This is a link to a review that perfectly reflects my thoughts on Grindhouse.
I couldn’t speak it any better than this, how much I enjoyed the experience of seeing Grindhouse (every minute of it) in the theatre.
Thank God You’re Here – A Review
Here’s a quick review of the episode of Thank God You’re Here that I watched last night.
Thank God You’re Here is a show featuring improvisation. I didn’t like what I saw. Quickly, here’s how it works. Four celebrity contestants perform, one at a time, in a scene. They walk through a door and someone in the scene says “Thank God you’re here!”, then the scene continues with the celebrity trying to improvise their way through the scene. Other actors in the scene are in the know about what the scene is about and act accordingly.
While the concept and format sounds good, the delivery of it mostly fails. Why? Mostly because only one person (the celebrity) is truly doing improv, while everyone else in the scene is obviously following pre-arranged lines and motivations. Trouble is, they often ignore the celebrity’s improv for the sake of the pre-arranged details.
For instance, some woman named Monique (I’ve never heard of her) was the celebrity in a scene where she was a co-host in a game show. The “in on it” co-host actor asked her to tell us who the game show contestants were (a perfectly fine way to force a player to make things up on the spot). She’d say something like “contestant one is Linda from Iowa”, only to be rebuffed by the co-host who’d say “No, that’s actually Rachel from Detroit”. Anyone who knows the basics of improv know that what he did was an improv no-no. If Monique says contestant one is Linda from Iowa, then it’s up to the rest of the players to go along with that. But they didn’t. They thought (I guess) it was funnier to tell Monique she was wrong. I could understand them doing it if the name Rachel and her being from Detroit was important to the scene that followed, but it didn’t matter at all. There were examples of this all through the various scenes. It causes the scenes to be forced, rather than flow naturally from the improvised lines, and when the scenes are forced to go in a specific direction, they are hardly ever entertaining.
In other words, the “in on it” improvisers need to be allowed to improvise rather than be forced to follow the pre-arranged details. I suppose they are pre-detailed so that if the celebrity is particularly bad, then there’s something of a safety net there for everyone. Trouble is, improv shouldn’t have safety nets.
Here were the celebrities from the episode I watched: Monique (or maybe Mo’nique), Kevin Nealon, Richard Kind and Edie McClurg. So, not really the cream of the celebrity crop there. Of the four, Kevin Nealon was the best, and offered hope as to what the show could possibly become. In his scene, maybe because he seemed very sure of himself, the other actors seemed more willing to follow him rather than force him in the direction they were instructed to take him. Still, I thought the scene failed mostly because they insisted on ignoring his offers in favour of the scripted direction they had to take the scene. Edie McClurg’s scene was okay, too, but again was derailed because they insisted on making the scene something they conceived earlier, rather than let it go in the directions that McClurg was taking it. Richard Kind failed pretty much, I thought. There was a short period of entertainment value as he floated kind of helplessly outside his element, but that grew tiresome quickly. Mo’Nique (who “won” last night) was the poorest at improv, I thought, but did have a couple of good toss-off funny lines.
David Alan Grier is the host, and he’s awful, if you ask me. He seems very unsure of himself, and I never found him to be that funny anyway. Again, the word “forced” comes to mind.
Dave Foley is the judge, and his role seems to be to offer feint praise to the celebrity after each scene, and then at the end of the hour announce one of them the winner. it’s all very arbitrary and unnecessary, the judging, and needlessly slows the show down.
If this show was to continue, my advice would be this:
Don’t force the scenes to go in the pre-arranged directions. Allow your improv actors the chance to play with the celebrity to take the scene in unexpected directions.
Get rid of the judging (and the host), unless you make it actually worth something: How about instead of an arbitrary winner each week, the person who wins the week gets to come back for the next round, so that the season progresses towards the finale episode which would have the four best celebrities from the previous heats compete for the title. Even if it was obviously fixed and fake and arbitrary, at least there’d be a little bit of a stake and value in winning.
I’ll probably keep watching, hoping that the show finds its groove. But as it stands now, it’s pretty much a clunker. I’d expect to laugh at least a couple of big laughs during the hour, but honestly there was hardly a chuckle coming from me or my wife last night as we watched.
As I watched, and being the fan of performing improv that I am, I immediately thought “hmm, I wonder if something like that would work here on the Island?”
The Innaugural “Ask Rob A Question” Post
Here’s your chance, web, to ask me any question(s) you want. I’ll answer as best I can, or at least give a valid reason why I won’t answer. Please note, valid reasons may not be valid.
So, ask away, if anyone’s reading. Or don’t. Questions don’t necessarily have to be about me, or about things I might know. Whatever the question, I’ll do my damnedest to answer it.
And…
Go!!
The Innaugural "Ask Rob A Question" Post
Here’s your chance, web, to ask me any question(s) you want. I’ll answer as best I can, or at least give a valid reason why I won’t answer. Please note, valid reasons may not be valid.
