Archive: July 2009 (51-56 of 56)

Jul 4 2009 08:33 PM ET

Steve Martin parodies Michael Jackson and the 'Billie Jean' video

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Categories: Television

If, as they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Steve Martin must have really liked Michael Jackson. Here, from 1984, is Martin doing an impeccable parody of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” video, from a short-lived tv series called The New Show:

The New Show lasted only one season, was produced by Saturday Night Live‘s Lorne Michaels, featured SCTV vets like Dave Thomas (who appears in the video above) and Catherine O’Hara, and, in an odd coincidence, featured guest spots from Jeff Goldblum, who was the object of a death rumor last week. But it’s Martin’s deft footwork (remember how good he was in his underrated 1981 version of Pennies From Heaven?) that makes this spoof a fond homage.

What do you think?

Jul 4 2009 02:30 PM ET

Celebrate the 4th of July with a TV classic: the first episode of 'Roseanne'

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Categories: Television

Happy 4th of July. This holiday always reminds me of the dog my family owned that hated the sound of fireworks. He got all nervous and jumpy; the only thing that calmed him down was turning on the TV. I identify with that long-gone pet. Tonight, around the time when fireworks are going off across America, TV Land will give us its holiday gift: a marathon of Roseanne episodes, beginning at 8 p.m. ET with the 1988 pilot episode. Like my old dog, I’m tempted to skip the fireworks and watch Roseanne. Look at this opening segment and tell me it’s not a classic TV show:

At a time when the economy is tough, the tight-budget comedy of Roseanne — love that moment when Roseanne tells Becky to bring home some of the food from her school’s “food drive for poor people” — is both timely and funny. (Also, trivia buffs, note: the kid playing little DJ in this pilot episode is not Michael Fishman, but, for this ep only, Sal Barone.)

Plus, John Goodman’s deadpan reactions to Roseanne’s squawking represents some of the great sitcom acting of all time.

Also, do yourself a favor: read or re-read my colleague Tanner “Tantalizin’” Stransky’s great EW oral-history-of-Roseanne feature: 

A ‘Roseanne’ family reunion

What do you think: Does Roseanne hold up as first-rate TV?

Jul 2 2009 08:28 PM ET

New Michael Jackson film clip, rehearsing two days before he died

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Categories: Music, Television

Michael Jackson can be seen looking in fit, top-notch form in a clip released by CNN of a rehearsal taped two days before he died. Performing “They Don’t Care About Us,” Jackson and a troupe of dancers are quick, loose, and inventive in their moves:

There’s an eerie moment at the end of the rehearsal clip, taped at Los Angeles’ Staples Center when Jackson finishes, freezes, and an off-stage voice says, “Hold for applause”… applause he’ll never hear.

Jul 2 2009 03:42 PM ET

'30 Rock' and 'The Office': Which holds up better in summer reruns?

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Categories: Television

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Tonight, NBC is airing two episodes apiece of 30 Rock and The Office, which got me to thinking: Which of these superlative sitcoms holds up better when you watch them as summer reruns?

I’m not trying to set up some ridiculous which-show-is-better comparison — obviously, each of these sitcoms is first-rate and has unique qualities. But different questions of style and content come into play here. Does The Office, which tends to follow storylines for longer arcs, make for less-engaging rerun drop-in visits, because you have to know the backstories? (For instance, one episode tonight involves Ed Helms’ Andy finding out for the first time that Dwight was intimate with Angela.)

By contrast, any edition of 30 Rock is so chock-full of free-standing one-liners and brilliant, out-of-nowhere non sequiturs, that you can drop into any episode and not have to know too much about what’s gone on previously. Tonight, for example, there’s a rerun about Liz’s first date with Jon Hamm’s character, and Jack wanting so much to bond-in-every-sense with Salma Hayek that he attends a Catholic service with her. 

I apply my own Seinfeld rule to sitcom reruns. What I mean by that is, Seinfeld is the one modern sitcom (its predecessor would be The Honeymooners) that for me, no matter what episode or season I drop in on, I want to spend time with those characters — be a part of that comfy world for a half-hour.

Right now, I’m leaning toward The Office as providing that kind of welcoming rerun-world most often. But I could be persuaded that 30 Rock is its own alternate-universe of warm pleasure.

What do you do? When you come across an Office or 30 Rock rerun, which one are you most likely to watch? 

Jul 2 2009 01:24 PM ET

'The Today Show' tour of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch: Jermaine tells Matt Lauer there might have been a Jackson 5 reunion

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Categories: Television

Matt Lauer turned an awkward media situation into fascinating television this morning. While the rest of various news outlets circled the Neverland Ranch due to the rumors of a Michael Jackson memorial that will apparently now not take place there, The Today Show went into the largely-empty mansion. The tour included a stroll through Jackson’s huge kitchen — “the size of Meredith [Viera]‘s kitchen,” noted Lauer slyly — on into Jackson’s bedroom. There, deep within a huge closet, Lauer revealed a small “secret room” that had triple locks.

Lauer also conducted an interview with Jermaine Jackson. “I wish it was me,” said Jermaine, referring to Michael’s death and sobbing. He said that Jackson’s three children, ages 12, 11, and 7, were taken to see their father’s body shortly after he died. Jermaine also addressed the question of the children’s custody by the Jacksons’ mother, Katherine. Lauer asked whether Katherine, at age 79, was up to such a task, Jermaine said she was indeed “capable… she loves the laughter and the kids.” Jermaine also said that there was some talk with Michael that after he had finished his solo tour, there was the possibility of a Jackson 5 reunion. Lauer said the quarters for the children in the house were “understated… not over-the-top at all.” There was also a classroom on the grounds, since the children were home-schooled. Jermaine also told Lauer that he hopes Michael’s “final resting place” will be the Neverland Ranch. Working on a story that can frequently become melodramatic, Lauer conducted a calm, classy series of reports throughout this morning’s Today Show.

Jul 1 2009 01:19 PM ET

'Better Off Ted' last night: 'If only I were a worm... '

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Categories: TV Last Night

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Last night’s Better Off Ted was a cramped affair. When a toxic acid leak was discovered, a whole area of Veridian work-space had to be cordoned off, and workers had to share their offices with others. For Ted, this meant sharing his roomy office with the roomy bright eyes and (trust me, this isn’t sexist, it bears upon the plot) backside of Linda. He thought this would be fun, but Linda proved dismayingly neurotic (trying to teach her pet fish to talk) and lazy. Pretty soon, an unnerved Ted was swilling antacids and plotting Linda’s exit from his office.

For Lem, the situation meant the arrival of a lovely young woman who compelled him to overcome his shyness, flirt, and attempt a date. Not without misgivings, of course: As Lem phrased his ideal life: “If only I were a worm, I could cut myself in half and date my lower half.”

If the jokes weren’t quite as dense and thick as last week’s edition, this week’s Ted was still funnier and had more loony comic logic than any other sitcom on the air. At a time when HBO’s Hung is getting lots of attention because — well, because it’s HBO — Ted continues to be the zingiest half-hour in prime time.

Did you watch? Extra points for knowing what Phil’s shorthand term for “acid interface” is…

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