SNL Recap December 5, 2015: Ryan Gosling/Leon Bridges

December 6, 2015

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SNL: Leon Bridges, Ryan Gosling, Taran Killam

This review was originally posted on Starpulse in December 2015.

Ryan Gosling is not exactly known for comedy, but lack of an established funny bone has not stopped other folks from becoming iconic “SNL” hosts. Gosling is an affable enough fellow, so it is not surprising that he might want to garner some yuks, but his trademark of soulfully staring off into the distance is not a great fit for a show that usually requires going big. Thus, he appears out of his element throughout this episode, with multiple flubs and bits of cracking up. But that only makes him even more charming. As for the show itself, it is a little more out-there than usual.

A Christmas Message from Donald and Melania Trump – The greetings to America from this bizarrely potential First Couple are a reliable enough recurring cold opening for as long the Donald’s campaign lasts. Taran Killam improves his impression by underplaying, since his the guy he’s playing is already ridiculous enough. But the real star here is Cecily Strong as his wife, whose ditzy rhetorical questions somehow make her sound sensible, at least when sitting next to the guy she’s with. C+

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What Won TV? – November 29-December 5, 2015

December 6, 2015

jmunney Television, What Won TV? 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.

CBBKathrynHahn

Sunday – The Affair
Monday – Fargo
Tuesday – The Muppets
Wednesday – You’re the Worst
Thursday – Comedy Bang! Bang! finally taught us how to host. (Also of note: Nathan made a friend on Nathan for You, while Julianne Moore AND Elena joined Billy on the Street.)
Friday – Tim and Eric’s Bedtime Stories
Saturday – Doctor Who

This Is a (Quickie) Movie Review: Brooklyn

December 5, 2015

jmunney Cinema, Movie Reviews, Television , 2 Comments

BrooklynSaoirse

Brooklyn is a film about decision-making. After returning to her homeland for her sister’s funeral, Irish immigrant Eilis Lacy (Saoirse Ronan) has two fine choices for how her life should proceed: return to New York to start a new life with Italian-American beau Tony (Emory Cohen), or remain with her family and childhood friends and possibly explore a romance with a lad named Jim Farrell (Domhnall Gleeson). Though she agonizes over the decision, as both options offer the promise of personal and professional happiness, her story progresses such that there is really only one right choice. It is small-scale, but infinitely relatable. Making any major life decision means that different major decisions have not been chosen. Eilis is lucky enough to know what she really wants, even when it overwhelms her. That said, it still takes a lot of effort to put those desires into action. It requires devoted acting to demonstrate the power of these moments – Ronan conveys a world of wonder as she looks ahead.

This Is a Movie Review: The Night Before

December 4, 2015

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nightbefore

The Night Before works best when invoking Christmas’ supernatural spirit. This is not the typical case of affirming the existence of Santa (though he is present, in the form of narrator Tracy Morgan). Instead, it is more of the It’s a Wonderful Life-style holiday magic, with Michael Shannon as Mr. Green, the weed dealer and guardian angel of the three main friends (Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anthony Mackie).

This fantastical side is just the right sort of flavoring, because otherwise, the film would just be a perfectly pleasant tale in which everything works out in the end (with the requisite shenanigans on the way there). But there is a mature, humanistic vision within. The female roles are not too huge, but in the moments they have, they manage as much depth as the men in their lives. Rogen plays his typical man-child trying to grow up but freaking out about it, but it works partly because his significant other (Jillian Bell) is actually allowed to feel much the same way and strengthen their bond because of it. As a steroid-using football player, Mackie has a mother (Lorraine Toussaint) stern enough to call him out on his worst behavior but warm enough to have no love lost. JGL has the most significant arc, utilizing Christmas Eve to finally develop the capacity for romantic commitment. The object of his affection (Lizzy Caplan) manages to turn a tricky role that could have been an afterthought into a firm, but loving voice of reason that this otherwise meandering film needed.

The Middle 7.9 – “The Convention”

December 4, 2015

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The bird that leaves the nest too early ends up on drugs in Indianapolis. http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2015/12/03/the-middle-season-7-episode-9-recap-th

The Muppets 1.9 – “Going, Going, Gonzo”

December 2, 2015

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He’s not Gonzo the Great, he’s Gonzo the Greatest! http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2015/12/02/the-muppets-season-1-episode-9-recap-t

What Won TV? – November 22-November 28, 2015

November 30, 2015

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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.