So, ask away, if anyone’s reading. Or don’t. Questions don’t necessarily have to be about me, or about things I might know. Whatever the question, I’ll do my damnedest to answer it.
And…
Go!!
American Idol – The Top 9 – Review
Here’s how I saw and heard last night’s American Idol:
Blake: A good performance, but he seems to miss the drama of the lyrics and makes it more bubbly than it should be. Also, too much aimless walking around the stage and too much trying to look cool. I find that sometimes gets in the way of his vocal performance.
Phil: As he was singing this, I was thinking the word “empty”. His performance was empty of emotion and feeling. Simon’s “all the joy of someone singing in a funeral parlour” is apt. I just don’t like Phil. I really like Tony Bennett, but one of the things I wonder about him is his sincerity. How sincere is he in all the positive things he says to/about other performers. So, when he says Phil is one of the better singers he’s heard recently, I have to wonder: Is Tony Bennett full of shit? Sometimes he is, obviously.
Melinda: a knockout performance. Impeccably sung. However, as she was singing, I was wondering if/when she wins the competition, who will she be marketed to? She may be young-ish, but she gives off a middle-aged vibe. Who is her demographic?
Chris: A good performance, but uninspiring.
Jordin: This week and last, Jordin sang well, but her nerves seem to be getting in the way of her nailing her performances. Pretty strong, otherwise.
Gina: A well-performed but ultimately forgettable performance. Horrible makeup.
Sanjaya: See, now I can buy Tony saying he thinks Sanjaya is “terrific” much more than I can him saying Phil is one of the better singers he’s heard. Terrific does not necessarily have to relate to his singing abilities, or even anything relating to performing at all. That’s the kind of Tony Bennett compliment I can buy. Angina was so bland, many notes were off and most were weak. Unfortunately, AI has chosen to embrace the oddity of Angina and promote him as the wacky entertainer. He’ll stick around for a while yet.
Haley: Haley looked much better than she sang last night. And last night, she looked whorish. Mid-to-top-dollar whorish, but still, whorish. She’s the only “beautiful” female left in the competition, so that might save her tonight, but I doubt it.
LaKisha: Another good performance, but all of her performances are starting to sound alike. She needs to take the risk to sing outside her comfort zone, otherwise people will get bored with her, even though her singing is very good.
As always, assuming Sanjaya’s actual talent does not factor into the proceedings (otherwise, he’d be gone):
Bottom Three: Phil, Gina, Haley
Leaving: Haley (or Phil). I hope Phil leaves because I really don’t like him.
Technorati Tags: American Idol, review
Telling The Truth Can Be Dangerous Business
Not if, but when Ishtar gets released on DVD (when that will be, I don’t know), those of us who love the movie will be vindicated as people see it for the comedic romp it is, and not the totally-panned flop it is seen as. To those who dismissed the movie due to its outrageous budget, for shame!
 clipped from sunsetgun.typepad.com
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Whatever Happened To Kermit After The Muppet Show
Apparently, he went on quite a significant downward spiral.
American Idol – The Top Ten – Review
Quickly (because, really, that’s all it deserves, at the most), here’s my review of the performances on American Idol last night, and my prediciton:
LaKisha – A pretty good performance of Donna Summer’s “Last Dance”. But rather forgettable somehow. I think LaKisha is playing the game a bit too softly right now, and needs to reassert herself as the powerhouse woman she is. Maybe she’s pacing herself, letting Doolittle take all the spotlight now, and then turn it on big time when it really matters.
Fat Chris – A terrible performance of The Police hit “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”. Like they all said, he was off the beat and didn’t seem comfortable. Hope his likability keeps him around another week so that he can try and redeem himself. I like that he easily admitted that he basically screwed up on it. Good for him.
Gina – The Pretender’s “I’ll Stand By You”. I thought she did a great job. Pretty in-control the whole song, on pitch for most all of it.
Sanjaya – Honestly, I didn’t mind the Pig-Tail-Hawk. But to wear something like that, you need to back it up with a good performance, and Angina sucked. He can hit most of the notes he tries to hit, but has no power in his voice and no confidence in his on-stage performance. When will be the week when his lesser talent is more powerful than the power of the mob that wants to keep him around? Not this week, I fear. Like Simon said, his performance doesn’t matter, so no need to overly critique it.
Haley – Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors”. I didn’t like this at all. Thought it was very weak, and might cause her to leave this week. But maybe she has a bigger fan-base that will keep her around a while longer. Based solely on vocal performance, though, she needs to be very close to the bottom of the list.
Phil – The Police’s “Every Breath You Take”. Didn’t really like this much, either. I just don’t like Phil, I think. He must have been reading forums from the past couple of weeks, because he did the smart thing and cover up that bald head and pointy ears. Did he remind anyone else of Spock when Spock visits other planets and tries to pass himself off as “human” by wearing a cap that covers his ears? Phil is Spock. Probably a strong enough vocal to protect him this week.
