Category: On TV

Things on TV

Carrying the Torch for Comedy

In case you haven’t been paying attention for the last 16 years, NBC has had broadcast rights to the Olympics (excluding the ’94 and ’94 Winter Games). Cross-promotion is in full effect even in years when there are no Olympics (I’m guessing those are the Olympic rings permanently affixed to the NBC on-air bug).

But during the games, it’s a bit different. Usually, NBC will pick one show (most of the time, a comedy), and run commercials that are actually, not annoying. To wit, the following promo has been running this summer where Michael Scott says what everyone thinks about beach volleyball:

It looks like there are only a handful of The Office Olympic promos, which is a shame, because The Office creative staff can do some pretty funny stuff.

The best set of Olympic promos came out in ’92, when NBC enlisted the cast of Seinfeld to…um, carry the torch.

They’re not on YouTube, but transcripts are available on Usenet (remember that, kiddies). Here are some of the highlights:

Jerry sitting by his computer in his apartment.
Jerry: Do you know the correct pronunciation of Barcelona is actually
       Barthelona?  That’s because, many years ago, the King of Spain
       spoke with a lisp and the members of the court, trying to curry
       favor with the King, adopted his unusual speech pattern.  Absolutely
       true.  Just a piece of Olympic trivia for you.  I’m Jerry Theinfeld.  

Jerry interviewing a gymnast, with the Olympic rings and the NBC logo
in the background.
Jerry:  I’m here with 8 year old Kathy Kwan, star of the gymnastic
        team.  You must be looking forward to the games, Kathy.
Kathy:  Yes, those games are very special to me.  As I will retire
        when they’re over.
Jerry:  Retire?  You’re kidding.
Kathy:  I’m not 6 anymore.  Besides you have to give those
        youngsters a chance to make their mark.  
Jerry:  What are your plans for the future?
Kathy:  I like to spend more time with my parents and watch them
        grow up.

Jerry and George in the Cafe.  
Jerry:     Pass the cream, George.
The guy with the torch runs comes in.
George:    Hey, look.
Torch Guy: Hi, maybe you can help me, I’m lost.  Do either of you know
           the way to Barcelona from here?
Jerry:     Well, I’d take the West Side Highway to the Cross Bronx.
George:    Hold, Hold.  What are you nuts, at this time of the day.  Listen
           to me.  Take the FDR to the Major Deagan.
Jerry:     What are you talking about, the FDR is under construction.
George:    He’s running.

For a script of all the Seinfeld Olympic Promos, visit this page from the alt.tv.seinfeld archive.

King Tom

How To Use A Magical Island

Ben in the desertFor the past four TV seasons, the survivors of the crash of Oceanic 815 have been stranded on an island.

We don’t know much about the island. But we know it’s a special place. It was home to some culture which built a statue honoring a being with four toes. A nineteenth-century slaving ship somehow landed in the middle of the island. People with life-threatening diseases and disabilities have been healed once they’ve stepped foot on the island. And sometimes around 40 years ago, the DHARMA initiative built a series of stations to harness the powers of the island to conduct “silly experiments.”

Continue reading “How To Use A Magical Island” →

King Tom2 Comments

A "Lost" Episode

I’m an idiot.

Last night The Civee started and I started up the ol’ DVR to watch parts 2 & 3 of  ‘There’s No Place Like Home,’ as she wasn’t around Thursday night.  We were watching the episode in glorious HD, when we decided to get some ice cream at the next commercial break. I hit stop, then hit another button and the next thing I knew, the episode was erased.

– – – – .

Our cable provider recently changed the software on our cable box, so some of the buttons I had gotten used to in the past year have changed.  If it was a mistake she had made, I would have been fine with it, but because it was me, I’m a bit pissed at myself.

We finished part 2 on ABC’s Web site, but it wasn’t just the same.

Maybe I should review the instructions the cable company sent along when the system changed.

King Tom

Lost: The Future

I’m not trying to turn the Kingdom into King Tom’s House of Embedded Videos, but this one was pretty cool.  Scenes from all of the Lost flashforwards in chronological order (although I’m not sure Ben’s visit to Widmore is in the right place).

All I have to say is I’m really looking forward to Thursday night.

