luminary blur

One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to TV shows is fake products and blacked-out logos. To me, one of the most distracting things about a TV show is logos removed from cars (see “The Middle” or “Human Target”). I know it’s a Chevy (or a Ford or a BMW), so why remove the logo and leave a black bowtie or oval or circle? It really annoys the crap out of me. Or why, when a TV character is searching online, can’t they just use Google? Why is it always a fake search engine? Let’s face it: just about everyone uses Google. Making up something fake for a TV show takes me out of the narrative.

So, when it comes to Modern Family, I think the same reasoning holds true. I can easily believe that Phil is a gadget junkie—it completely fits in with his personality. Yet if the producers had made up an obviously fake gadget, I would have absolutely hated it. That it was an iPad—and that the iPad’s release date was so near—made it believable. If you’re concerned about product placement, get over yourself. It’s called real life. And I like my TV better when it reflects that.ds

written by Ben \\ tags: iPad, Modern Family, TV

Can’t explain it. Don’t know why. Maybe it was because Christopher Walken looked like he was reading his lines off a cue card just off stage right. Maybe it was the chuckle-inducing Bill & Hillary cold open. Or the laugh-out-loud Weekend Update. Below are my two favorite skits…I hadn’t laughed that hard while watching SNL in a long time.

Proof that Kristen Wiig is hilarious. This one just built and built and I found myself laughing all the way through.

The best part of this skit was comparing everyone’s Christopher Walken impressions. I thought Andy Samberg’s was better than I was expecting.

Overall a fun episode that, as usual, died off near the end. Why oh why are you still 90 minutes long? Sixty would be just fine, thank you very much.

written by Ben \\ tags: SNL, TV, Video

For those interested in seeing a full episode of Doogie Howser, M.D. (original airdate: September 27, 1989), you can find it embedded after the jump. My Hulu membership affords me a lot of embedding possibilities. Any requests?

Continue reading »

written by Ben \\ tags: 80s, Hulu, TV