And Don't Forget --

New episode of Da Ali G Show tonight at 12:30am on HBO!

 
Did'ya Ever Hear the One About the Priest, and the Priest, and the Priest?: Finding Father Ted

I’m back on my English kick again, and this time I finally have a good excuse to praise Father Ted, the terrific comedy series that is the cornerstone of BBC America’s St. Patrick’s celebration this Saturday and Monday. Chosen for this honor by virtue of its setting on the small, fictional and very Irish Craggy Island, Father Ted is the story of three rogue priests who’ve been exiled to this isolated parish for their various shortcomings. The eponymous Father Ted Crilly was involved in an incident concerning money destined for his parishioners' trip to Lourdes, though he swears the money was “just resting” in his account, at least that’s what he claimed when they found him in Las Vegas. Father Jack Hackett is…well, he’s a mess, a pustular, eternally drunk lech who’s given to Tourettes-like outbursts of his favorite litany, namely “Drink! Arse! Feck!” and “Girls!”. And there’s isn’t just one word to describe young Father Dougal McGuire, but you could start with “eejit” – that’s idiot to us in the States – and such an amusing one. I don’t want to forget about Mrs. Doyle the housekeeper, bless her, so quick with a cup of tea and don’t you dare refuse it either.

Although America seems to have only fairly recently caught onto the notion that priests are people, too, and not always above reproach, it’s the foundation of the Father Ted universe. The clergy on FT are a hilariously insane bunch and we get to meet lots of them, including the much-feared Bishop Brennan, our Craggy Islander’s boss man. Wait till you see the episode where they watch the Bishop’s secret home movies – he has a son, don’t you know, in California, and we get to see the lad making sand castles with the Bishop’s mitre – or the one where Ted has to pay off a bet by kicking him in the arse. Or there’s Father Stone, the most boring priest ever, or Fr. Jessup, the rudest priest, or the dancing priest, or the monkey priest. To our country, still sentimentally attached to old-time movie portrayals of saintly clerics like Spencer Tracy’s Father Flanagan or B-B-B-Bing Crosby’s Father O’ Malley, the crazy antics of Father Ted are sacrilegious rebellion, and that’s precisely why it’s so incredibly watchable and undeniably entertaining.

What really makes the series special are the virtuoso comic performances by a quartet of terrific performers, my favorite of which is the gifted Dermot Morgan who played Ted. Arguably the sanest one in the bunch, Ted keeps his barmy little family together by a combination of guile, tact, and affection, even for the irascible Jack. In twenty five episodes – that’s all they made – whether trying to help his group give up cigarettes, alcohol and rollerblading for Lent, or collaborating with Dougal on an Irish entry for the Eurovision song contest, or protesting a naughty film at the local cinema house, Dermot’s Father Ted Crilly was the genial heart of the show. A lot of folks are crazy about Ardal O’ Hanlon as Dougal, and he’s brilliant of course, but I think Ted is the glue that holds the comic creation together.

Father Ted was first telecast on Channel 4 in the UK back in 1995, quickly becoming a viewer sensation and deservedly winning several major comedy awards over its three year run. Why did it end? The creators, the enormously talented Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews, had decided they’d like to end on a high note, and star Dermot Morgan wanted to move onto another series. It was this moment that fate stepped in and sealed the brilliance of Father Ted once and forever: the day after they filmed the last episode of the series, Dermot Morgan suffered a massive heart attack and died, just a few days short of his 46th birthday. His death devastated his legion of fans then, and once you discover Father Ted and fall in love with Dermot’s delightful portrayal, it will have the same effect on you, now.

So go on, go on, go on, go on…watch Father Ted a while! (You’ll understand that reference once you get to know Mrs. Doyle a little better.) Take a few hours and get to know the folks on Craggy Island, and I guarantee you’ll be trying out your own Irish accent like a mad eejit once you do. I just love this show, and I think you will, too.

Particular favorite episodes on this Saturday: “Cigarettes, Alcohol and Rollerblading” at 6pm E (3pm P); “Speed” at 7:30pm E (4:30p P); “Kicking Bishop Brennan Up The Arse” at 9pm E (6pm P); “Good Luck, Father Ted” 10:30p E (7:30p P); “The Passion of Saint Tibulus” at 11:30p E (8:30pm P); “Hell” at 1:30am E (10:30p P); “Song for Europe” at 3:30am E (12:30a P), but of course they’re all good!

