New Series INVINCIBLE

 Article first published as Amazon Prime's INVINCIBLE Review on Seat42F.

Amazon Prime has a new hour-long animated series coming next week called INVINCIBLE. Based on the comics of the same name by Robert Kirkman, the story follows a teen boy who begins to exhibit superpowers like his dad. This in a world filled with supers, both heroes and villains, with teams of powered people everywhere you look. But this particular boy is soon drawn into drama between several of them, and some dark secrets make things messy, indeed.

In preparing for this review, I not only watched the three episodes Amazon made available, but also read the first dozen or so issues of the comic. INVINCIBLE is a compelling tale that starts out looking like one thing but then becomes something almost completely different, yet at the same time holding onto a steady core. There are differences in the adaptation from page to screen, with some characters changing ethnicity and gender, and events are rearranged. Also, the comic seems to have more roles that are direct copies or parodies of existing properties from other publishers. But the changes seem to be good ones, mostly made to deepen the story and fit the episodic format length. If you were already a fan of the book, I suspect you’ll like this adaptation.

I can’t think of another hour-long animated show. The episodes, without commercials, come in at forty-some minutes, about as long as a broadcast drama, and double the length of most cartoons. The material in INVINCIBLE justifies it, though. Like Robert Kirkman’s other famous property, The Walking Dead, the story is complex and disturbing, at times graphically violent (as teased in the trailer). Yet, INVINCIBLE also has a cheery optimism because of its lead, Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun, The Walking Dead), that keeps things entertaining.

The voice cast is stacked with huge talent. Yeun stars, and the other two leads listed in the credits are Mark’s superhero dad, Nolan Grayson (J.K. Simmons, Whiplash, Spider-Man), and ‘normal’ mom, Debbie Grayson (Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy, Killing Eve). There’s a shady government type, Cecil Stedman, voiced by Walton Goggins (Justified). And among those playing other supers are Gillian Jacobs (Community), Jason Mantzoukas (The Good Place), Zachary Quinto (Star Trek), Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express), Mahershala Ali (House of Cards), Michael Dorn (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Clancy Brown (Lost), Melise (The Vampire Diaries), Lennie James (The Walking Dead), Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead), Chad L. Coleman (The Walking Dead), Ross Marquand (The Walking Dead), Khary Payton (The Walking Dead), Lauren Cohan (The Walking Dead), and Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walk-, er, Star Trek: Discovery). Not to mention other characters voiced by Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Chris Diamantopoulos (Silicon Valley), Andrew Rannells (Girls), Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Jonathan Groff (Mindhunter) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars). Believe it or not, this is not a complete list of recognizable names, and this list should give you an idea of how good the show is that so many pros wanted to be involved.

The world of superpowers has been done to death, and yet INVINCIBLE feels fresh. Partly because it leans on the tropes and familiar archetypes you already know and subverts them. Partly because it sometimes feels like its making fun of the genre it portrays, even while the characters feel grounded. This is a new take, and one worth watching.

As far as the story goes, I can’t say much. There are locks on spoilers, and I wouldn’t want to give anything away if I could because the shocks hit hard and fast. What I can say is this. The pilot starts out looking very much like a late 80s / early 90s cartoon of my youth, and that style never changes, lending an immediate comfort. But by the end of the first hour, this is disrupted, and each subsequent installment only continues the transformation. It is an artistically interesting production with an intriguing mystery and plenty of emotional-moving scenes. I both laughed and cried already. I definitely recommend it.

INVINCIBLE drops its first three episodes on Friday, March 26th, with weekly episodes streaming after that, only on Amazon Prime.

Discussing THE INTERVIEW

Article first published as Movie Review: 'The Interview' on Blogcritics.

Much press has surrounded the controversial film The Interview, which Sony first canceled, and then later made available, to independent theaters and video-on-demand services. (Many major theater chains have opted not to carry it, though presumably they could if they wanted to.) Now that the movie has come out, I couldn’t help but check it out, considering the attention, and see if it is worth the trouble surrounding it. The short answer is, sort of.

