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Usually on Tuesdays, I like to discuss Gossip Girl and the many joys it brings me (make no exception, I will be discussing it, and yes, it brought me many joys last night), but today, I'd like to talk about one of the funniest new shows on TV: Worst Week. Airing on Mondays at 9:30 PM on CBS (make note of that date and time), this sitcom has been getting funnier and funnier every week, and yet it's lagging in the ratings and generating little to no buzz. What gives?
In a television universe where mediocrity rules and fans of comedy find themselves begging for better content, Worst Week is a gem that should be praised. Last night's episode was no exception. In fact, it was pretty much the best of the season. The writers seem to be honing the voice of all the characters and establishing a proper rhythm to the show. It's hitting its stride, and I say with no exaggeration that I nearly laughed my way through last night's entire episode.
Adding to the fun is great casting, starting with the lead, Kyle Bornheimer, whose previous claim to fame was an omnipresent Cingular commercial with him leaving umpteen messages on an unseen woman's voicemail. I'm shocked this guy hasn't hit it big before because his comedic timing is excellent. If little else, Worst Week has certainly found a promising new star. Also deserving mention are Kurtwood Smith (That '70s Show), who nails the role of an imposing, WASPy father with the ease of an industry pro, and Nancy Lenehan, who has rapidly come to the fore as the show's preeminent scene stealer.
Have I heaped enough praise? Seriously, watch this show. And if you missed last night's episode, check it out at CBS.com.
Yesterday, Apple released iTunes 8, which features a nifty new feature called "Genius." By using fancy algorithms and special analytical tools (ie. MAGIC), Genius builds a playlist based on your listening habits, other people's listening habits, and various other variables which are probably too complex for me to comprehend. It's the same concept as last.fm and Pandora (apparently — I've never used either).
Always eager to embrace new technology, I decided to give Genius a test run with a variety of songs, ranging from Top 40 hits to cheesy '80s ballads. The results after the jump...
The Dark Knight may very well be the best movie of the summer, but right now, my favorite might have to be American Teen, the latest documentary from filmmaker Nanette Burstein. The film follows a handful of seniors from Warsaw, Indiana as they navigate the perils and joys of high school — all while following their dreams for a better life. There's the dork, the outsider, the jock, the popular girl, and, of course, the dreamboat. It's all very Breakfast Club, but without the moodiness. In short, it's awesome.
Like, really awesome.
The film totally captures the essence of high school, from the hours wasted hanging out (and often drinking) in someone's basement to the awkwardness of school dances to the pressure of college applications. And, of course, it's all contained in an Oort cloud of petty drama that threatens to destroy these teens' worlds at any moment. That's not to say there's no real substance here: the specters of suicide, manic-depression, and military service linger over many of the storylines. Still, this isn't a film that weighs the audience down with the plight of America's youth. It instead celebrates the teenage years, either sending us on a nostalgic journey back or making us happy that it's over (or both).
Granted, there's not a whole lot of stunning revelations in the picture, but that's really okay. What American Teen may lack in social commentary, it more than makes up for in colorful, engaging characters. I loved watching these kids. I could have watched them for two more hours. I could have watched them for five more hours. Honestly, I simply didn't want the movie to end. Some critics, however, have faulted the film for engaging in "MTV" tactics, complaining that the teens at time seem self-consciously aware of the cameras. However, this is just veiled snobbery at reality TV. Burstein obviously cops many techniques and styles from the genre, making American Teen a bit more akin to The Paper than Hoop Dreams. Still, just because she adopts a newer (dare I say, more current) approach doesn't mean the documentary is any less legitimate. Besides, all documentaries engage in some sort of subject manipulation, going back to the silent era and Nanook of the North. Why some are suddenly haranguing American Teen for a long accepted practice seems odd to me. Ultimately, while some scenes obviously were affected by the cameras, the emotions and dialogue all feel real, authentic, and compelling. And for a movie that's been accused of being staged, there's a stunning number of hilarious (and heartbreaking) scenes that reflect a complete lack of self-awareness (a vicious prank calling incident comes to mind).