Father Ted runs on BBC America in honor of St. Patrick’s Day this Saturday 3/15 from 6pm – 6am and Monday 3/17 from 12n – 6pm, and in its regular slot on Thursdays from 8p – 9pm.

 
And the Award Goes to: The TV Land Awards!

Anybody who loves TV will get a real kick – and probably a lump in the throat – from TV Land’s special The TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV , which premiered last night and will repeat several times more this month. Hosted by the affable TV veteran John Ritter -- and isn’t it nice seeing him have a nice career revival with his current series -- the show is, by turns, silly, sentimental, a little bit sad, triumphant, and ultimately just what it promised, a celebration.

For those of us who grew up watching TV and…loving it (to cop a phrase from Maxwell Smart), this was the kind of show we’ve probably been dreaming of all our lives. Haven’t you wanted to say “Thank You” to Star Trek for changing your life and bringing you such joy for almost your entire life? I know I have, and Mira Sorvino did exactly that last night as she gave an informed, personal and sweet tribute to classic Trek, and then we got to see our beloved Kirk Spock, Uhura and Scotty accept the award. I don’t quite trust anybody who doesn’t love Star Trek, and after seeing the show get TV Land’s Pop Culture prize last night, I’m going to have to get out my Vulcan ears again.

Using extended clip montages and highlighting some crazy categories designed to reflect to the TV Land aesthetic, the special manages to have a little something for everybody, with an emphasis on the comedy shows that have particularly touched the American heart and funny bone. It’s heartening to see that the optimistic and energetic Rob Petrie still thrives inside 77-year-old Dick Van Dyke, even as we know that his private life wasn’t always as sunny as it might have been. And his solo rendition of the words to The Dick Van Dyke Show theme song (words written by the late Morey Amsterdam), with lyrics talking about pluck and luck and smiles and happiness…well, if you love classic TV I think you’ll understand why it was tremendously charming and summed up the aura of positive emotion that surrounded the entire special.

I also really enjoyed the still-dreamy The Partridge Family star David Cassidy’s heartfelt tribute – after winning an award for grooviest clothing – to his late father Jack Cassidy, whose elegant and unforgettable persona is remembered by any classic TV fan, and to his still extremely lovely mother Shirley Jones. In many ways, and with real justification, the people who starred in these series are as well known to us as family; as we’re all growing older and seeing parents age and die, and siblings get the same gray hair we’d rather deny, it’s inevitable that we see these TV families age, too. Little Richie Petrie looks like an insurance agent now, and Gary Coleman’s all grown up…well, as much as it’s gonna happen, anyway. It’s the cycle of life and we all know nobody lives forever, but how nice it must be to know that you’ve been a part of the American cultural fabric, and more importantly, made people happy. And even nicer, I would think, to celebrate this in a room full of other folks who are in the same fortunate boat.

Look, just watch the show. Forgive some of the predictable not-so-good banter (I noticed the omnipresent award show writer Bruce Vilanch was the culprit here, too), and instead revel in the heartfelt acceptance speeches, which were without exception gracious and genuinely touching. TV Land’s heart was in the right place with this one, and trust me, you’ll never see anything quite like it.

The TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV encores on TV Land as follows: Fri. 3/14 at 12mid, Sat.3/15 at 8pm, Sun. 3/16 at 5pm, Mon. 3/17 at 11pm, Wed. 3/19 at 2pm, Sun. 3/23 at 12n, and Wed. 3/25 at 10am.

For more info, take a look at the TV Land website.

 
Boyakasha! It's Ali G!

There’s nothing quite like Da Ali G Show, now appearing on HBO Late Night -- nothing quite as funny, nothing quite as absurd, and there’s nothing else that makes you wish a half-hour didn’t go by so fast. As usual, the States are getting our first look at Ali G (except for his appearance in a Madonna video) a couple of years late, but there’s never been a better excuse to drag out the old “better late than never” cliché. Ali G is worth the wait.

Who is Ali G? He’s the alter-ego of British comedian/writer Sacha Baron Cohen, and what an interesting background he has – brought up in an Orthodox Jewish home, went to Cambridge, lived in Israel for a while, and like a lot of comedians, is quite smart in real life. He first created Ali G for a late-night British TV news satire program back in 1998 and hasn’t looked back since. What is Ali G? Ali G is a white rapper from the Staines district (near Windsor); he lives with his grandmum, has a girlfriend named Julie, and interviews public figures as a roving reporter who asks the kind of questions that just wouldn’t occur to anybody else. It’s not that he’s stupid, he just approaches his subjects from left field and has a unique point-of-view and historical perspective that quickly sends the discussions into an nutty realm that you’ll never want to leave. Feeding off the pop culture stew in his head, and using his distinctive neighborhood patois to season the mix, Ali G’s meetings with his guests are priceless and frequently contain more than a little wisdom mixed in with the wit. Of course, Ali G being a suburban rapper and all, a lot of his material is on the naughty side, so if you don’t want to hear about bell-ends, shaving your goolies, or taking it up the batty, you better stick to loving Raymond or bowing down to the King of Queens.