The plot of The Interview is goofy, bordering on surrealistic. Television producer Aaron Rapaport (Seth Rogen, Super Bad, The Comeback) wants to get into more serious news, but the star he works with, Dave Skylark (James Franco, 127 Hours, The Mindy Project), is all about sensationalist entertainment. These two worlds merge when the guys find out Kim Jong-un (Randall Park, Veep, Larry Crowne) is a super-fan of Skylark and invites them to visit, which is complicated when the U.S. government asks Skylark to assassinate the dictator, and gives him minimal training to do so.

One can easily see why North Korea is upset by this movie. It takes their Supreme Leader, whom they worship as a god, and make him a metrosexual, emotional, cartoon character. In fact, much is made in the movie of exposing the true Kim to the people of that country, something that would go against the administration’s policies. With a dramatic climax that I won’t spoil, which goes a step further in defacing Kim, it makes sense that his home country wouldn’t want people to see The Interview.

That being said, terrorism is inexcusable, and threatening nuclear warfare isn’t right. The United States would never do that to anyone who made a similar movie about our elected leader. In fact, a British film about George W. Bush’s fictional murder, Death of a President was released in 2007, though that one was not a comedy. In that spirit, I urge many people to see The Interview, if for no other reason than to thumb our noses at a petty regime that would seek to infringe upon freedom of speech and resort to scare tactics to censor art.

The Interview is pretty funny, though not spectacularly so. Rogen’s character isn’t very humorous, presumably on purpose, which drags down the feature more than if every part of the script were to be played for laughs. But Franco is hilarious, especially when sharing the screen with Park, whom will soon be starring in an ABC sitcom called Fresh Off the Boat, and is absolutely terrific here. The supporting cast includes many notable faces, including Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex), Ben Schwartz (House of Lies), Timothy Simons (Veep), Diana Bang (Bates Motel), Rob Lowe (Parks and Recreation), rapper Eminem, and many semi-self-playing cameos. The movie makes terrific use for Katy Perry’s “Firework,” and there are a number of laugh-out-loud moments.

Where the piece suffers is in it’s satirical quality. It flirts with full-on lampooning in the style of Team America: World Police, which skewered Kim’s father, but backs off by trying to make itself a more mainstream film. It raises several important issues, such as the state of current media, but it barely scratches the surface.

I can’t help but wonder how much better The Interview would be had it fully committed to its premise, instead of couching a relatively pedestrian, predictable buddy story that happens to be set in an outrageous environment. Franco and Rogen’s This Is the End is superior because every bit of it revolves around the unique tale being told. The Interview pulls itself back, making it relatively tame and safe by comparison.

Is The Interview worth watching? Sure. I probably would have viewed it when it came to HBO or another premium channel, rather than going to see it in theaters, but I still would have eventually watched it. Is it worth owning? Probably, but only because of the stir it created in our culture, not being quite good enough on its own merit to shell out my hard-earned money for. But right now, when you can pay a few bucks to watch it on YouTube, I recommend everyone check it out, even if the stars aren’t quite your brand of humor, which is admittedly not critically-acclaimed.

The Interview is currently in select theaters, as well as being available on YouTube, GooglePlay, iTunes, and other online outlets.

THE LEAGUE Destination "Draft" and "Wedding"

Article first published as THE LEAGUE Review Season 5 Premiere on Seat42F.

FX’s THE LEAGUE, now on FXX, returns for a fifth season this week with “The Bachelor Draft,” followed by the second part of an hour-long story next week, “The Von Nowzick Wedding.” These two episodes find the gang heading out to California for a destination draft / destination wedding. Which is most important depends on who you talk to, and there is one person who is not at all pleased the two are happening on the same weekend.

I don’t know how THE LEAGUE does it, but it seems to get funnier with each and every season. I think it’s because the chemistry between the ensemble has just gelled so well at this point that it feels like catching up with old friends when you sit down to watch an episode. Old friends who mercilessly pick on one another in the best way possible.

We are introduced to another long-time member of the league in “The Bachelor Draft.” Ted (Adam Brody, The O.C.) used to hang with the others, prior to the show’s beginning, but moved to the West Coast. We know he participates remotely, his name having been mentioned before, but this is the first time viewers see him.. Having won last year’s tournament, Ted bids the others come to him for the new draft.

