That line on 30 Rock was funnier than anything in the Black Donnelly's, that's for sure.
EDIT: And another thing, now that I think about it. 30 Rock is trying something really interesting in flirting with up to the minute stuff. It may have snuck past you, but they did have a joke about the female astronaut with the diapers. It figured in the plot heavily as a reflection of Liz Lemon's (Tina Fey) desperation.
Why's that significant? Well, it's not, really. Except that story broke February 6. So four weeks later, they're on the air with that joke in a sitcom? Maybe Fey's missing her SNL timeliness, but that beats the hell out of the L&O ripped from the headlines turnaround.
In a place like Canada, where it's not unusual for series not to premiere for a YEAR after they were shot, it's downright jarring to see something that timely in a fully produced, top quality sitcom. And as I said, it wasn't a cheap run -- it actually was deployed as a great example of how far Fey's character was sinking. That means it wasn't grafted on at the last minute. It's actually in the DNA of the script.
South Park also returned this week with a classic opening -- a very funny segment with Stan's dad on Wheel of Fortune. (You went straight for NAGGERS too, right? Yeah. Riiiiiight.) South Park often flaunts its timeliness and a particularly plugged-in and prescient view of pop culture. Not only did these guys manage to be in theatres with a Jar-Jar joke, sixty days after The Phantom Menace premiered (they knew Jar Jar was going to be hated simply off the trailer,) not only did they do the definitive making fun of Paris Hilton show more than two years ago -- but last fall, they built an entire episode around the Nintendo Wii. Straight up, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are either from the fucking future, or they're running shit -- because they're the only ones who called that right.
But South Park also has the advantage of ten years of composited stuff to draw from, already in the computer. Sure they can work on the script right up to the wire -- it's not like they have to shoot with actors, or find locations or whatever.
That's what makes 30 Rock's timeliness even more interesting to me. Granted, it's no You Tube, but it's still an interesting acceleration of immediacy in comedy. How will the show age? You got me. But countries that try to slide comedy past on extended timelines -- ahemCanadaahem-- should note this at their peril.
Oh, and speaking of YouTube -- who knew the panda joke from the teaser was actually a thing? Those 30 Rockers -- they's crazy. Cute with Chris should be all over this. Probably more of that "Pandas are Cute" propaganda -- because if you follow Cute with Chris (and why wouldn't you, really?) You undoubtedly know that what Pandas really want to do is eat your face.
But this is still worth watching.
6 comments:
My daughter requests the baby panda video whenever daddy has his computer on! "Mo baby panda peease!"
Oh, man. Panda funny.
That first five minutes of South Park was brilliant. Rest of the episode -- meh.
Nevertheless, speaking of timeliness, what do you think the chances are that the Comedy Network will finally try and broker SOME way of either simulcasting new episodes of South Park or at least airing them the same week? Right now, "new" episodes are still airing months after the U.S. airdate -- fine a couple of years ago, but if crusty old men like you and I are watching South Park torrents the day after, SURELY the kids are doing it tenfold.
Speaking of timeliness, I saw The Jane Show last week and it opened with Jane's air conditioner broken so she was sweltering in her apartment. In an episode airing in the middle of winter. When we're hearing about ice falling off the CN tower. It was a little disconcerting. Maybe next week will be the Christmas episode. It did make me think that without a regular September-May or whatever season, it must be really hard to have any sense of time at all in a Canadian show.
Diane bangs another nail on the head or whatever we should call it...yes, exactly.
I love your blog title, I love "Blood Ties"... pandas, not so much. Koalas, now - I've had a soft spot for them ever since someone described them as being "stoned out of their tiny little minds all the time because they have to digest all those poisons inherent in Eucalyptus trees."
So, no, I'm not just here to throw compliments at your feet like birdseed. I have a question. We got the first bit of "Blood Ties" on iTunes this week, and I loved it - it was awesome. But... now I have to wait for the rest??? Not fair! Ok, fair, but not fun. Are we getting the rest of the episodes ahead of the TV schedule too? 'Cause that would be wicked cool... ;)
Thanks!
Sincerely,
Your Whining Fan
Hey Denis:
Good point about 30 Rock. I just watched The office, Scrubs, and 30 rock, what a great string of comedies back to back to back.
In particular,I can't believe how funny and well-constructed Scrubs is.
Diane: we have the same problem on corner gas. we fudge it sometimes, but mostly it's always summer in dog river
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