Da Ali G Show also features two of Cohen’s other personas, the gay Austrian fashion reporter Bruno, whose buzz cut and tight leather vest give him entrée into the backstage world of haute couture, and Borat, the curious, genial, and unabashed TV reporter from Kazakhstan. I guess this is the place to say that all of Cohen’s interviewees are more or less taken by surprise, that is, they know that they’re going to interviewed, but not that it’s in a humor context or a put-on. In Borat’s Guide to America, he explores topics like dating, etiquette, gun clubs, and workout gyms, trying valiantly to fit into his new surroundings but usually failing hilariously and outrageously. It’s not exactly a groundbreaking idea, but it’s performed so well and Borat’s character is such a consistent comic force that you can’t wait to hear what he’ll say next. Bottom line, he’s hilarious. I like Bruno, too, but my heart belongs to Borat.

I hope they repeat the earlier episodes of the show – this week’s premiere on Friday will be number 4 – because you really need to see Borat at a format dinner party, or chatting up prospective dates, or catch Ali G at the U.N. or engaging in what ultimately turns out to be a charming conversation with political advisor Gen. Scowcroft. You would have loved the time Ali G interviewed a very sincere DEA agent about narcotics, and after listening to a litany of the downside – mental slowness, inability to learn, sleepiness – Ali G piped up “So, are they any negative effects?” Like the great comic minds, Sacha Baron Cohen has imbued his characters with not only a surfeit of humor but with humanity, giving them a dimension that brings them completely to life. Fair warning: if you can’t decipher British slang or if not understanding every word is going to make you crazy, you might find Da Ali G Show difficult to get into. But try it, go with the flow, give Ali G a chance. I think you’ll give yourself over to me new main man, the most bestest Ali G.

Da Ali G Show airs on HBO, and premieres a new episode every Friday night at 12:30am, with frequent encores throughout the week. Check the HBO Ali G site for the complete schedule.

 
Giant Monsters, Giant Fun

Television loves personalities, and the Animal Planet network has done a tremendous job finding hosts who are not only dynamic in all the right ways for TV, but also smart. Is there any more captivating combination? If you’re one of those who’ve succumbed to the lure of so-called reality TV – or even if you’re not -- there can’t be anything more real or harrowing than what transpires on AP’s two excellent Monday night series Animal Precinct and Animal Cops. Forget about the phony, trivial and frequently pathetic antics of greedy relatives, duplicitous would-be lovers and talent show rejects – if you really want to see the depths of human cruelty take a gander at what the officers on those two shows have to stomach. They come up against low-lifes who haven’t even the decency to care for the innocent animals in their homes, and unless you’re that kind of monster too, this stuff will chill you to the bones. These officers are true good guys, and a couple of hours watching them will restore your faith in the nobility of a tough job well done.

But all is not grim on Animal Planet, and how could it be with naturalists like Steve Irwin and Jeff Corwin around? Crocodile Hunter Irwin is as enthusiastic as ever, and all his shows are highly recommended for their blend of thrills, respect for nature, and just plain fun. If you missed his theatrical motion picture, which unfortunately didn’t exactly do ferocious box-office last year, it’s out on DVD now; it’s an hour and a half of full-on goofy fun and much more entertaining than you might have supposed.

This week it’s Jeff Corwin who’s in the spotlight, as he headlines the fantastic special Giant Monsters as well as new episodes of his regular series The Jeff Corwin Experience. Corwin is a super-charged combination of scientific truth-seeker and class clown, able to offer up a fascinating fact-filled explanation an instant after hamming it up with a bit of comedy business worthy of Lewis or Carrey. Corwin’s a smart guy, a youthful yet life-long conservationist and animal lover able to connect with an audience on several levels. With impeccable educational credentials, a ready library of pop culture references on the tip of his tongue, and appealing good looks that have already made him somewhat of a poster boy for teenage nature lovers, Corwin’s the perfect media messenger for his cause.