I like Brody’s character. It’s easy to see how he fits, and the relationship he had with the others when he still lived near them. It’s a natural part of life that some friends may move away, but the manner in which Brody picks up with Kevin (Stephen Rannazzisi), Pete (Mark Duplass), Taco (Jonathan Lajoie), and the others feels incredibly natural, as if no time has passed since he’s seen them. I hope he guest stars again soon.

Trixie (Jayma Mays, Glee) doesn’t understand this chemistry. She is marrying Andre (Paul Scheer), the scapegoat of the group, and doesn’t appreciate what fantasy football means to these guys. It’s not hard to imagine how Andre and Trixie might get along away from Andre’s friends; after all, it often seems like Andre doesn’t belong in the gang, having different interests than the others. But Trixie has got to figure out a way to enjoy these people if she wants to stick around, because they are important to Andre.

Will Trixie last as a character? I’m not sure. It’s certain she won’t be another Jenny (Katie Aselton), a valuable main character who appears in each and every episode. But she could be a Sofia (Nadine Velazquez), one who tolerates her husband’s obsessions and just shows up occasionally. She certainly is given numerous reasons to hate the guys in these installments, including during some very odd wedding toasts, but there’s always the chance she may re-occur. Maybe.

Poor Andre is caught in the middle, between the woman he loves, but who is allergic to his sperm, and the friends he loves, but who seem to be allergic to his presence. The latter is hilarious as Andre tries to pick a best man, and each keep trying to shove off the duty on one another. This doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t like Andre, and they would probably be at the ceremony even if the draft wasn’t taking place, but they don’t want to do the things they know Andre will make them do in that role, and it’s not in them to pretend for his sake.

As much as Andre sticks out like a sore thumb among the others, so does Ruxin (Nick Kroll), the heartless, cruel bastard of the group. But through Ruxin in these two new episodes, we see just how important each element is, even if it’s not obvious at first glance.

See, Ruxin is the holder of the Sacko, and being who he is, he does not want to accept the Sacko punishments doled out by his friends. In a pout, he actually quits the league in “The Bachelor Draft,” joining Rafi’s (Jason Mantzoukas) Ultimate League, whose members include some familiar faces I won’t spoil here, instead. But from the moment Ruxin makes this announcement, fans know the situation is temporary.

The other characters will never tell Ruxin that they care about him; it’s just not in their nature. However, we see how they still include him in their gags through the two half-hours. We also see how desperate Ruxin is not to be left out, despite what he says. This illustrates the emotional makeup of the gang far better than words would, anyway.

What this means, though, is that viewers are treated to a number of over-the-top jokes at Ruxin’s expense, eventually leading to, as we know it must, sweet revenge had by Ruxin. That’s just the way THE LEAGUE works, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

One thing both “The Bachelor Draft” and “The Von Nowzick Wedding” do effectively is use their celebrity athlete cameos with wonderful results. Normally, I am not a fan of football players showing up on the series. While I’m sure there are many football fans watching out there, including those that make THE LEAGUE themselves, I hate sports and these bits don’t do anything for me, especially because it usually feels like the appearances are gratuitous and the players can’t act. I have to believe I am not alone in that opinion. However, in this two-part season premiere, THE LEAGUE finally makes the spots work for them in a wonderful way, so this should satisfy both types of fans, those who like football and those who do not.

Basically, what I’m saying is that both of these installments are incredibly amusing, with several laugh-out-loud scenes and some interesting developments. Enjoy them as THE LEAGUE helps launch new network FXX, airing Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. ET.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT Season 4 Takes Flight

Article first published as ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT Season 4 Premiere Review on Seat42F.

Grade: 100%

Today is a glorious day for fans of high-quality comedy series, as Netflix revives ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT. Canceled by FOX after just three short seasons, it now returns today with fifteen brand-new episodes, released all at once through the company’s streaming service.

It is immediately apparent from the start of the premiere, “Flight of the Phoenix,” that this is the same show that fans love and miss. Ron Howard’s narration remains, as does a tweaked version of the theme song, the entire cast, and a host of recurring bits and characters. In the first episode, we get such classic gags as the Peanuts sad walk and a revisit to Michael’s turn as a lawyer in an Elementary school play, and see familiar guests  like Barry Zuckerkorn (Henry Winkler), Lucille 2 (Liza Minnelli), and Sally Sitwell (Christine Taylor).

