Friday, October 10, 2008

TV This Week

The Office: Business Ethics
Season 5, Episode 2 - Airdate 10/9/08

After corporate wants Holly (Amy Ryan) to lead an ethics seminar, many revelations lead to some office turmoil. The biggest bombshell is that Meredith has been getting discounts on office supplies by sleeping with a supplier. Meanwhile, after Dwight insists he’s 100% ethical, Jim decides to record the time he’s not working with a stopwatch. The Jim-Dwight stuff here is as good as it’s ever been. Dwight’s slow burn while Jim intentionally butchers Battlestar Galactica, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc. is priceless. Is there any way we can extend Pam’s New York class a few more months? – it’s good for the show. The conflict between Holly and Michael is a welcome development. B+

Next new The Office episode: Baby Shower on 10/16/08.

Click below for SNL Thursday and South Park

Saturday Night Live
Weekend Update Thursday
10/9/08

An impossible title that will be airing 2 more weeks before the election. Fred Armisen’s Obama is still not that funny, but Darrell Hammond nails John McCain’s overuse of the phrase “my friends”. Hammond’s mannerisms are improving and his name calling ("pee-pants") is hilarious. McCain wandering around in front of cameras was funny but kinda unfair if you watched the debate. Chris Parnell’s Tom Brokaw only had one joke – and it wasn’t that funny the first time it was told. As for Weekend Update, Seth Myers and Amy Poehler were solid commenting on the incredibly full week of news. Nothing earth shattering or unforgettable. Hall and Oates was pretty good, but Keenan Thompson’s “Fix It” character wasn’t. Really?!? With Seth and Amy is always welcome. B+
SNL on 10/11 is the season opener Michael Phelps rerun, followed by a new 30 minute Thursday show on 10/16. Josh Brolin will host a new episode of SNL on 10/18, a day after W. is released.

South Park: The China Probrem
Season 12, Episode 8. Original Airdate 10/8/08

While Cartman frets over the impending Chinese world domination, Kyle and Stan try to cope with one of their friends being raped over the summer: Indiana Jones. For those who felt Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was a disappointment, Trey Parker and Matt Stone take it to the next level by showing George Lucas and Steven Spielberg literally raping Indiana Jones (3 times!), simultaneously spoofing rape scenes from The Accused and Deliverance. Meanwhile, an undercover Cartman and Butters hold up a Chinese restaurant to find out when the invasion begins. But Butters keeps shooting dudes in the crotch, leading to a rift between the duo.

The Stan/Kyle half works well since it plays the “traumatic experience” straight. Indiana Jones IV didn’t lose me until all that alien crap at the end, but I can see why some had problems with the refrigerator and waterfalls. The Cartman half isn’t as developed as it needs to be, but he’s great profanely chastising Butters for his misplaced bullets. B+
See the full episode here.

1 comment:

Lawyer said...

Finally got around to this. Loved the Office, especially the Jim/Dwight scene you mentioned. Also continue to love Ryan and his stories from the 'glory days.'

Armisen's Obama is just horrible. It is a high school level impersonation and is too far off to get any traction. And they continue to not make fun of him - how about some bits about taking yourself too seriously or making fun of the reverence his 'followers' have? Myers/Poehler was B level, and they need more Feyish humor to make it stick.

Haven't seen Southpark, but, as the resident Spielberg hater, I will.