"Mad Men": My job occasionally affords me the chance to review new products, or at least play with them, while hanging around the office. My company, thankfully, does not review lawn mowers.
Though come to think of it, my father did once represent a major lawn mower manufacturer, and they did give him a lawn mower as a gift. But he never brought it to the office, or run over anyone's foot, as far as I know.
"Curb Your Enthusiasm": Good first episode, especially with Catherine O'Hara guest-starring as "Bam Bam." I'm just wondering how they're going to solve the Loretta/cancer thing. They could have her die before Larry can break up with her- but David already went to that well with Susan dying on "Seinfeld." I'm also wondering whether the show just has too many characters at this point- there's the regulars (Larry, Cheryl, Jeff, Susie), plus the perennial guest stars (Richard Lewis, Ted Danson, Marty Funkhauser, Wanda Sykes), plus the Black Family, plus now the whole "Seinfeld" cast. That's a lot of characters for ten thirty-minute episodes.
"Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday": Aside from Bill Hader's incredible, transcendent James Carville impression, which practically had me rolling on the floor, the first episode was really weak. And between Fey-as-Palin and Poehler returning almost weekly, there's really no concept anymore as "leaving Saturday Night Live," is there? They also made a reality something I suggested last year- a Michele Bachmann impression by Kristen Wiig!- but did almost nothing with it. Hopefully the real show will be better, although I can't imagine Megan Fox possibly being funny.
"How I Met Your Mother": So, so great to have this show back. The Robin/Barney stuff wasn't that great- although the payoff was pretty good- but the whip and Tuxedo Night gags got funnier as they went on. Also, there couldn't have been a more perfect song than Vampire Weekend's "Oxford Comma."
Emmys: Very good show; Neil Patrick Harris is the best award show host alive, and he'll be doing the Oscars within two years, I guarantee it. Still, I don't see how the show had to devote an hour to miniseries- when most TV viewers don't watch more than one a year- and there is a bit too much other filler. Did Sarah McLachlan have to add a verse to "I Will Remember You," in order to keep the extra-long death montage going?
The best part of any Emmy Awards, of course, is the writing clipoff, and while Stewart deserved to win the award, the best clip was certainly Conan's. Stewart really can't lose in that category in an election year, can he?
I can't find the clip, but the NPH opening was golden:
Posted by Stephen Silver at September 21, 2009 09:26 PM