Not that ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT is going to rest on its laurels and just give us the same story again. There are fresh jokes that are set up to be recurring, such as Michael’s (Jason Bateman) prayer pose and his enrollment in the University of Phoenix. Which means that, going forward, the series should continue to build upon itself as it always has, keeping what works, and enriching the tapestry further.

The character development continues, too. When last the series aired, Michael had been spiraling dowwardn. He is originally introduced as the character that has it all together, but over the course of the episodes, slowly loses it, proving he is just as screwed up as the rest of his family. Now, he has reached a very low point, and is at his worst, a logical step forward based on the past.

“Flight of the Phoenix,” flashbacks aside, covers two main time periods, six months apart. In the first, Michael is living in his son, George Michael’s (Michael Cera), dorm room. In the second, lest anyone hope that he improves himself in the interim, as the ending of the episode seems to hint might happen, we see Michael willing to sleep with Lucille 2 for money. So no matter what happens to Michael in Phoenix, which has yet to be revealed, it won’t be a happy ending for him.

Other elements have also advanced. It’s really cool to see the neighborhood around the model house finally get built, especially because that is still only the beginning of the company and the family’s problems. The Bluths will never be successful in business, and one will always wonder how they’ve stayed afloat this long. But their foibles are hilarious, and a lot of why we tune in.

We don’t learn a lot about where the rest of the characters are in “Flight of the Phoenix,” set years after the season three finale, but with enough connecting threads to jump back in on without feeling like we’ve missed anything. This is because of scheduling conflicts. During the many years between seasons three and four, most of the cast moved on professionally and obtained other work. In order to put together these fifteen half hours, accommodations have been made so that different characters will appear in different installments.

This surprisingly doesn’t feel too jarring. Some members of the Bluth clan have always been featured more than others at times, owing to the large group and limited story-telling time. While Gob (Will Arnett), George Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), Lucille (Jessica Walter), and Buster (Tony Hale) all are briefly seen in the first episode, their stories will be told in other half hours, which is fine. Michael is the main character, if such a strong ensemble series has a main character, and putting him first feels very natural.

One assumes that the later time period we see Michael in will be where this fourth season will come together, reuniting the Bluths for their big (hopefully not permanent) ending. We’ll probably get this part of the puzzle in small pieces, doled out a little bit in each installment.

The one major element that has changed is that Lucille and George Sr. are no longer played by Tambor and Walter in long-ago flashbacks. To be fair, this always stretched the believability a little bit, and the new actors, Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live) and Seth Rogen (50/50, Knocked Up), are experienced and wonderful at recreating the parts. While many, myself included, are a little reticent to see someone else tackle such familiar characters, it is so well done that there should be no complaints.

In all, Netflix has done a fantastic job in resurrecting ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, with key players both behind and in front of the camera right where they should be. I predict this will be considered a great success by fans of the show, and will likely spark at least discussion of continuation of the story after this. Now, I need to get back to my TiVo and watch more.

The League scores a touchdown with the Complete Season Three

FX's The League now has its Complete Season Three out on Blu-ray and DVD.  If you have missed this fantasy football-based comedy, with the all-around amazing cast, up 'til now, it's time to start watching, as it has become one of the most original, funniest shows on television. Season three is a great entry point, and after watching every installment on this two disc set, you'll probably be motivated enough to go seek out the other seasons.

As season three begins, Ruxin (Nick Kroll) is still rubbing his victory from last year in everyone's face, being more insufferable than usual. The others plot to pick the draft order behind his back, giving them an unfair advantage, and hoping to allow them to knock Ruxin down a few pegs this year. This sort of back fires, as once that bond of trust is broken, even if Ruxin doesn't figure it out for a long time, the others begin not trusting each other, too, making for a trade-less, frustrating fantasy football league.

In The League, though, Shiva Bowl Champion is not the only title. There is still unfinished business to attend to concerning last year's loser, the Sacko prize winner, Andre (Paul Scheer). For that, the boys turn to former member Rafi (Jason Mantzoukas) and his friend Dirty Randy (Seth Rogen), who help them humiliate Andre with the ultimate prank.

