It seems an obvious question: How come no good television shows have been made about the American college experience? Tonight, NBC debuts Community, a hitherto critically regarded comedy about a diverse group of community college students—few of whom are actually of college age. By my count, it’s the third major television show set at a [...]
Archive for September, 2009
17 Sep
A Review of Mad Men Season Three So Far
About a month ago I declared Mad Men “a cool show to like” at least partially due to the fact that it was so critically beloved. A downside of a show being so critically beloved, though, is that it can often get away with doing things other shows would get slammed for. Boring dream sequences, [...]
16 Sep
The Top Five Comedians of the Summer
After we (John S and Josh) settled our squabbles on anchoring, we went to the highly recommended Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York nearly every week this summer (sometimes twice) to see some of the best (and worst) up-and-coming and established comedians. The vast majority of these comics were seen at Leo Allen’s Whiplash, [...]
15 Sep
Unabated to the Quarterback, Week 1: Running Back in Time
Unabated to the Quarterback–everyone’s favorite NFL penalty–will run every Tuesday during the NFL season. “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads…. I’m gonna throw you in my DeLorean and gun it to 88.” —Knocked Up Back in the 1990s, there were some things we all took as basic facts of existence: The Atlanta Braves would [...]
15 Sep
Ranking the Bill of Rights, Number 3: The Fifth Amendment
This is where the men are separated the boys; the women from the girls; the toddlers from the infants. We have reached the top three. Without further ado, I present the Fifth Amendment: “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on presentment or indictment of a Grand [...]
14 Sep
Some Assorted Thoughts on MTV’s Relevance
As I’m sure many people did, last night I went on YouTube to confirm that “Single Ladies” is not, in fact, “one of the best videos of all time” (seriously, it looks like a fucking GAP commercial). With that said, Kanye West thinks it is, and if Kanye says it, it must be true. [...]
14 Sep
Monday Medley
What we read while shoving tennis balls down people’s throats in “non-threatening” ways: John S wasn’t the only one to write about the one-year anniversary of David Foster Wallace’s death this weekend: Infinite Summer ran a great piece, and found the best DFW line to sum up the feeling of his death; McSweeney’s has a [...]
13 Sep
The Top Ten Things to be Excited About in the Fall TV Season
So Tim took, among other things, umbrage at my listing the start of the fall TV season as a reason to be excited about September back when we ranked the months. Well, I know it’s not a traditional thing to get excited about, but it’s mildly exciting to get a whole new crop of television [...]
12 Sep
In Memoriam: David Foster Wallace
One year ago today, David Foster Wallace killed himself. I can remember where I was and how I found out, but not any real emotional impact. I was of course disappointed that a writer I had read and enjoyed was dead, but it was an abstract sense of disappointment; I mainly remember feeling surprised. [...]
12 Sep
NFL Preview Bonanza: NFC West
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Last Season: 4-12 This Season: 10-6, NFC #2 Healthy again after a season of injuries, the Seahawks return to their usual perch atop the NFL’s weakest division. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is the best receiver Matt Hasselbeck has ever had in Seattle, and Edgerrin James is still a good enough running back to keep teams [...]
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