can show on network television.

Shanna

Kristen Wiig plays Shanna, a beautiful woman who is desired by her coworkers until they find out her disgusting habits. The sketch is essentially five minutes of fart and boob jokes, which might be funny to ten-year-old boys, but not the rest of us. The problem with gross-out humor is that when it’s no longer funny, it just becomes gross.

10 Muppet TV Cameos That Would Be as Perfectly Matched as Miss Piggy and Project Runway

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Kris M.

Image: toughpigs.com

Miss Piggy, the swine starlet of The Muppets, has always been a felted fashionista. So when the designers of Project Runway All-Stars were tasked with creating a cocktail dress worthy of her approval, it was a match made in hog heaven.

Although the Muppets have been making cameos everywhere lately since their newest movie hit the theaters, we want to see more perfect Muppet matches like Miss Piggy and Project Runway

Sweetums on Dancing with the Stars

Obviously there are technical issues that prevent most Muppets from dancing with a human partner—but not Sweetums. This full-sized friendly monster could probably pull of a basic ballroom dance better than most of the stars on Dancing with the Stars.

Rowlf the Dog on Glee

Image: wikia.com

Would anyone even really notice if the mute accompanist on Glee was replaced by Rowlf the Dog? Most of the songs are presented as fantasy sequences, so his appearance wouldn’t even need to be necessarily explained.

Sam the Eagle on The Colbert Report

Image: omnipotentpoobah.com

The patriotic, right-wing Sam the Eagle was Stephen Colbert before Stephen Colbert. Always the stodgy conservative, he’d make the perfect wing-man for Stephen on an episode ofThe Colbert Report.

Oscar the Grouch on Curb Your Enthusiasm

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Larry David and Oscar the Grouch are both grumpy loudmouths who just want to be left alone. Curb Your Enthusiasm frequently features actors making cameos playing exaggerated versions of themselves—why not Oscar?

Bunson and Beaker on Mythbusters

Mythbusters Jamie and Adam are real-life versions of Bunson and Beaker—the eccentric Muppet scientists who shock, burn and maim themselves in the name of science. Bring these four together and prepare for the explosions.

Bert on Antiques Roadshow

Image: wikia.com

Bert may be a nerd, but he knows the value of a good bottle cap collection. We wouldn’t expect him to do any appraising, instead he’d be there to provide color commentary and help attract a younger audience.

Animal on Jersey Shore

Image: blogspot.com

The Jersey Shore roommates like to get a little wild—just like the Muppets’ resident drummer, Animal. Actually, after all the working out, partying and fighting is said and done, it might be Animal who is too tired to keep up.

Kermit the Frog on Saturday Night Live

Kermit recently hosted a Weekend Update sketch with Seth Meyers, but frankly it wasn’t enough. This famous froggy has paid his dues—it’s time for Kermit to host an entire episode of SNL.

Pepe on The Bachelorette

Image: smosh.com

This crustacean Casanova would break many a Bachelorette’s heart if given the opportunity. Instead we see Pepe giving our lovelorn hopefuls a few lessons in speaking with passion from the heart.

Miss Piggy on Bad Girls Club

Image: wikia.com

As much as Project Runway was a perfect match for Miss Piggy, so too is Bad Girls Club, after all Piggy has always toed the line between naughty and nice. Get her in the Bad Girls mansion to learn how to curb her nasty tendencies—or just to stir up trouble.

Happy 90th Birthday Betty White – 9 Reasons Why We Love TV’s Golden Gal

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Kris M.

Image: aarp.com

Let’s all wish TV legend Betty White a very happy 90^th birthday! Last night, NBC held a star-studded birthday bash where friends, fans and even the President celebrated the Nonagenarian actress. In honor of her birthday, we’re celebrating nine reasons why we love Betty White—one for every decade she’s lived through.

Pioneer for Women in Television

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Betty helped pave the way for women in television today. She was one of the first women to have creative control behind the camera on the show “Life With Elizabeth.” In 1951, she was one of the first actresses to be nominated for Best Actress when the Emmy Awards first created the separate category for women. Then in 1983 she became the first female game show host to win an Emmy for “Just Men!”