All of this unfair backstabbing may sound mean, but it's not. The heart of The League is a group of friends who care about one another. Sure, they give each other a hard time, as friends do, and sometimes they go a little too far. But their shared love of football, and the good times they have picking their fantasy team and watching the games, are why they stick together. The characters do not have to express their emotions to feel the affection between them, as we see during a near-tragedy at the end of the season.

They do, however, have to be really, really funny, and The Complete Season Three showcases this in many fantastic ways. Whether Kevin (Stephen Rannazzisi) is "cheating" on his wife, Jenny (Katie Aselton), the sole female member of the group, with an ESPN analyst, or Ruxin is growing unhappy about his attractive au pair (Brie Larson, United States of Tara), whom Pete (Mark Duplass) has his eye on, there are lots of humorous moments. Toss in Taco (Jonathan Lajoie), who is basically a walking joke, especially when inventing an analog social network called "My-face," and you have the recipe for something pretty cool.

Among the best installments of this season are:

• "The Lockout" In which Ruxin is screwed over figuratively, and Andre is screwed over literally (sort of).
• "Bobbum Man" Kevin is afraid of Pete's made-up creature, the Bobbum Man.
• "Carmenjello" Kevin and Jenny search for the perfect paint color, but a defective can means awkward explanations to daughter Ellie (Alina Foley).
• "Thanksgiving" Ruxin's dad (Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park) and Andre's sister (Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program) join the gang for a turkey with a very interesting and unique stuffing.
• "The Light of Genesis" Ruxin joins a cult that could help him win in fantasy football, while Kevin is worried his Krav Maga teacher (Eliza Dushku, Dollhouse) is attracted to him.
• "The Funeral" Every arc from this season comes to a head with the Shiva and the Sacko on the line.

The League The Complete Season Three is fully packed with bonus features. The best thing is that ten of the year's thirteen episodes are extended on the DVD, providing quite a few more laughs than as aired. There is also a gag reel, deleted scenes, and two featurettes, "Alt Nation" and "Taco Tones." For a thirteen episode comedy, this turns out to be quite a bit.

Check out The League The Complete Season Three, available now, and watch brand new season four episodes Thursday nights at 10:30 p.m. ET on FX.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing

The League celebrates "Thanksgiving"

     "Thanksgiving" is in the air on The League this week, as well as the smell of cooking guinea pig when Ellie's (Alina Foley) class pet gets loose and into the turkey. Thanksgiving isn't known as the most sexy of holidays, but The League goes there anyway. Andre's sister (Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program), who taught the boys everything they know about sex, comes to visit. Learning that Kevin (Stephen Rannazzisi) isn't using all his knowledge with Jenny (Katie Aselton), she offers a refresher course. While Jenny would like Kevin to step things up, she doesn't want Andre's sister to do anything more. Even worse is Ruxin Sr. (Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park, The Fly), who engages in a sorbet act with Andre's sister that cannot be named in decent company.

     The League can be pretty raunchy, and that's part of what makes it so funny. But generally it's the main guys who get invovled with that stuff, and it's usually regulated to talking-only, porn references, or marriage-based monogamy. In "Thanksgiving," it's the guest stars the get naughty, and quite a bit more so than usual. Andre's sister not only wants to retrain Kevin, with Jenny present, or showing Kevin on Jenny, but also sleeps with Taco (Jonathan Lajoie), and makes a play for Peter (Mark Duplass). Heck, she even wants to give her brother (Paul Scheer) some tips! That she is trying to take Ruxin Sr. home only makes her more of a slut. She's very promiscuous. And because she is played by comedian Silverman, also hilarious.

      Ruxin's dad goes more for the creepy factor, like his son. As an added bonus, Goldblum looks the part perfectly. Ruxin (Nick Kroll) thinks he can ditch both family Thanksgivings to stay home and masturbate, but is surprised when his dad showns up at his door with the same idea. Not knowing Ruxin will be home, Ruxin Sr. intends to use his son's house as a hideout. Disturbingly, not only does Ruxin continue with his plans, but it seems Ruxin Sr. likely does the same solo activity, and both in excess, given the reading Ruxin's pedometer shows.

