YIL Preview: The Sarah Silverman Program: Season 3
Our resident expert on potty-mouthed TV heroines, Pam Cesarec, is back with her thoughts on the upcoming season of The Sarah Silverman Program.
The new season of The Sarah Silverman Program starts in a mere two days. Finally! It’s safe to say that with the year-long hiatus, these ten episodes have been carefully planned out and should be pretty filthily awe-inspiring.
I’ve seen the first two episodes and I got pretty excited as soon as I realized the theme for episode one–appropriately titled “The Proof is in the Penis“–was a topic near and dear to my … funny bone (heart hardly seems appropriate in this case). And I got a little scared. Ok, a lot scared. Uh, it centers around the idea that Sarah was born with both. Yes, both. Parts. Man and lady. So if the thought of a 30-something woman accidentally swallowing her own tiny baby penis (which was removed at birth and she recently found in a zip-lock hospital bag) is offensive to you in any way, you might not appreciate this show as much as yours truly did–which was immensely. Sarah Silverman is exceptionally audacious, which probably puts the fear of god into the person who’s in charge of censoring her work. My mouth was agape in shock throughout most of the thirty-minute episode. And let’s put it this way: I’m not easily shocked. I loved every second of it. Oh man. Nine more episodes of this? Sign me up.
The second episode was amusing, but nothing can top a hermaphroditic premiere. In episode 2, Sarah hosts a children’s TV program. If the prospect of that is so frightening it makes you a little nauseous just wondering what that could possibly entail, we are on the same page.
For those of you who have missed the first two seasons, here’s an abbreviated recap: Sarah (the character, not the actor) has pretended to have AIDs, donned black face, been arrested for licking her dog’s anus in a park, talked dirty to her sister, pooped her pants during a farting match, and tried to sue the entire nation of Mongolia. What a gem!
Anyway, back to season three. There’s an upcoming episode titled “Wowschwitz.” Come on, who else could get away with that? Exactly. Looks like Comedy Central promises to be an unpredictably intriguing place to spend your Thursday nights!
For those curious what a musical interlude about baby penises might look like:
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The Sarah Silverman Program Season Three premiers Thursday, February 4th, 10:30 PM (Eastern)
Cyanide & Happiness (& plush dolls)
If you aren’t yet acquainted with the disturbed humor of the incredibly popular web comic Cyanide & Happiness, the time has come to get on board. These naughty stick figures will take you to places you’ve never been.
Take a look at some of the comics, then come back here to enter for a chance to win some great C&H stuff–like an official plush doll and a signed copy of the brand new comic collection. One grand prize winner will get a book signed by all four C&H creators, Kris, Rob, Matt & Dave; plus a handsome plush doll. Four 1st prize winners will receive a handsome doll all by himself.
To enter for a chance to win, just send an email to YourItList@harpercollins.com with subject line: CYANIDE before 1:00PM (EST) on February 12. We will randomly be selecting one (1) Grand Prize winner and four (4) 1st Prize winners. No purchase necessary. The last entry will be accepted at 1:00 PM (EST) on February 12, 2010.
Click here to view official rules.
We’re With Coco!
Apparently there’s some pivotal event happening today that could shape our country’s future for decades to come. Something having to do with the employment status of some guy from Massachusetts. The country is certainly divided, and the stakes are high.
That’s right, Conan O’Brien is reportedly set to take a big chunk of change and vacate his slot as the Tonight Show host, allowing Jay Leno to resume hosting duties. It looks like it may be too late to change this outcome, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t showing their love for the Pale Force.
I’m With Coco, the brainchild of artist Mike Mitchell, is still going strong with almost 400,000 Facebook fans and Conan rallies across the country (grab the inspiring poster art here and show your solidarity on your Facebook profile). This weekend, hundreds of Los Angelenos crowded the NBC lot in the rain for an I’m With Coco event (a stunning achievement, considering their aversion to inclement weather). Coco himself made an appearance, running through the streets leading his band of merry revelers, giving a rooftop speech reminiscent of Eva Peron, and even ordering free pizza for his loyal subjects. You can read a recap on the Tonight Show blog, and watch a video of the proceedings:
Then when you’ve dried your tears, revisit a a simpler time, 2004 to be exact, when Jay Leno knew that he’d be washed up by 2009 with this video from the Funny or Die archives.
Oh, and I guess there’s some Senate seat up for grabs today too. Not sure what that’s all about.
How to Make a Michael Cera Movie
Via The High Definite, the completely accurate guide to every Michael Cera movie ever made.
Mork & Darwin: The Reveal
The people have spoken!
It’s time to reveal the results of the 2009 Mork & Darwin showdowns.
Stay tuned for the first 2010 edition next week. Spoiler alert: it involves a pair of lips that would make Jocelyn Wildenstein jealous.