A ‘Golden’ Rose

Most of us will always remember Betty as the lovable, naive Rose Nylund on “The Golden Girls.” This sitcom about four mature women enjoying their golden years continues to be a favorite in reruns for its timeless humor and provocative peek at the life of senior citizens.

The Happy Homemaker

Betty rose to fame in the 70s for her portrayal as Sue Ann Nivens on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Sue Ann was an innocent, soft-hearted homemaker on-screen and a sassy, man-crazed vixen off-screen—proving the perfect role for Betty, who is known for delivering risqué statements behind a sweet smile

Greatest Game Show Guest Ever

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From “Password” to “Hollywood Squares,” Betty has been a staple guest for a number of celebrity-themed game shows. Betty is known for her feisty wit and taboo remarks, making her an absolute thrill as a game show guest.

Holds Record for Oldest ‘SNL’ Host

Image: blogspot.com

At age 88, Betty White became the oldest person ever to host “Saturday Night Live” and became an ‘SNL’ legend overnight. She appeared on the show thanks to a massive Internet fan campaign over Facebook—and delivered one of the most memorable episodes in recent history.

Accomplished Actress with an Abundance of Awards

Image: flickr.com

Betty has received countless awards and accolades for her accomplishments in TV. She’s won seven Emmy awards for acting, hosting and even guest-starring in TV shows. Betty has won Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, multiple lifetime achievement awards and has been inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. On top of all of that, she also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Stands Up for Animals

Image: usatoday.net

In between all of her TV work, Betty still finds the time to take a stand for animal rights. She’s worked with the Los Angeles Zoo, served as trustee with the Morris Animal Foundation and is a continuing advocate for animal health and welfare.

She Keeps Us Laughing

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The best part about Betty White is that she continues to keep us laughing, even in her 90^th year. She’s just signed on for another year of the TV Land sitcom “Hot in Cleveland” and will also start hosting “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers,” – a prank show that pits elderly people against youngsters.

Predictions for the 2012 TV Season

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Kris M.

It doesn’t take a crystal ball to predict where TV is heading in the year to come. Based on what was trending in 2011, and looking ahead to the television events already on the horizon, we can make some educated guesses as to what the TV landscape will be like in 2012.

Music TV Will Be Everywhere Other Than MTV

Image: Deadline

Sure MTV might not stand for “Music Television” anymore, but who needs one channel dedicated to music when every channel is breaking out into song and dance. In 2012, expect singing competitions like “The Voice” and musical dramas like “Smash” to keep the musical trend going. After all, as they say, the beat goes on.

Vampires Are Out, Magic is In

Image: Hollywood Reporter

The vampire craze may have finally peaked, however it may be replaced by magic and fairy tales in the years to come. Shows like “Grimm” and “Once Upon a Time” proved that TV viewers could handle magical fairy tale themes in prime time. Even HBO’s “True Blood” has shifted focus from vampires to witches and fairies in the recent seasons.

New Faces Hosting Your Favorite TV Shows

Image: US Magazine

Everywhere you look in 2012, there will be new faces on daytime TV. Kelly Ripa still hasn’t found a suitable host to replace Regis, but we’re expecting for her to finally settle on a co-star sometime in early 2012. Meanwhile, NBC has been openly considering “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest to takeover hosting “The Today Show.”

What’s Old is New

Image: Boston Herald

The recent success of “90210” and “Hawaii Five-O” has proven that TV remakes are a viable option for networks to rely on. In 2012, producer Bryan Fuller of “Pushing Daisies” fame will be remaking “The Munsters”—which goes to show that in 2012 any remake is possible.

The Olympics Provide a Reason to Stay In This Summer

Image: New York Times

You might want to cancel your vacation to Legoland this year because the London 2012 Olympics may just occupy your summer. All eyes will be watching to see how London tries to top the mind-blowing opening ceremonies from the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Horror is in the House

Image: Screenrant

Although horror is usually considered a niche genre, the popularity of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and FX’s recent hit “American Horror Story” have proven that there’s an audience for macabre programming. Expect things to get much darker on TV from now on, especially around Halloween 2012.

Say So Long to Soaps

Image: ABC.com

The last few soap operas will likely call it quits in 2012, making it the end of a long era of serialized television stories. Nowadays fans are too busy to keep up with their soaps, while prime time televisions dramas are swooping in to fill the void.