     It's a testament to just how good The League is when it can attract talent the level of Silverman and Goldblum, as well as Ray Liotta (Goodfellas) and Seth Rogen, in previous episodes this season. While hidden away on cable, it's a series that should not be missed. The relationships feel real, and guys are authentic friends who act in a relatable manner. Some of the situations are unrealistic, of course; it's still a sitcom. But at the same time, every actor is fully committed to their role, and can deliver top notch comedy of both the zinger and physical kind. It is no wonder people more well known for their film roles want to play in this sandbox.

     Even with all the sexual tomfoolery, the only thing that really comes close to crossing the line is the cooking of the guinea pig. Escaped from its cage, it crawls into the turkey, which Jenny then places back in the over. Strangely, no one finds fur, even though Andre pulls the name tag out of his mouth. Guinea pigs are eaten in other countries, and if prepared properly, could be excused. However, in this case, as it is a pet, and it being cooked is accidental, it's stomach turning and wrong in a way that shakes the soul. Let's hope Jenny throws the rest of the turkey away.

     Watch The League Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. ET on FX.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Please click here to buy streaming episodes, DVDs, and Blu-rays of The League.

"The Lockout" of The League

     FX's sitcom The League has returned. In "The Lockout," Ruxin (Nick Kroll) is still swaggering from his win, motivating the others to cheat when it comes to draft order. Only Kevin (Stephen Rannazzisi) feels guilty, and the others pressure him to stay quiet. Jenny (Katie Aselton), Pete (Mark Duplass), and Taco (Jonathan Lajoie) all experiment with training Kevin. The guys continue to punish Andre (Paul Scheer) for his loss last year, including letting Rafi (Jason Mantzoukas) and Dirty Randy (Seth Rogen, The Green Hornet, Knock Up) shoot a porno in Andre's apartment.

     This series is hilarious, and the season three premiere is very welcome. It takes no time at all to get back into the mindset of the group, who are all friends, but pick on each other mercilessly, and will stoop to low levels to win their fantasy football league. Even half an hour into the season, it is clear that Jenny is finally a full-fledged equal, something she struggles with previously. Again, awesome, because Aselton is hot AND funny, and her character can be more masculine than a couple of the guys. Plus, she has sex that she can use as a weapon, something the others lack.

     Ruxin and Andre are the most frequent dumped on-ers, being singled out as the weak members of the pack. Kevin is kind, but Jenny and Pete can be pretty cruel. Yet, there is some reason that they all stick together. After all, there are out-of-town members of The League, and they aren't missed or included in any of the events. Instead, no matter how much one individual might have to take some crap, there is a deep affection between them all.

     Training Kevin is a very humorous subplot. Pete catches Jenny using a dog training book to do so, and reveals he has already been conditioning Jenny's husband for years, a fact easily proven. But no on expects Taco to be telling the truth when he claims to have high-notized him (that's hypnotized while high). Yet, Taco's tactics save the day when Kevin finally breaks and is ready to confess their shenanigans to Ruxin.

     Dirty Randy is a character oft talked about, but not seen, until now. Casting Rogen is a stroke of genius. Not only does he have the gravitas of having done many comedy films, but he is also good at weird television characters, as proven in his roles on Undeclared and Freaks and Geeks. The actor is definitely having fun in the offbeat role of porn location scout and director. He channels a little of his Zack and Miri Make a Porno character, making Dirty Randy familiar, but still fresh.

     What is likely to happen after "The Lockout" ends, with the computer doing random picks while the gang is locked out of the apartment / porn set, is that they will confess their prank to Ruxin, allowing a total do-over. This should satisfy everyone, even Andre, who, secluded and unaware of the situation, is dumb enough to think that the computer's terrible selections are brilliant moves by his competitors. This twist will not take away from the funniness of the premiere, but still allow the characters to have some control. After all, how much fun can it be picking on someone for things that are not actually their fault?

     Watch The League Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. ET on FX.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Please click here to buy streaming episodes, DVDs, and Blu-rays of The League.

 Article first published as TV Review: The League - "The Lockout" on Blogcritics.

