Jeff "Jmunney" Malone's Self-Styled "Expert" Thoughts on Movies, TV, Music, and the Rest of Pop Culture
January 8, 2017
Television, What Won TV? Billy on the Street, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Doug Baldwin, Jeopardy!, Man Seeking Woman, Portlandia, The Mick Leave a comment
In this feature, I look back at each day of the past week and determine what shows “won TV” for the night. That is, I consider every episode of television I watched that aired on a particular day and declare which was the best.
Sunday – The Mick
Monday – Jeopardy!
Tuesday – We’re not sure if gays care about John Oliver, but do they care about Billy on the Street?
Wednesday – Man Seeking Woman
Thursday – Portlandia
Friday – Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Saturday – Doug Baldwin’s butt catch
January 1, 2017
Television, What Won TV? Doctor Who, Doctor Who Christmas, Jeopardy! Leave a comment
In this feature, I look back at each day of the past week and determine what shows “won TV” for the night. That is, I consider every episode of television I watched that aired on a particular day and declare which was the best.
Sunday – Doctor Who Christmas – fluffy, but fun
Monday – Lions-Giants, including the first TD pass of Dez Bryant’s career!
Tuesday – Jeopardy!
Wednesday – Jeopardy!
Thursday – Jeopardy!
Friday – Jeopardy!
Saturday – College Football Playoff, I guess
December 30, 2016
Best of 2016, Best of TV 2016, Television Best of 2016 Leave a comment
CREDIT: YouTube Screenshots
This ranking was originally posted on News Cult in December 2016.
We are at the point in history when we must accept that even those whose job it is to watch TV cannot possibly keep up with all that the medium has to offer. The same thing happened long ago with literature, and we have made our peace with it in such a way that we are still able to make year-end best-of lists of books. Thus the value in continuing to do the same for the boob tube remains.
When other lists feature shows I haven’t been watching, I do not despair over the impossibility of watching everything. Instead, I express gratitude that I will never be bored. And when I include my own obscure and underappreciated selections, I treat those decisions with the utmost responsibility.
10. Rectify (Sundance)
Perhaps the most patient series of the 21st century, Rectify came to an end in 2016. Its conclusion is satisfying, which is unsurprising because it has always been consistently satisfying. The central question of former death row inmate Daniel Holden’s innocence or guilt is basically answered, even though the matter is not directly addressed, because this series is more about examining humanity than anything so simple as “answers.”
December 25, 2016
Television, What Won TV? Billy on the Street, Cindy Stowell, Elf, Jeopardy!, People of Earth, The Affair Leave a comment
In this feature, I look back at each day of the past week and determine what shows “won TV” for the night. That is, I consider every episode of television I watched that aired on a particular day and declare which was the best.
Sunday – The Affair
Monday – Dear people of earth: People of Earth just completed an exemplary first season.
Tuesday – Billy on the Street
Wednesday – Jeopardy! (RIP Cindy Stowell)
Thursday – Football (Giants-Eagles) was pretty exciting.
Friday – Jeopardy!
Saturday – The family watched Elf after Christmas Eve after dinner.
December 18, 2016
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television Casey Affleck, Chance the Rapper, Hillary Actually, Jingle Barack, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live 4210, Saturday Night Live Season 42, SNL, SNL Season 42 1 Comment
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — “Casey Affleck” Episode 1714 — Pictured: Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton during the “Hillary Actually” sketch on December 17, 2016 — (Photo by: Becky Vu/NBC)
This review was originally published on News Cult in December 2016.
News Cult Entertainment Editor Jeffrey Malone watches every new episode of Saturday Night Live and then organizes the sketches into the following categories: “Love It” (potentially Best of the Season-worthy), “Keep It” (perfectly adequate), or “Leave It” (in need of a rewrite, to say the least). Then he concludes with assessments of the host and musical guest.
Love It
Hillary Actually – I generally cut SNL slack for not having the sharpest political satire around, but I do encourage more adventurous ideas, and this is exactly what I am talking about. Using a movie parody to make sense of the current twist in the election is what SNL is uniquely equipped to do. Hillary wooing an elector in the style of Love Actually’s cue cards scene may be over-the-top, but it rings through and through with essential truth.
I love the hacky comedy in the nativity play covered by New York Now and wish it had lasted even longer and gotten even more ridiculous…At Frankie’s Ale House, it is not just the guys looking to score who are deploying faux shyness: it’s also the bouncer, the guy calling 911, the EMT, and even God.
December 18, 2016
Television, What Won TV? Jeopardy!, New Girl, People of Earth, Rectify, Saturday Night Live, SNL, Son of Zorn Leave a comment
In this feature, I look back at each day of the past week and determine what shows “won TV” for the night. That is, I consider every episode of television I watched that aired on a particular day and declare which was the best.
Sunday – Son of Zorn
Monday – People of Earth
Tuesday – New Girl
Wednesday – Farewell, Rectify.
Thursday – Jeopardy!
Friday – Jeopardy!
Saturday – I’m sorry to say this, this is really embarrassing, but SNL with Casey Affleck was pretty good.
December 12, 2016
Son of Zorn, Son of Zorn Episode Reviews, Television Son of Zorn, Son of Zorn 109, Son of Zorn Season 1 Leave a comment
“Any scooper with tuna on it is a good scooper.” http://www.bubbleblabber.com/review-son-of-zorn-the-war-on-grafelnik/
December 12, 2016
Television, The Simpsons, The Simpsons Episode Reviews The Nightmare After Krustmas, The Simpsons, The Simpsons 2810, The Simpsons Season 28 Leave a comment
“Warning: Contains treasonous statements.” http://www.bubbleblabber.com/review-the-simpsons-the-nightmare-after-krustmas/
December 12, 2016
Television, What Won TV? Bob Odenkirk, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Drunk Uncle, Jeopardy!, Joe Pera Helps You Find the Perfect Christmas Tree, People of Earth, Rectify, The Affair, Westworld Leave a comment
In this feature, I look back at each day of the past week and determine what shows “won TV” for the night. That is, I consider every episode of television I watched that aired on a particular day and declare which was the best.
Sunday – Westworld (But we can just take a second to recognize how insane The Affair is being?)
Monday – People of Earth
Tuesday – Bob Odenkirk on Drunk History
Wednesday – Rectify
Thursday – Jeopardy!
Friday – Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Honorable Mention: The family fantasy scene from Joe Pera Helps You Find the Perfect Christmas Tree)
Saturday – Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency
December 12, 2016
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television John Cena, Maren Morris, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live 4209, Saturday Night Live Season 42, SNL, SNL Season 42 Leave a comment
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — “John Cena” Episode 1713 — Pictured: Host John Cena on December 6, 2016 — (Photo by: Rosalind O’Connor/NBC)
This review was originally posted on News Cult in December 2016.
Love It
Hook a Hunk – The hook of “Hook a Hunk” is clear from a mile away. As soon as all the contestants on this dating show parody are introduced, and not one of them is played by John Cena, it follows that the hunkiest of hunks in the building must be playing the host and Cecily Strong’s contestant must fall for him in favor of any of the contestants. And yet, “Hook a Hunk” succeeds despite its obviousness, as Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney carve out their own little scene amidst the disappointment, because love wins.
Aidy Bryant clings to the ledge while holding on to the Office Christmas Tree, and some terrifying camera angles ramp up the tension necessary to build to the catharsis that is so important in comedy.
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