I'm not sure how it's possible, but The Daily Show keeps getting better! Every night I watch it and I want to write something about it immediately, but that would turn this blog into not just not-a-TCM fansite but also not-a-Daily Show fansite. Last night, Stewart's interview was a Republican representative who was on the "quick response team" to the DNC in Boston. I'm sure anti-Democrat voters out there will disagree, but Stewart basically shredded him and showed that no politician or pundit can get beyond the talking points and simply be honest. The great thing about Stewart is that he didn't do so by specifically defending the Kerry campaign, and I'm sure come September when he has some member of the Dems inevitable "quick response team" on the show, he'll lay into him in the exact same way. Much as the show last night ridiculed Bush for repeatedly saying 23 times over five speeches we've "turned the corner," and then flipped immediately to chastise Kerry for being incredibly ineloquent in his response to that ridiculous phrase.
But this isn't a Daily Show fansite. Nor is it a Comedy Central fansite. Still, YAY Comedy Central (and Paramount, and Paramount and Comedy Central parent Viacom) for shelling out the bucks to keep Dave Chappelle churning out episodes of Chappelle's Show for two more seasons. They're paying him a shitload of money, but as I've said before, the guy is the funniest man on television.
I almost started to rethink that last night, though, when I watched this week's episode of HBO's Da Ali G Show. (See, I told you this wasn't a Comedy Central fansite!) This week's episode was the best from start-to-finish I think I've ever seen of the 9 that have aired so far between it's first and current seasons. I don't even want to ruin any of it: if you get HBO, check it out tonight on HBO2 at 9 PM or tomorrow on HBO at 11 PM. If you get HBO On Demand, just go watch it now.
But one more sort-of indirectly Comedy Central-related note that may have been overshadowed by today's Chappelle news: The incredibly funny Steve Carell -- who is always a highlight of any film and recently stole many a scene in Anchorman -- has been cast as Maxwell Smart in a modern film version of the 60s spy spoof TV series Get Smart. Carell, who first got widespread attention as a Daily Show "correspondent" -- is on fire right now, seemingly one of the most-wanted comic actors in film. Normally, I would say that a big screen version of Get Smart is an awful idea. The original show was very funny, a classic creation of two brilliant satirical minds: Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. And Don Adams so perfectly portrayed the role of the bumbling secret agent that it's unimaginable for anyone else to try. Until you mention Carell. Oh sure, this movie could still absolutely be a total clunker if the script and direction or atrocious, which is more than a passing possibility. But at the very least, they cast it correctly. Carell is as close to perfect as I can imagine to take on the daunting task of replacing Adams.
I do have to wonder though if Comedy Central is sometimes a bit delusional. At the video store the other day, I saw a box set for Season 1 of The Man Show. That would be the season that at least featured Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Corrolla rather than Joe Rogan and ... some other guy. But it still was never a show that really required repeated DVD viewing. I have a feeling that anyone actually buying it simply ets the track of the closing credits -- women bouncing on trampolines -- on repeated play and go at it.
Still, with South Park still somehow going strong and Reno 911 nailing most of what it tries, I heart me some Comedy Central these days, even if Crossballs isn't quite as funny as it should be. Now all I'm waiting for is Crank Yankers, The Movie.
Wow, you've gone completely TV centric these days. I like it. Basically, my DiVo has made me a more avid TV-aholic, and I couldn't agree more. I think the Daily Show is the best program on television right now. Nobodies f'ing with Chappelle's sketches (I DARE you not to enjoy Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories) I've not bought into Reno 911 100% yet, although it is pretty funny when I catch it. Crossballs-- wow, that show was very very annoying. Basically, the same reason why I can't stand the "real" debate shows (the one-note topics, the annoying "experts) is why I can't stand the parody debate show. I hope that one gets canned. So my big Comedy Central question is, and this is a hotly discussed topic in my house as we're split on it: Tough Crowd? Classic, or annoying. I usually lean towards the classic (especially if they have a good cast on, Love me some Patrice O'Neal) But my lovely fiance believes its mainly yelling over eachother, and that Colin couldn't deliver a funny joke is his life depended on it. Thoughts? Other than a few missteps, Comedy Central is my #1 Network, to watch or DiVo. I think if Newlyweds and the OC were on Comedy Central, I'd have no need for any others...
Posted by: TonyTribeca | Tuesday, August 03, 2004 at 01:25 PM