SNL Season Finale Recap May 21, 2011: Justin Timberlake/Lady GaGa

May 23, 2011

jmunney Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television , , , , , Leave a comment

Alphonse!

Cold Opening – Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s Prison Cell
As I see it, the humor in a sketch like this isn’t so much the dissonance of a convict displaying the knowledge of a sophisticated topic like the world economy.  It is more about the fact that when a topic like the economy is discussed, it is usually rather dry, so it is funny when it is expressed with some attitude, or some form of personality.  That is essentially what Kenan does with Jean K. Jean.  In this sketch he did it less shticky, with a dash of Lorenzo McIntosh thrown in. B

Justin Timberlake’s Monologue
Justin does all the things he says he is not going to do.  I am so pretend-confused. B-

Liquorville
If I remember correctly, when Will Forte was the upstaged spokesman in the (Fill in the Blank)-ville sketches, he and Justin’s mascot character always got along by the end.  So it was a change of pace that Kristen’s spokeswoman remained at odds with him.  As always, the musical selections were generally energetic and inspired.  Pulling J-Kwon’s “Tipsy” out of the vault?  Hoo boy, gotta love that. B

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Addendum to SNL Recap May 14, 2011: Ed Helms/Paul Simon

May 23, 2011

jmunney Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television , , , , Leave a comment

In last week’s recap, I mentioned that I didn’t really know who Ann-Margret is, but I have since come to realize that I actually am somewhat familiar with her work, as I have seen Bye Bye Birdie, in which she played one of the lead roles, Kim McAfee.  It has been several years since I have seen Birdie, so I hope my readers can forgive my oversight.  Does this rediscovered knowledge change my assessment of the Ann-Margret sketch?  Hardly.

VH1 Top 20 Countdown – 5/21/11

May 21, 2011

jmunney Music, Television, VH1 Top 20 Countdown Leave a comment

I’m really hearing great things about this Raphael Saadiq.

Original Version
1. Adele – “Rolling in the Deep”
2. Bruno Mars – “The Lazy Song”
3. Katy Perry ft. Kanye West – “E.T.”
4. Britney Spears – “Till the World Ends”
5. Foo Fighters – “Rope”
6. The Civil Wars – “Barton Hollow”
7. Sara Bareilles – “Uncharted”
8. Hanson – “Give a Little”
9. Colbie Caillat – “I Do”
10. Rock Mafia – “The Big Bang”
11. Death Cab for Cutie – “You Are a Tourist”
12. Christina Perri – “Arms”
13. Ke$ha – “Blow”
14. Fitz and the Tantrums – “Money Grabber”
15. Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull – “On the Floor”
16. Augustana – “Steal Your Heart”
17. Beastie Boys – “Make Some Noise”
18. Andy Grammer – “Keep Your Head Up”
19. Train – “Save Me San Francisco”
20. Raphael Saadiq – “Stone Rollin'”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. Rolling in the Deep
2. Stone Rollin’
3. Rope
4. Make Some Noise
5. Money Grabber
6. Blow
7. You Are a Tourist
8. E.T.
9. Barton Hollow
10. Give a Little
11. Steal Your Heart
12. The Big Bang
13. Till the World Ends
14. Uncharted
15. Arms
16. Save Me San Francisco
17. Keep Your Head Up
18. On the Floor
19. The Lazy Song
20. I Do

SNL Recap May 14, 2011: Ed Helms/Paul Simon

May 15, 2011

jmunney Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television , , , , , 1 Comment

Cold Opening – The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
I am pretty sure that Obama has not been constantly bragging about the bin Laden kill, at least not to this degree nor in this manner.  And that was why this sketch was so funny: because it was not true.  Actually, it was based on a certain nugget of truth: Obama is a smooth talker, and those verbal skills could mean he has a knack for standup comedy bubbling underneath the surface.  Fred’s delivery of the “kill bin Laden” catchphrase sounded similar to Kenan’s refrain of “Beeeef Jelly” as David “Beef Jelly” Winfield.” B+