Volume the First: Patch Adams takes the “most stupefying” prize in a landslide over the formidable Benthocodon jelly:
Volume 2: Bicentennial Man and the Dumbo Octopus are still locked in an epic 50/50 battle:
Finally, in third round action, Man of the Year is re-named Stupefaction of the Year as it pummels the Antarctic Octopus!
[Results as of 12 pm (ET) 1/6/10]
Crazy sea creature photos from Claire Nouvian’s THE DEEP.
You can only hope to contain him.
On screen and off, Nic Cage has played many roles: Ghost Rider, face transplantee, Coppola, Oscar winner, prodigious shopper. He has the elastic face and acting chops that suit almost any role. But if you’ve ever wished that Cage could be an even bigger presence on the world stage, this is your lucky day. At Niccageaseveryone, you can see Cage inhabiting roles from teen idol to Dr. Who. Take note: this is what the magic of Photoshop was meant for.
Some of the blog’s best offerings:
NC as Sarah Palin
NC as Captain Kirk. (More incredible Kirk madness here.)
NC as fellow hunk Zac Efron (apologies to Joseph).
NC as the Great Emancipator (aka the only American greater than Cage himself).
Digital Fold-Ins
One of the highlights of my weekend at King Con Brooklyn was meeting legendary comics artist Al Jaffee. I’m a second generation Mad Magazine fan, having grown up reading both the issues contemporary to my childhood, as well as stacks of hundreds of my dad’s back issues from the 60s and 70s. So meeting the man responsible for those incredible back page fold-ins was a treat. Jaffee was the consummate gentleman–still vibrant and engaged at the age of 88–talking enthusiastically about the dozens of illustrations he’s working on for his upcoming illustrated biography.
After I mentioned my star-struck encounter, a colleague pointed me to a fantastic New York Times interactive archive of some of Jaffee’s
Photo by Oiseau
greatest hits, which reminded me of those childhood hours spent trying to guess what would appear after the fold-in. It’s almost as fun to predict what each fold-in will become when you’re using a mouse and monitor rather than the original paper version, and there’s the added bonus of getting a quick refresher in world history through Jaffee’s incisive and often thought-provoking comic commentary. Some of my favorites are the October 1972 version featuring hot-tubbing politicos that end up in a toilet (where their bullshit is better-suited), a sobering commentary on the deadly alternatives for unemployed young men in July 1968, and a psychedelic butterfly that morphs into an image of disco-age Elvis from September 1978, commenting on our tendency to exploit celebrities even after they’re dead. I’m sure you’ll find some favorites of your own in the addictive slide-show.
‘Tis the Season…
With National Boss Day (for non-observers, this is October 16th) in our wake and Halloween and Thanksgiving just around the corner, ’tis the season for raking leaves, carving pumpkins, and picking apples. Or, as McSweeney’s writer Colin Nissan writes, “It’s decorative gourd season, motherf*ckers.”
Andy Samberg meets Robert Frost in Nissan’s unconventional and brilliant ode to the harvest. My favorite stanza?
“I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to get my hands on some f*cking gourds and arrange them in a horn-shaped basket on my dining room table. That sh*t is going to look so seasonal. I’m about to head up to the attic right now to find that wicker fucker, dust it off, and jam it with an insanely ornate assortment of shellacked vegetables. When my guests come over it’s gonna be like, BLAMMO! Check out my shellacked decorative vegetables, a$sh*les. Guess what season it is—f*cking fall. There’s a nip in the air and my house is full of mutant f*cking squash.”
Friday Funny: The Count goes blue
Sesame Street sure has changed since I was a kid. Good for them!
Lisa Lampanelli – Chocolate Please
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Click here to read an excerpt of Chocolate, Please.
Aaron Karo is having more fun than you
Our good friend, Aaron Karo, stand-up comic and author of Ruminations on College Life and Ruminations on Twentysomething Life, has a new book out today. Can you guess who’s publishing it? I’m Having More Fun Than You, is an irreverent exploration of why guys embrace bachelorhood and love flying solo in their twenties and thirties.
Click here to read an excerpt and here to buy the book!
Tweet World meet Real World
As loyal readers of Your It List already know, we’ve just published Nick Douglas’s Twitter Wit: Brilliance in 140 Characters or Less (hey, we’re still waiting for your iPod-worthy video submission. Get on it!). In honor of Nick and his hundreds of twitty contributors, Brooklyn’s powerHouse Arena is hosting a launch party this Thursday, September 10. Whether you’re featured in the book, a Nick Douglas groupie, or just like free Hornitos tequila and Bear Flag wine, you’ll know where to find us on Thursday night from 7 to 9.
Lisa Lampanelli …bringing the LOLs.
Our friend and (shameless plug here) author Lisa Lampanelli recently did a few videos to promote her upcoming book, Chocolate, Please. She’s quiet the funny lady, that Lisa.
The video on the bottom was released about two weeks ago, but the top one is brand-spanking new. Enjoy!
The book isn’t out until September 15th, so click here to pre-order.