Melinda – Donna Summer’s “Heaven Knows”. Another very professional performance by Melinda. She’s currently the cream of the crop and the one to beat. Not much of a personality from her, though. I predict the innocent aw-shucks thing will tire America of her. Definitely safe this week though.
Blake – I like that he sang The Cure’s “Love Song”, and thought he did a good job vocally, but the arrangement was pretty boring. Also, he has a weird melted-face thing that happens when he sings. The top lip and bottom lip of his mouth don’t fit right. And good job on appearing less arrogant this week.
Jordin – No Doubt’s “Hey Baby”. I wasn’t crazy about this performance. Kind of an odd song to perform for a singing competition, I thought. Her outfit was a little weird, too. Good enough not to worry though.
Chris R – No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak”. I don’t really like his style of vocal. Didn’t really enjoy this much. Kind of forgettable. But, to me, that’s Chris R. Kind of forgettable.
My Bottom Two: Sanjaya & Haley
America’s Bottom Two: Haley & Phil
Who will leave: Haley (I know I’m wrong)
Technorati Tags: American Idol, review, Top Ten
Don’t Ever Forget The Nuclear Bomb!
I watched all of the first season of “24”. I got only so far in subsequent seasons before the “I can no longer suspend the disbelief” overtook me.
This season, though, I really decided to try and go full distance with “24”. Over half way through the season, and I’m still with it, although barely. I can ignore the disbeliefs necessary to move the plot forward. Things like “it would be impossible for Jack Bauer to get from location A to location B in 13 minutes” and even “there’s no way a guy could be back at work minutes after being tortured with a power drill”. I can get past that stuff. I can even ignore the fact that CTU seems to have a serious problem with moles. I mean, serious problem. But I look past that. I find it hard, though, to buy the petty interpersonal entanglements that constantly thwart the smooth-running of the Counter Terrorist Unit division in Los Angeles. Seriously, it’s like a high school there. Not even. Junior High.
Did they all forget that a nuclear bomb went off in the city in which they live (okay, nearby the city etc)? If I was the head writer of “24”, this season, I’d have placed a placard in the writing room, where everyone could see it. It would say “Don’t ever forget that a nuclear bomb went off”. I would direct the writers to constantly have that bit of happenstance infer itself into everything that the characters do.
You know, things like “I may hate Rick Schroeder, but since a nuclear bomb just went off, I’ll put aside my differences with him and work toward the greater good”, and “I admit I have a sexual attraction to you, but now may not be the best time to make advances on that, since, you know, a nuclear bomb just went off, and all. Besides, you were just interrogated pretty heavily and may be in a weakened mental state and maybe choosing this moment to kiss you is really not something I should be doing. Plus, yeah, well, the nuclear bomb.”
And don’t even get me going on Chloe. I can’t stand that pouty, hooded-eyes drama queen.
Technorati Tags: 24
Don’t Play It On The Traffic Road…
You probably won’t find this as funny as I did, but I thought I’d share this anyway.
DaveS and I go to a dollar store (The Dollaroo) frequently (yes, that’s kind of sad), to check out anything that’s new and creepy or weird or odd, etc. One of our “things” is to read the instructions on any number of toys that are made in China or foreign lands, hoping to stumble upon a wonky translation. Here’s one of those:
It’s called a Skip’N’Hop. It’s one of those cheap little skipping rope toys, the kind where you put the plastic circle over your ankle and swing the ball at the end of the string around so that you end up skipping over it with your other foot. One of those.
Here are the on-the-back instructions for the Made In China Skip’N’Hop:
USAGE:
1. Put one end of the rope into the small hole in the ring. The length of the rope can be adjusted to meet your request, then fix it in the ring, make sure it is tightly fastened.
2. Throw the ball and jump, you can speed up the tempi as you play it more and more skillfully. If you have played it masterfully enough, you can circle the ring in or against the clock order and jump after the first either with the right or the left one.
3. The method of operating by more persons: First, lengthen the rope, then one person starts to play in the way just introduced, when the tempi has been steady, the others can join from any direction. Thus, friends can enjoy the game together.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME CAUTIONS HERE:
1. You should coordinate your feet in case the rope would twist your ankle, which would stop the game.
2. Don’t play it with your hands, or you could hurt others.
3. Avoid your skin to be touched with the ring directly, or your skin can be scraped.
4. Don’t circle the rope around your neck, which would twist you easily.
5. Don’t play it on the traffic road, you know, it is dangerous.
How many times can you play it?
Play it running
Play it yourself
Play with a friend
Create new game
For aerobic class
For your health
For dance
—–
My favourite caution is number 5. I also like caution 1, which seems to be more concerned with the game ending than with the twisted ankle.
The Annekenstein Monster 