Ed Helms’ Monologue
This is something you just about never see: a monologue that is focused around an essentially original idea.  A childhood love of baton twirling is in no way a major aspect of Ed Helms’ public persona, nor is it the opposite of his persona either.  But it proved to be a funny, well-thought out, well-executed idea.  The success of this monologue resided in the details: the influence of “Rascal T. Peppercorn,” Ed’s revelation of his knack for comedy coming from his brother and his brother’s friends’ laughing while simultaneously beating him, and that outfit. B+

A Message from the Corn Syrup Producers of America
Again, this was to be too smug to be over the top, or maybe it just wasn’t funny enough to overcome that dissonance.  But I did laugh a few times. Original Grade: B-

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VH1 Top 20 Countdown – 5/14/11

May 14, 2011

jmunney Music, Television, VH1 Top 20 Countdown Leave a comment

Nostalgia!

Original Version
1. Adele – “Rolling in the Deep”
2. Katy Perry ft. Kanye West – “E.T.”
3. Hanson – “Give a Little”
4. Bruno Mars – “The Lazy Song”
5. Sara Bareilles – “Uncharted”
6. Britney Spears – “Till the World Ends”
7. Foo Fighters – “Rope”
8. Ke$ha – “Blow”
9. Colbie Caillat – “I Do”
10. The Civil Wars – “Barton Hollow”
11. Christina Perri – “Arms”
12. Rock Mafia – “The Big Bang”
13. Beastie Boys – “Make Some Noise”
14. Cee-Lo Green – “F*** You”
15. Death Cab for Cutie – “You Are a Tourist”
16. Fitz and the Tantrums – “Money Grabber”
17. P!nk – “F****** Perfect”
18. Augustana – “Steal Your Heart”
19. Maroon 5 – “Never Gonna Leave This Bed”
20. Train – “Save Me San Francisco”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. Rolling in the Deep
2. Rope
3. Make Some Noise
4. Money Grabber
5. Blow
6. F*** You
7. E.T.
8. Barton Hollow
9. Give a Little
10. You Are a Tourist
11. Steal Your Heart
12. The Big Bang
13. Uncharted
14. Arms
15. Never Gonna Leave This Bed
16. Save Me San Francisco
17. The Lazy Song
18. Till the World Ends
19. F****** Perfect
20. I Do

Rachel Perry was my favorite.

Melissa McCarthy Oscar Buzz for Bridesmaids

May 14, 2011

jmunney Cinema, Oscars 2 Comments

Upon returning home from catching a showing of Bridesmaids, I decided to scour the Internet to see if I could find any movie fans out there calling for Melissa McCarthy to be nominated for an Oscar her role as the feisty, rip-roaring Megan.  Since googling “Melissa McCarthy” and “Oscar buzz” together didn’t lead to any promising hits, I decided that I would go ahead and start the buzz myself.  So, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, I hereby suggest Melissa McCarthy for your consideration for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the 84th Academy Awards.

SNL Recap May 7, 2011: Tina Fey/Ellie Goulding

May 9, 2011

jmunney Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television , , , , , Leave a comment

Cold Opening – Osama bin Laden’s Video Will
Essentially mandatory.  I laughed a few times, though this was more a collection of parts instead of a significant whole. B-

Tina Fey’s Monologue
Falling back on the singing monologue format yet again?  Out of 20 monologues this year, this makes 9 (10 if you count Zach Galifianakis).  Anyway, Tina plied her usual off-putting, yet sexy style, and Maya plied her usual wildly pitchy, overly dramatic style, and the most memorable – and disturbing – moment came with Kristen and Kenan as the singing, big-headed babies. B-

GOP 2012 Undeclared Candidates’ Debate
If Tina was going to reprise Palin, it was nice that she did so in a sketch that wasn’t entirely hers.  Of course for this sketch to succeed, Darrell Hammond had to return as Trump (and when Romney was introduced, I thought, “There’s someone Darrell Hammond would probably be playing if he were still on”), and Jimmy McMillan was just an added treat.  All in all, when it comes to crazy in the GOP, Sarah Palin is still around, but she has been outshone, several times over. B+

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VH1 Top 20 Countdown – 5/7/11

May 8, 2011

jmunney Music, Television, VH1 Top 20 Countdown Leave a comment

I did not watch any part of this episode.