Campaign Comedy

Image: Indecisionforever.com

Since 2012 is an election year, we can expect plenty of political humor in the coming months. This is when shows like “Saturday Night Live” and “The Daily Show” are at their best as the 24-hour news cycle allows for every second of the election to become satirical fodder.

TV New Years Resolutions

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Dabney B

The Crew of Ghost Hunters

This year, we resolve to actually find real evidence of ghosts, and not just 13 hours of recorded static and blurry photos

Image: Thingamababy

Kim Kardashian – Keeping up with the Kardashians

Next time I get married, I promise to wait until after all of the wedding leftovers go bad before filing for divorce.

Image: ebaum's world

The Writers of Family Guy

We promise to come up with new jokes, just like that time when we…

Image: SheKnows

SNL

We promise to let Tina Fey ruin another Republican Presidential candidate’s credibility.

Image: PopCulture4Fun

Writers of The Walking Dead

We promise to have some zombies show up this time. Really. We mean it. Seriously.

Image: amctv

Bart Simpson

Image: AddLetters.com

The Parents on Toddlers and Tiaras

We promise to continue living out our fantasies vicariously through our miserable and overly sexualized children.

Image: Softpedia

Ten TV Party Animals We Want to Hang With on New Years Eve

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Kris M.

Image Source: TVtropes.org

Break out the party hats and pop the champagne—New Years Eve is almost upon us. If you find yourself without plans on the biggest party night of the year, then spend some quality time at home with these TV party animals.

10. Stefon – Saturday Night Live

Image Source: Collider.com

We want to hang with Weekend Update correspondent Stefon because he knows all the best clubs to go to on New Years Eve. Hopefully we can get in past the bouncer– a bulldog that looks like Wilford Brimley

9. Homer Simpson – The Simpons

Image Source: SimpsonCrazy.com

Homer has that combination of likeability and dumb luck that makes him a good candidate for New Years Eve. Not only can he hold his liquor, but his drinking usually leads to crazy adventures, which would prevent us from having a dull night.

8. Chelsea Handler – Chelsea Lately

Image Source: borderlineamazingcomedy.com

When TV comedienne Chelsea Handler wrote a memoir of her life, she titled it “Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea.” She’s always ready to have a good time and her spitfire wit would keep us in stitches all night.

7. Bender – Futurama

Image Source: Sharetv.org

Bender is an alcohol-fueled robot that loves to have a good time– in abundance. Without having to worry about pesky human flaws, like hangovers and brain damage, Bender can party from this New Years Eve all the way through 2012.

6. Cast of Jersey Shore – Jersey Shore

Image Source: NY Daily News

Sure they’re obnoxious, crass train wrecks that look like Oompa Loompas—but they also know how to throw a good party. You wouldn’t have to worry about embarrassing yourself either, not with The Situation, Snooki and Pauly D around to be the center of attention.

5. Charlie Harper – Two and a Half Men

Image Source: National Post Arts

Charlie was a ladies man that never turned down a good party—much like his real life alter-ego, Charlie Sheen. Charlie may have been unceremoniously killed off, but before he died he would have been the perfect New Years Eve wingman.

4. Cast of Entourage – Entourage

Image Source: Gearlive.com

Partying with the boys from Entourage would mean that we’d get to meet all sorts of different celebrities—and possibly get into a fist fight with them. For all the drama (and Johnny Drama) we’d have to put up with, it’d still be worth it to get the Hollywood treatment.

3. Tom Haverford – Parks and Recreation

Image Source: Hulu.com

Craps tables, bounce houses, Bengal tigers—these are just a few of the things that Tom Haverford can bring to your party. Nothing is too decadent for Tom, who’s personal motto is “treat yo self.”

2. Tracy Jordan – 30 Rock

Image Source: Mamapop.com

Tracy has thrown parties on stolen yachts, regularly attends after-after-after parties and once turned Kenneth’s corny get-together into a raging nightmarish party. In the world of “30 Rock,” Tracy is an actor that built his career on his ability to create a party where there previously was none.

1. Barney Stinson – How I Met Your Mother

Image Source: LA Times

Barney is the man with the plan—for a perfect New Years party that is. Some people love to party, but Barney lives to party and his passion is your gain. Do you want your New Years to be memorable, or do you want it to be legen—wait for it—dary!