In Giant Monsters, Jeff shares the screen with computer-generated uber-creatures from the past, and boy, does he more than hold his own. Part straight documentary, part technological showcase, and part low-rent (and delightfully so) Jurassic Park, Corwin gets the lion's share of the fun as he finds himself being stalked by T-Rex, cold-cocked by a giant sloth, and chased in a hang glider by a giant flying bird. My favorite bit was the golf course encounter with a mega-crocodile, Jeff and his caddie revving up their golf cart and hilariously trying to outrun the beast. Best moment: Jeff’s apology to his buddy just before he pushes him out of the cart to lighten the load -- classic physical comedy, but extremely well done and totally delightful. Giant Monsters is essentially two-hours of way larger-than-life close calls, and if running away from dinosaurs doesn’t look like the most fun Corwin’s ever had, he’s a better actor than I already thought he was. From his plaintive calls of “Mother!” when he’s close to being dino-brunch, to his genuine awe and respect for an injured bald eagle who’s about to be released into the wild, Jeff Corwin is a man of many faces, all of them fascinating and wonderful to behold. If I were a kid, I’d have this guy’s poster on my wall, too!

Crocodile Hunter's Diaries airs on Animal Planet Wednesday nights at 8pm at 11pm, with encores on Saturday afternoons & prime.
The Jeff Corwin Experience airs on Animal Planet Wednesday nights at 9pm and midnight, with encores weekend afternoons & Sunday prime.
Giant Monsters airs on Animal Planet this week Tuesday 3/11 at 9pm - 11pm and Sunday 3/16 at 6p - 8p.

Be sure to check out Animal Planet's website for more information on their whole schedule!

 

R. Lee Ermey Wants You!

I can’t think of a more enjoyable – or informative – show these days than Mail Call, The History Channel’s delightful half-hour series starring R. Lee Ermey. Ermey, possibly best known for his acclaimed role in 1987’s Full Metal Jacket, but a familiar face ever since then in a variety of distinctive comedy and dramatic roles, dons his beloved military duds to host this truly entertaining show. The premise is simplicity itself: Ermey answers viewer questions about all things military. What makes this show so special is R. Lee himself. You’ve probably seen his drill sergeant persona, the in-your-face D.I. who leaves recruits shaking in their shiny new boots. Well, here he combines his military might with an irresistible sense of humor that turns the most mundane subject into a thing of incredible fascination. He’s wonderful, he’s hilarious, and what’s more, he’s letting us in on some pretty interesting history while he’s at it.

From weapons of antiquity to the super-secret developments on the drawing board today, Ermey covers them all, and with frequent and enlightening demonstrations that never fail to amaze or amuse, usually both. R. Lee is never more delicious than when he’s going up against a ripe watermelon with a martial arts shooting star, or slugging more melons into space with a medieval catapult. He performs with such relish, enthusiasm and natural charm that you find yourself utterly captivated by both him and the technology he’s explaining. I’m sure that no small credit for this must go to Mail Call’s writer, but this is one case where a network has done the right thing and let the talent – Ermey -- shine through in all his irascible glory. Even the show bumpers to commercials are dynamic and well…hilarious, but in the way that truly great things are often so terrific that appreciative laughter is the only appropriate response.

I can’t imagine anyone not falling in love with Mail Call’s rare blend of energy and enlightenment. Mail Call isn’t a dumb-downed yock-fest, nor the military-fan equivalent of a Star Trek convention where only the devout need apply. It’s for everybody, and I would venture to say irrespective of your political leanings. Although the show – and Ermey – are unabashedly proud to be on the side of the red, white and blue, to their credit I think they do a pretty good job of making viewers feel that way, too. In these trying times where most of us sit on the sidelines and have little real experience with anything military, it feels okay to do a little flag-waving and give the men and women of the armed forces their due.

All political warm and fuzzies aside, Mail Call is sensational television, the kind of show that reminds you why we should be so grateful to have the plethora of choices we now enjoy. Can you imagine something likes this on network TV? Hardly. The closest thing to a Lee Ermey character we’ve seen recently was Rudy on the first Survivor series, and remember how viewers loved him? Like a breath of fresh air, genuine personalities and shows invigorate the television landscape. So go ahead and fill your lungs -- R. Lee Ermey and Mail Call are the real deal.

Mail Call airs on the The History Channel Monday at 8pm (and often in a double run) and usually Sundays at 10pm.

Be sure to check out R. Lee Ermey's terrific website, too! Definitely watch the opening animation sequence; it's wonderful.