Original Version
1. Hanson – “Give a Little”
2. Adele – “Rolling in the Deep”
3. Katy Perry ft. Kanye West – “E.T.”
4. Sara Bareilles – “Uncharted”
5. Bruno Mars – “The Lazy Song”
6. Foo Fighters – “Rope”
7. Britney Spears – “Till the World Ends”
8. The Civil Wars – “Barton Hollow”
9. Beastie Boys – “Make Some Noise”
10. Ke$ha – “Blow”
11. Cee-Lo Green – “F*** You”
12. Colbie Caillat – “I Do”
13. Jack Johnson – “From the Clouds”
14. Rock Mafia – “The Big Bang”
15. Christina Perri – “Arms”
16. P!nk – “F****** Perfect”
17. Death Cab for Cutie – “You Are a Tourist”
18. Maroon 5 – “Never Gonna Leave This Bed”
19. Two Door Cinema Club – “What You Know”
20. Fitz and the Tantrums – “Money Grabber”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. Rolling in the Deep
2. Rope
3. Make Some Noise
4. Money Grabber
5. Blow
6. F*** You
7. E.T.
8. Barton Hollow
9. Give a Little
10. What You Know
11. You Are a Tourist
12. The Big Bang
13. Uncharted
14. Arms
15. The Lazy Song
16. From the Clouds
17. Till the World Ends
18. Never Gonna Leave This Bed
19. F****** Perfect
20. I Do

Best Episodes of the 2010-2011 Television Season

May 6, 2011

jmunney Best Episodes of the 2010-2011 Season, Best Episodes of the Season, Television Leave a comment

May has officially begun, which means it is the time of the year when television season finales come fast and furious (unlike Vin Diesel and company, who who now just come fast).  Thus, it also means that it is the time of the year when Jmunney’s Blog will soon be dominated by my picks for the best episodes of all the shows that I regularly watch.  My coverage for each show will appear soon after the finales air in the next few weeks, and I will also be reaching back to shows that finalized their seasons earlier in the year.

In alphabetical order, here are the shows that I will be covering: American Dad!, The Big Bang Theory, Bob’s Burgers, The Cleveland Show, Community, Desperate Housewives, Family Guy, Fringe, Futurama, Glee, Gossip Girl, Hannah Montana, Happy Endings, How I Met Your Mother, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, Modern Family, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Perfect Couples, Portlandia, Raising Hope, Running Wilde, Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, Smallville, 30 Rock, V, and The Walking Dead.

The order in which I post my picks will be determined according to the order in which the shows aired their season finales, which means that The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret will be first.

VH1 Top 20 Countdown – 4/30/11

May 1, 2011

jmunney Music, Television, VH1 Top 20 Countdown Leave a comment

The early 2000’s are back!

Original Version
1. Katy Perry ft. Kanye West – “E.T.”
2. Hanson – “Give a Little”
3. Foo Fighters – “Rope”
4. Adele – “Rolling in the Deep”
5. Sara Bareilles – “Uncharted”
6. Bruno Mars – “The Lazy Song”
7. Britney Spears – “Till the World Ends”
8. Cee-Lo Green – “F*** You”
9. Ke$ha – “Blow”
10. The Civil Wars – “Barton Hollow”
11. Beastie Boys – “Make Some Noise”
12. Lady GaGa – “Born This Way”
13. Colbie Caillat – “I Do”
14. Mumford & Sons – “The Cave”
15. P!nk – “F****** Perfect”
16. Jack Johnson – “From the Clouds”
17. Rock Mafia – “The Big Bang”
18. Two Door Cinema Club – “What You Know”
19. Maroon 5 – “Never Gonna Leave This Bed”
20. Death Cab for Cutie – “You Are a Tourist”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. Rolling in the Deep
2. Rope
3. Make Some Noise
4. Blow
5. The Cave
6. F*** You
7. Barton Hollow
8. Give a Little
9. E.T.
10. What You Know
11. You Are a Tourist
12. The Big Bang
13. Born This Way
14. Uncharted
15. The Lazy Song
16. From the Clouds
17. Till the World Ends
18. Never Gonna Leave This Bed
19. F****** Perfect
20. I Do

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