Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Do you know Spike Feresten?

You should.

With all the news about Conan taking the Tonight Show, and Jay Leno's mid-life crisis at the Ten Spot, and Jimmy Fallon nabbing The Roots as his house band...it's easy to overlook the best damn late night talk show, but it doesn't mean you should.

Tape it, DVR it, or stay up late for it - it's Talk Show with Spike Feresten and it's hilarious.

Here's an interview he did with Carl Reiner:



And check out this link with his 99 year old cast member.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Trust Me, You Should Watch Trust Me

TNT's dream duo, Hunt Baldwin and John Coveny, which gave us The Closer, have another hit to add to their IMDB listing with Trust Me.

Based on the advertising, you wouldn't think this show is a great program about advertising wizards.
I mean, their tag for the show, that is supposed to make you want to see the show is:

They'll Sell Everything But Their Friendship.

Barf.

What Convey and Baldwin should've done is write the ad campaign themselves. Because what Trust Me does is what Aaron Sorkin's Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip failed to do.

Eric McCormick and Tom Cavanagh are completely believable as a successful advertising duo.

Where as on Sorkin's show the leads were equally amazing Matthew Perry
and Bradley Whitford were never written as believable comedic geniuses that could pull of a successful comedy show. (To see how this is done, please see 30 Rock. Like, immediately. Right now.)

Ok, I admit it, I'm just still not over the loss of Studio 60. I love Aaron Sorkin's writing. I just wished he'd hire me to write the comedy aspects of the show.

Sidenote: NBC wants to forget Studio 60 was ever part of the family apparently: http://www.nbc.com/Studio_60_on_the_Sunset_Strip/

Anyway, Trust Me is the point here.

It's exciting to watch because it not only has a well executed premise, but the storylines are realistic and smart. While the show does center around the friendship of the two male leads, the supporting cast do a wonderful job creating a modern familial office feel. People are getting laid off, the agency is losing money, and everyone is working together as hard as they can on projects, while trying to have a personal life as well.

The nice thing is, they touch upon all of these real, trying problems with appropriate humor that you can't feel but feel a little upbeat after watching it.

Ahhh, relatability with humor. Dramedy done well is refreshing.
Thanks, TNT