Grinder108

Sunday – I’m thankful for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
Monday – I’m thankful for Fargo.
Tuesday – I’m thankful for The Grinder (and also the Carl Sagan-Ann Druyan segment of Drunk History).
Wednesday – I’m thankful for Jeopardy!
Thursday – I’m thankful for Jeopardy!
Friday – I’m thankful for Jeopardy!
Saturday – I’m thankful for Doctor Who.

VH1’s The 20 – 11/28/15

November 28, 2015

jmunney Music, Television, VH1 Top 20 Countdown, VH1's The 20 7 Comments

Each week, I check out VH1′s The 20 (formerly Top 20 countdown), and then I rearrange the songs based on my estimation of their quality.

Original Version
1. Drake – “Hotline Bling”
2. Shawn Mendes – “Stitches”
3. Ellie Goulding – “On My Mind”
4. Elle King – “Ex’s & Oh’s”
5. Alessia Cara – “Here”
6. X Ambassadors – “Renegades”
7. Taylor Swift – “Wildest Dreams”
8. Selena Gomez – “Same Old Love”
9. Adele – “Hello”
10. Meghan Trainor ft. John Legend – “Like I’m Gonna Lose You”
11. Demi Lovato – “Confident”
12. The Weeknd – “The Hills”
13. Pentatonix – “Can’t Sleep Love”
14. DNCE – “Cake by the Ocean”
15. Rudimental ft. Ed Sheeran – “Lay It All on Me”
16. Conrad Sewell – “Hold Me Up”
17. Justin Bieber – “What Do You Mean”
18. One Direction – “Perfect”
19. Gwen Stefani – “Used to Love You”
20. Rachel Platten – “Stand by You”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. The Hills
2. Hello
3. Same Old Love
4. Ex’s & Oh’s
5. Renegades
6. Hold Me Up
7. Confident
8. Here
9. On My Mind
10. What Do You Mean?
11. Lay It All on Me
12. Hotline Bling
13. Used to Love You
14. Stand by You
15. Cake by the Ocean
16. Wildest Dreams
17. Perfect
18. Can’t Sleep Love
19. Stitches
20. Like I’m Gonna Lose You

SNL Recap November 21, 2015: Matthew McConaughey/Adele

November 22, 2015

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SNL: Adele, Matthew McConaughey, Cecily Strong (CREDIT: YouTube Screenshot)

This review was originally posted on Starpulse in November 2015.

Matthew McConaughey has two different, but ultimately complementary reputations. The first is of the ultimately chill dude. Up until about four years, that translated into meaning he would rather play the bongos naked than get down to work. But now, in a post-McConaissance world, he is known more for his commitment to challenging and unusual roles. That mix of mellow and focused is perfect for an “SNL” host, and it may very well be enough to overcome any bad memories from his unforgettable first stint in 2003. (Musical guest Adele, meanwhile, had an excellent “SNL” debut, and the only bad memory is the near-decade it has taken her to return.) Oddly (or predictably) enough, this episode is marked by the Syrian Refugee Crisis, which figures in seemingly every sketch of the night.

Fox & Friends – The latest cold opening with the Fox News morning crew remains relatively focused, perhaps because the conservative fearmongering related to refugees has no limit. The hosts check in once again with Kate McKinnon as no-BS DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who throws in some hack comedy (Florida is where Cubans escape communism, Guatemalans escape the drug trade, and old people escape winter) to mark her territory. Ben Carson also drops in, with Jay Pharoah continuing to pull the faux-enraged shtick, which is still relevant. Overall, this routine of fools is “SNL’s” safest bet, though not its ceiling, for political yuks. B-

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What Won TV? – November 15-November 21, 2015

November 22, 2015

jmunney Television, What Won TV? 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.

WhatIsAleve

Sunday – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Monday – Fargo: The Nick Offerman Showcase Episode
Tuesday – The Grinder
Wednesday – You’re the Worst (Honorable Mention: Rad’s parking garage misadventures on Moonbeam City)
Thursday – Nathan for You (though Comedy Bang! Bang! was plenty topsy-turvy)
Friday – Alex Jacob cementing his place in the Jeopardy! pantheon
Saturday – SN-Adele

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