Precious Moments: an Accurate Depiction

I really love the movie Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire. This parody reinforces doubts and condemnations that many have attributed to the movie's press and hype. Not entirely unfounded (I mean have you seen the trailer? It reads like a Spike Lee directed Hallmark Channel movie.), but the movie in my opinion really overcomes its possible badness with earnest direction, good writing, and fantastic (!) acting.

But still, this video is effing hilarious.

Precious Moments - watch more funny videos

Sarah Palin Photo Caption Contest!!

First an excercise in critical interpretation:

Let's get the brain warmed up this morning with a little bit of creative analysis. Given Palin's political views, ethical and moral standing, and her employment history (Matthew Freeman over at On Theatre and Politics posted her resignation speech and this unfortunate quote on quitting her job -

"A good point guard drives through a full court press, protecting the ball, keeping her eye on the basket... and she knows exactly when to pass the ball so that the team can WIN. And I'm doing that - keeping our eye on the ball that represents sound priorities - smaller government, energy independence, national security, freedom! And I know when it's time to pass the ball - for victory."

Reminds me of when I posted the Katie Couric interviews during the election and the subsequent SNL sketch with Tina Fey.)... taking all that into account, I offer up this pic above (click to enlarge) taken by Brian Adams from a spread in Runner's World magazine. Take a gander. Ponder on it. It represents an awesome splash of patriotic and political symbolism ripe for parody. What are your views.

And since theatre people are my favorite people, I ask for your own creative caption to underscore the potential laughs. And therein lies my motivation behind this post. Yes, it may be selfish, but I really want some entertainment.

My favorite caption will win something of non-monetary value (something akin to blogger love). And if you can tie it in to something theatre related, extra bonus kudos. So write friends! Together we can make for a better country.

I've also included these next to pics which I find hilariously self-deprecating.


They too remind me of her election campaign, specifically her use of props (of the main 3 in the campaign [ugly baby, boobs, and gun] only her gun isn't represented here).


This second pic is my new favorite of my life. Thanks to Jim Emerson.

If you have more thoughts and funny captions, please leave in the comments section. Let the games begin! Off to the races! (Rupert Holmes shoutout).

South Park's "Elementary School Musical" Episode, or: why the show is still extremely funny

Sondheim himself said South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut was the best original musical he had seen in years. So if you have yet to give South Park a chance, shame on you.

In case you missed last night's episode of South Park (still one of the funniest shows on television), South Park Studios is streaming the full episode for viewing pleasure online here.

And musical theater aficionados will want to take a glance at the new episode entitled "Elementary School Musical." Matt Stone and Trey Parker are still able to milk laughs out of an already tired (and over-parodied) High School Musical satire.

Not funny:



Funny:



And pay close attention to the song and how it actually improves upon the original. And Cartman's closing line is genius: “Well, I’m out guys. If this is what’s cool now I think I’m done. I no longer have any connection to this world. I’m gonna go home and kill myself.”

And what makes it even funnier is the fact that he tried to actually follow through and only failed due to technical problems (Billy Elliot and 9 to 5 take note).

Kyle: What happened? I thought you were gonna kill yourself.
Cartman: I tried. Went to sleep in my mom’s car in the garage with the engine turned on.
Stan: But you didn’t die?
Cartman: Freaking hybrids man. They just don’t do the trick anymore.

For all of its faults (the way I feel about HSM is the same way Sparky from Bring It On feels about cheerleaders: "...dancers who have gone retarded."), High School Musical, as we all know, is entirely commercially successful. And even though it is musical theater gone retarded, at least it exposes something to little kids of the wonderful art of the American musical.

Perfect material for parody. And South Park has hit all the right notes in its most recent episode.

And has also provided my favorite new character in Mr. Queermo, the dad of a young student who longs to be a part of the basketball team and step out of the spotlight of the theater. Despite all the gay stereotypes and cliches with the character, Mr. Queermo and his slap-happy hands had me rolling.



Take note of the Phantom of the Opera poster, the Mamma Mia! poster, and if you watch the clip below, you'll catch the poster to A Chorus Line and the ode to Bye Bye Birdie at right about 39 seconds. The dude is hilarious.



"Go right back to your room and sing a ballad!" I think I just peed a little.

