Random Summer Reviews!

Summer Re-who?
Yes, you!
What?



So there I was, at a local multiplex preparing to get my summer comedy on. Saw The Hangover figuring it would be hilarious. I mean, it has world/major/minor thespian Mike Tyson in it, right? Well, it was funny. Not the funniest movie in history, but worth checking out in the theater. Best surprise? The plot revolves around a bachelor party in Las Vegas, and it's not overwhelmingly raunchy. I mean, it is. Not what you'd expect though (full frontal male nudity out numbers female nudity five to one). Oops, spoiler alert.

That, in a nutshell, is what makes this a good movie. Wow, bad timing to that sentence. No, not the male nudity (unless...). Everything you expect out of it, you don't get. All the while you don't realize it and you don't care. By the end of the movie, it hits you. Ha...reverse movie review! It's not going to be what you think, and you're going to appreciate that.


Plus, Tyson pays homage to Phil Collins.


If anything, this will make Zach Galifianakis a star. Now that you can copy and paste his name, look him up on YouTube.

There's something about Ed Helms that makes me groan whenever he's on screen. I think it has something to do with his stint on the Daily Show. He's really funny in this movie as the straight man.

Go ahead and see it...or give us your impressions if you already have. I don't believe I spoiled too much...and I won't get into a scene or character analysis. If you had any inclination of seeing it, go. If it ain't your bag, don't.




Summer TV sucks, right? I don't believe I can dance, nor do I think America has any sort of talent. Get me outta here (am I right?). Conan O'Brien took over as host of The Tonight Show on June the first. This has been widely known for a few years now, since Leno said he didn't see himself doing this much longer. Now, I personally hated Leno's Tonight Show. I've never found him funny, and I blame his delivery. Having said that, he's a really nice guy and that comes out in his interviews. NBC felt bad for him when he changed his mind. Look for a needless weekly series on Thursdays.

Maybe if people make their way back to network comedies, it'll help 30 Rock's ratings. While we're on the subject of astrology, rest in peace My Name is Earl.

I got to catch 4 out of the first 5 Conan Tonight Shows. If you're putting him off, don't. Here's why:

1. The entire band is back with him. To me, that's more important that his writing staff following him to LA.

2. The entire writing staff is back with him. Emmy award nominated...and winning, possibly, writing staff.

3. They kept his Late Night theme song. Snoogins.

4. They lost announcer Joel, who I didn't like.


5. They got Andy Richter to work for scale. Seriously...what else was he going to do? Fox Sit-Com #4F31b? David Faustino is going to be on "Talk To The Hand" as a mid season replacement for "Don't Go There." He left the show, which was good at the time. It made Conan utilize Max, and also show he didn't need a constant comedic foil.

6. With Andy back...maybe they'll revive the staring contests?

7. The Twitter Tracker? Sort of funny. Don't know what that is? It's probably all over Hulu.

8. Tom Hanks christening Conan "Co-Co." It's funny without actually being funny.

9. His monologue backdrop does look like the landscape of Super Mario Bros. 3.


10. Maybe Fred Savage will be on soon? If you don't get that one, thank you.



Okay...here's a review. I love David Letterman. Have since he was the host of Late Night. Something makes me want to root for Conan. He's set up to "fail" in comparison to Leno's built in audience. Leno had a much older (more sophisticated? pfft) audience. Conan's audience consists of insomniacs, and Simpsons fans who wish that he would ghost write 4 or 7 Homer or Mr. Burns themed episodes per year. I don't see him winning the ratings war against Dave, but it does give you a good feeling to watch him knowing he needs all the support he can get.

It's basically his Late Night show with more money behind it. Does that make any sense? If you like the old show, little has changed but the graphics department. So, there's the review. It's the same old show with 6 percent more self-deprication. Watch it.


Tired of TV? Waste your time on the interweb! My favorite new site for the summer is Texts From Last Night .

What makes it great? Here's three entries in a row:


(206): We just picked up about 540 lbs of women....

(352): What are you doing?
(352): High. Watching Billy Mays infomercials...
(352): That guy could sell me cancer.

(702): We had sex on the first date...do you think he thinks I'm a whore?
(1-702): Yes and so do I

This is my new Overheard in New York, which was my summer of '04 obsession with gems like:

Hipster guy: And then we wandered down the street into Bed-Stuy, like into the projects, and these guys were screaming at us, like, "You in the wrong part of Brooklyn, white boys!" ...but Marcus is half black!
Hipster girl: Oh, so it's not entirely ironic when he freestyles?


Have a great summer! Do things.