But hey, there's no need to overanalyze this. American Teen is immensely watchable. It's funny, bittersweet, engaging, and like, totally awesome! If it reaches your local multiplex, definitely try to see it.
For more information, check out the official website here.
I realize that a lot of people who read this blog don't necessarily live in Los Angeles, but that's no reason why we all can't simply adore this restaurant review which absolutely eviscerates one of the city's oldest establishments, Gladstone's of Malibu. The famed seafood joint gets the royal treatment from Leslie Brenner (subbing in for critic S. Irene Virbila), who viciously tears apart nearly every plate that descends on her unlucky table. I have to admit that I was damn glad she did it too. I ate at Gladstone's a year ago, and I was shocked at both the pricing and the mediocrity (at best) of the food. How could a place like this be so popular? I guess one can never underestimate the power of an oceanfront view.
Nevertheless, Brenner's review is laugh-out-loud funny at times; so much so that I just had to compile some of my favorite quotes:
It's not often that I stray from my TV, but once in a while, I do peel myself off the couch and take in a bit of the theatre (pronounced "theee-atttrah"). Case in point: last week, I attended Point Break Live!, the much buzzed-about play which reenacts the famed 1991 action pic, Point Break, live on stage. Long story short: it was hilarious.
To the uninitiated, Point Break Live! is one of those low-rent, interactive performances -- the type that mandates the use of a poncho, lest your shirt be soaked with water, beer, and fake blood (all three of which are ultimately flung into the audience -- quite liberally). These touches are funny, but what truly separates Point Break Live! from the pack is its genius conceit of having an audience member play Johnny Utah, the lead role originally inhabited by the prototypically monotone Keanu Reeves. Subscribing to the theory that anyone can do just as good a job as Reeves, the play throws its unrehearsed Johnny Utah into the fray, feeding him cue-cards throughout the duration of the show and creating the sort of trainwreck performance that can only be described as perfectly brilliant and brilliantly perfect.
But this isn't just a one-joke show. The entire cast absolutely tears into the wooden screenplay with campy yet reverential glee, milking all its silly one-liners for maximum comic potential. People who've never seen the original may be shocked to know that this dialogue has been taken verbatim from the movie, but rest assured, it's 98% faithful to the source material. Plus, if anything, this version is better. Creators Jaime Keeling and Jamie Hook cut away some of the unnecessary plot diversions of the film and leave us with a streamlined, if still utterly unbelievable, story. Everyone appears to be having the time of their lives on stage, and as the various actors and actresses galavant throughout the theater (and onto the street outside), the mania becomes infectious. Point Break Live! very easily could have worn out its welcome after thirty minutes, but instead, this hysterical, uproarious production keeps things lively the entire night. My party, which included fellow influential bloggers J-Unit (Half-Black Charisma), Cat Vasko (Gridskipper), and Katherine Spiers (Metromix LA), all agreed: Point Break Live! is definitely worth checking out (buy the poncho at the door).
Tickets for Angelenos can be found at Theatermania.com. And should the production hit the road, be sure to keep up with the schedule at the show's MySpace page.
(Two more bonus pics after the jump)
After a prolonged, icy winter that left Los Angeles reeling in the permafrost of multiple 62 degree days, the sun finally came out this past weekend, sizzling the Southland up to temperatures reaching triple digits. It was, in short, excellent. To celebrate this change (not to mention the impending weekend), my friends and I decided to undergo some change ourselves. No, we didn't become trannies. Instead, we tried out a new Mexican restaurant: The Gardens of Taxco.
By now, at least half the Angelenos reading this post are probably chuckling to themselves as the word "new" doesn't often accompany "Gardens of Taxco." The family-run restaurant has been around since the seventies and has become a mini-institution in its own right. None of us, however, had stepped foot inside this wood-paneled mecca, despite its convenient location. On Friday, we decided that was all about to change. For once, Don Antonio's, El Coyote, and Marix Tex-Mex would have to wait. We were tryin' new Mexican!