Saturday Night Live sees Baldwin break hosting record

      In the quest to make an epic thirty-seventh season premiere, Saturday Night Live enlisted Alec Baldwin to host for a record breaking sixteenth time last night. A few years ago, Baldwin tied with Steve Martin for most times hosting, then Steve returned to keep upping the record. Finally, Baldwin not only tied, but broke it. Martin showed up to playfully challenge him, though seem none too upset to lose his title.

     In the monologue, Martin inquires whether Baldwin might be on any performance enhancing drugs. To figure out this fact, Martin brings a full medical team and Seth Rogen, a "drug expert." It's all for showmanship, because Steve only needs to taste the yellow sample to determine if Alec has been taking drugs. Baldwin is declared clean in a very gross, but hilarious, bit, and the show moves on. Unfortunately, that's as funny as it ever gets.

     Baldwin has been on long enough that he has a number of recurring characters. Yet, none of th memorable ones are trotted out in this episode. There is mention in the monologue of Schweddy Balls now being a Ben & Jerry's ice-cream flavor. To celebrate, wouldn't a return to that sketch be appropriate? Or something to remember him by?

     In fact, it's really odd that only Martin and Rogen guest star. Steve and Alec's contest has been littered with many celebrities popping in, as they are always big event episodes. But last night, that fanfare and gravitas of the legendary moment were absent. The record was broken with little of the ceremony expected from such an occasion, especially considering how long the title has been in contest.

     It wasn't a wasted evening. There were a handful of amusing sketches. A goodbye to All My Children really captured the soap opera spirit, as plenty of "startling twists" were revealed by various crew members. The game show "Who's On Top?" asked which celebrity would be the top in a gay sex encounter, suggesting straight men as choices. And, of course, Weekend Update had some great zingers from Seth Meyers. But other than that, there wasn't much to fawn over.

     Undoubtedly, though he has mostly left comedy behind, Steve Martin will host again. Perhaps even before Baldwin does, so Alec can once more break the record. But if Saturday Night Live's best days are over, what's the point? The bright spot on the horizon is the 2012 election, though the GOP debate sketch was more dud than laughable. But the 2008 election was the last time the series really worked. So maybe...

     Saturday Night Live continues to air Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     To purchase Saturday Night Live streaming episodes, DVDs, and more, please click here.

Conan - TBS Premiere

     Last night, after spending the better part of a year "Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television" (as was the name of his comedy tour), Conan O'Brien returned to TV; still sporting his time-off beard. His new show — airing on TBS — is called Conan, which, according to the host, was to make it harder for him to be replaced. In fact, there were a number of jokes told last night about his brief run as host of The Tonight Show, and made at NBC's expense.

     Ironically — as Conan did not want to do The Tonight Show at midnight, hence his departure from NBC — Conan's 11pm timeslot means that TBS's other late night show, Lopez Tonight, was bumped from 11pm to midnight. However, George Lopez has been warm towards Conan since the announcement of the new show, and seems to harbor no ill feelings. In fact, having the more famous Conan as an opener will likely help Lopez's ratings.

     Everything that fans love about Conan has come back with him. NBC allowed him to take his characters, and so the Masturbating Bear made an appearance in last night's premiere. Andy Richter has returned as sidekick, and most of the show's creative team has moved over from NBC with the host. The glaring exception is the departure of long-time bandleader Max Weinberg, who has been replaced by Jimmy Vivino. Max has recently suffered health problems, and his family stayed in New Jersey when Conan's crew moved to California. The band is now known as The Basic Cable Band, or BCB on certain logos.

     Long-time fans of Conan should have few complaints. The new series sticks to the brand of humor viewers are familiar with; TBS even allows Conan to push the envelope a little further in terms of content than network television. It's a comfortable gig that will hopefully last a long time. It should be helped along by the flight of many television viewers from network into cable.

     Last night's premiere featured guests Seth Rogen and Lea Michele (Glee), as well as Jack White, whom Conan sang with. There were also cameos by Ricky Gervais and Don Draper (the Mad Men character portrayed by Jon Hamm).

     Conan airs Monday through Thursdays on TBS at 11pm.


For frequent mini-reviews and occasional tv news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Article first published as TV Review: Conan - TBS Premiere on Blogcritics.