Watch the next 2 clips and enjoy the wonderful comic timing and tight direction of the creators. The editing towards the end of the second clip is spot on.





Remember, South Park is supposed to be offensive - so if you are gonna watch this and then leave negative comments at my admiration for the show and its (non-existant) 'anti-gay' slant, don't say I didn't warn you.

You should just know better. Fight the H8!

Don't Vote!, or: Avenue Q's Bad Idea Bears on the Election

The Raping of Indiana Jones, or: South Park still makes me laugh

If anyone missed the season premiere of South Park last night, the best part of the show came when George Lucas and Steven Spielberg raped Indiana Jones in Stan's daydream. Literally.


Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull comes out this week. So thank you South Park for telling it like it is. That movie did rape Indiana Jones. Hard and rough.

Tina Fey as Palin again, or: why SNL is only funny when Feylin is involved.

I can't get enough of Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, or Feylin as some have coined her performance. I love when she uses the word 'maverick,' and I adore the way she winks and waves at the audience.

One of the subjects nailed by the sketch was the confusion over gay marriage from both candidates. Watch. Listen. Love.

Sketch Comedy Masters, or: the lost comedy stylings of Palin & McCain

Over at the Chicago Sun-Times scanners blog, Jim Emerson illustrates just how easy Palin makes it for Tina Fey to show her genius. Palin and McCain are indeed masters of comedy in their own right. They were making comedy gold way before SNL, MadTV, and Fox News. Thanks Jim.



Mr. Sondheim,

Can you please make this into a musical? Thank you.

Raped in the Face: Hamlet Will Have His Revenge!!

There is an awesome-ish titled movie coming out today by the name of Hamlet 2. I'll be heading out tonight to see the new comedy flick co-written by Andrew Fleming (Threesome, Dick) and Pam Brady (South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut, Team America: World Police) and starring British actor Steve Coogan (Night at the Museum, Tropic Thunder), Catherine Keener (The 40-Year-Old Virgin), David Arquette (the Scream movies), Amy Poehler (Saturday Night Live), and Academy Award nominee Elisabeth Shue as herself.

Not to mention the main reason to see the movie (for all us Guilty Ones): Skylar Astin and Phoebe Strole both of recent Broadway show Spring Awakening! The two Springers star as ass-kissing-theater-teacher-pets Rand and Epiphany who perform in the drama class's adaptations of popular films such as Erin Brockovich.

It's so great to see stage actors given a shot at the silver screen. I feel because the Broadway world is so much smaller than that of Hollywood that I have a sort of ownership over these actors. They are my babies and them getting an opportunity to shine in the movie theater makes me a proud mamma.

The film centers around sometime-actor turned worst drama teacher of all time Dana Marschz (Coogan). According to production notes, "Shortchanged in the talent department, Dana still harbors ambitions and passions. At work, that is; his personal life, with his dissatisfied wife Brie (Keener) and their boarder Gary (Arquette), leaves much to be desired. At Tucson, AZ's West Mesa High School, Dana sees himself as an inspirational teacher. But his adaptations of popular films, as performed by his top students Rand and Epiphany (Skylar Astin and Phoebe Strole, both stars of Broadway's Spring Awakening), are not resonating. When his latest — re-creating Erin Brockovich — is dismissed by the 9th grade drama critic and his department is targeted for closure, Dana must reach deep into himself for creativity."

He conceives a musical sequel to Hamlet "that will disdain both political correctness and dramatic credibility. Rallying and rousing his class, Dana casts a wider net by recruiting transfer students like Ivonne (Melonie Diaz) for key roles. With rehearsals underway, objections from school officials and the community are soon raised, but Dana will not be denied his freedom of artistic expression. Dana gets unexpected support from ACLU attorney Cricket Feldstein (Poehler) and his favorite actress, Elisabeth Shue. Above all else, he fervently believes that his opus must be staged, and nothing can break his optimistic spirit."

With song titles such as "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" and "Raped in the Face," this movie sounds ballerific. I'll post a review after viewing the movie.

And this is hilarious (not to mention very timely): When asked in production notes if the movie will encourage kids to put on a show, director Fleming quipped, "If we can prevent one more production of Godspell, we've done something positive." Thanks, Playbill.com!

Ouch... sorry Gavin Creel.