King Tom

Ben Linus Always Has A Plan

Not only did ABC decide to break the three-hour season four finale of Lost, No Place Like Home, into two episodes, but to add even more punishment, they’ve added a week break inbeween installments.  So this season of Lost won’t wrap up next Thursday, but rather, on May 29th.

Thanks a lot, ABC!

Tonight’s episode definitely felt like it was the first part of a larger story.  Characters got put into place and plans put into motion, but at the end, I felt like I was waiting for the action to happen.

Continue reading “Ben Linus Always Has A Plan” →

King Tom

Leave 'Em Laughing and Wanting More

Ten years ago today, the greatest sitcom of all time came to an end.

Seinfeld ended its nine-season run on May 14, 1998 with The Finale, an episode that brought back memorable supporting characters from throughout the show’s run, and sent the “New York Four” to prison.

SeinfeldAt the time, I hated the episode.  While it had some great humorous moments, the idea of sending Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer to prison  for not helping out a carjack victim was preposterous and a bit of a cop-out. 

Looking backat this today, while I still think the finale was funny, but weak overall.  However, I think a lot of my ill feelings toward the episode had more to do with the fact that the show was ending than the individual merits of the episode. 

The thing I realize now is that like George, the show was going out on a high note. Seinfeld didn’t outstay its welcome or become irrevelant by coming back year after year with even more episodes. Compare that with other long-running series. I love the Simpsons, and could probably quote classic episodes all day long.  But while the antics of our favorite family are still good for a few laughs, the show isn’t as memorable or ass must-see as it once was.  Same goes for M*A*S*H*, which had a longer run than the active combat phase of the conflict it was based on.

Instead, Seinfeld limited itself to nine seasons of comedy which people quote (and life still imitates) to this day.  A recent article in Newsweek claims the show’s relevance was minimal due to the self-centeredness of the characters.  I’d say that the show’s focus on the little things in life, as well as the character’s own self interest is what made it great.  Take George, for instance.  I think George Costanza is one of the great characters of all time.  No one could be like him all the time, but I’m sure everyone has parts of them that wish they could be.  However, when we see George in action, we’re reminded why it’s good that we don’t live life the way George does.

If Seinfeld had continued production, it most likely would have gone the way of all the other shows that held on too long.  But I guess as George and Jerry learned, it’s better to go out on a high note and always leave the audience wanting more.

Kramer: And it’s a waste of my talent. It’s just a little burning. Mickey, he
got bacterial meningitis.

George: I guess there are no small diseases, only small actors.

The other three start laughing.

George (leaving): Alright that’s it for me. Good night everybody.

Elaine: What was that?

Jerry: Showmanship, George is trying to get out on a high note.

King Tom

Racing Against the Clock

Jack Bauer Appreciation Day!Dammit…I hope I’m not late with this.

Happy Jack Bauer Appreciation Day, everybody!

True, 24 was worse than lackluster last season, but Jack Bauer remains among the greatest of American heroes.   For all those of you who like to speak in alternating whispers and shouts, commandeer random vehicles or give your word as a regular negotiating tactic, today is the day for you.

To read some of my views on the best (and worst) of Bauer, click here.

King Tom

The Cure for Cabin Fever

mmmm...DHARMA Ranch!Tonight’s episode of Lost, Cabin Fever takes its name from a (mostly) psychological condition.  The cure for which, according to this Web site is “a good wholesome change of environment.”

If you think about it, that has a lot to do with the very end of (and possibly most puzzling statement from) “Cabin Fever.”

Once again, with a Locke-centric episode, Lost delivered in terms of backstory, action, current-day story and expanding the island mythology just enough to have me totally confused about… Continue reading “The Cure for Cabin Fever” →

King Tom

Killing Momentum (a.k.a. Something Nice Back Home)

Is it me, or does this happen regularly: A great episode of Lost (or at least one with a cliffhanger/reveal at the end) is followed by a pedestrian effort aimed more at developing characters than developing story.  That’s certainly the case with tonight’s episode, Something Nice Back Home. 

That isn’t to say that Something Nice Back Home was a bad episode.  It wasn’t.  But it wasn’t great, either.  And after last week’s great episode, and considering the momentum the show is trying to build as they wrap up Season Four, you’d think they’d put out a stronger effort, or at least let us check in with more compelling characters, like Ben, Locke, Sayid or Desmond.

Continue reading “Killing Momentum (a.k.a. Something Nice Back Home)” →

King Tom