The Wittiest Twitter
In honor of today’s publication of TWITTER WIT: Brilliance in 140 Characters or Less edited by Nick Douglas, we’re excited to announce a video contest offering you a chance to win an iPod touch. It’s pretty darn simple, actually, and a lot of fun (unless you really hate making short videos; in that case it’ll be a nightmare). You just go here, pick your favorite tweet, make a short video, send it to us, and wait on pins and needles. In the meantime, since your video is definitely the best one, we’d suggest making a list of all the great music and apps and videos you’re going to add to the shuffle once you win it. Oh, and you’ll want to browse inside TWITTER WIT too. And buy it.
Seminal moments on television (circa 1986 to 1989) Part I
www.htmlgiant.com
Thanks to Matthew Simmons over there at HTML Giant, I just had the most vivid flashback I’ve ever had that did not stem from some mind altering drug.
Simmons brought me back to when worlds collided and Diff’rent Strokes’s Arnold (Gary Coleman) snuck onto the set of Knight Rider and meet David Hasselhoff as he’s filming an episode. There the lines of fiction vs. reality blur in head-hurting detail, which Simmons eloquently explains in his evaluation.
This then brought back a flood of images and episodes of various programs I will loosely define as circa 1986 to 1989 (being that I must have seen these episodes during that time regardless of it they were new or repeats).
In no certain order, I present Seminal Moments in Television (circa 1986 to 1989) Part I:
Punky Brewster – Cherie in the Fridge
www.rottentomatoes.com
Poor Henry. Old, slow, broken, not as cool as once was. I’m talking about his refrigerator, of course. Off to Sears to buy a new one. Cart the old one off into the backyard. Let’s just put it here beneath the tree house where all the neighborhood kids will be playing.
Punky: Hey Cherie, let’s play hide-and-seek!
Cherie: She’ll never find me if I hide out in this old refrigerator!
Fast forward: There’s no air in the fridge! Cherie is unconscious! Punky will use her Punky-Power! (and CPR class) to bring her back to life… and a generation of people will never throw away a fridge without unscrewing the door again. Video.
ALF – The be continued (still waiting)
http://alf.fanspace.com
I remember the first episode of ALF. September 22, 1986. My 6th birthday. But that is not the seminal moment in this classic sitcom…
After years of struggle on this stupid earth-planet Gordon Shumway (derogatorily nicknamed ALF by the non-cat-eating humans) is finally able to return back to Melmac and to his long-lost love “Help Me” Rhonda. As our hero makes his way through the woods, into the clearing to finally have the chance to be free he is seized upon by the FBI, the CIA, the damn Tanner family and their indentured servitude contract. The space ship appears… the flood lights turn on… the guns are pointed… and… and…
To be continued.
A classic cliff hanger. Children across the country screamed. And then… cancellation. NBC pulls the plug. The resolution episode never airs. And Gordon will remain in perpetual limbo for all of time (note: ignore the horrible made-for-tv-movie Project ALF that came years later). Video.
Valerie (aka Valerie’s Family; aka The Hogan Family) – Where’s Mom? She’s dead. But here’s Sandy Duncan.
http://timstvshowcase.com
Seriously, NBC. People in the mid-to-late eighties watch your cheesy little sitcoms to be drawn into the perfect, funny little world Ronald Reagan kept telling us existed. A world where the dad’s a pilot, the fat-red-headed neighbor Mrs. Poole brings over brownies, the older brother is obsessed with girls and his hair and there are stereotypical twin boys (one jock, one brain). Ya know what we don’t tune in to watch? Death.
We know, we know it must have been tough re-negotiating that contract with Valerie Harper. She’s tough. Look at all the times Rhoda sabotaged Mary Tyler Moore’s dinner parties. So lets just kill her off, rename the show, bring in Peter Pan and all will be good. Not good. If I wanted to be all dark and depressed and cry I’d just look at my own family. This one’s not even worthy of a video link.
And so ends Seminal moments on television (circa 1986 to 1989) Part I. Stay tuned for Part II where we’ll explore the day nucleaur war threatened the peaceful tranquility of Our House (not to mention rocky relationship between Shannen Doherty, Chad Allen, Deidre Hall and the Quaker Oates guy), the often-forgotten spin-off of Who’s the Boss starring Halle Berry and Leah Remini, that episode of Facts of Life where Blair tries to kill her friends (and everyone ignores this guy) and more!
Chris Brown: An agent for good?
It's no coincidence Brown rhymes with Clown. Image courtesy of Joel Telling
I was tipped off to this seriously funny wedding video yesterday by MTV Buzzworthy Blog. It’s since become an internet sensation, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a Bravo TV reality show is already in the works. I certainly share Buzzworthy’s conflicted feelings towards promoting anything with über-sketchy Chris Brown’s vocals attached, but in this case I say: hate the artist (Brown) and love the art (a bunch of really awkward dancers creating a memorable wedding moment).
