Comedy Archives - Page 89 of 131

Will Ferrell gets temp job at “The Office”

April 14, 2011 Tom Comi

By Tom Comi One of the great things about big-time movie stars who got their start in television is they rarely forget their roots. And that’s why I am embracing with open arms Will Ferrell’s four-episode guest appearance on NBC’s The Office. Ferrell, who got his feet wet on Saturday Night Live, makes his sitcom premiere tonight (9pm ET) as a possible replacement for office boss Michael Scott — who is played brilliantly by the departing Steve Carell. And for those who have followed the careers of both funnymen, it’s no secret that they are close personally and professionally. The […]

“Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza” premieres April 11 on GSN

April 11, 2011 Ryan Berenz

By Ryan Berenz (Twitter: ChannelGuideRAB) Drew Carey hosts a new half-hour series on GSN called Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza, premiering Monday, April 11, at 8pm ET/PT. In the show, an impressive lineup of talented actors and comedians performing improvised sketch comedy, complete with audience participation. Cast members include Heather Anne Campbell, Jeff Davis, Chip Esten, Kathy Kinney, Jonathan Mangum, Sean Masterson, Colin Mochrie, Greg Proops, Brad Sherwood, Ryan Stiles and guest appearances by Wayne Brady. GSN announced that the April 12 episode features an impromptu appearance by Charlie Sheen, who stopped by the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas […]

Christian Slater hopes “Breaking In” is his ticket to small-screen success

April 5, 2011 StayTuned Staff

So is Christian Slater just a glutton for punishment, or does he just really want to work in TV? For the third time in as many seasons, the ’90s heartthrob is headlining a network series, this time starring as the owner of a personal security company in Breaking In, which premieres Wednesday night on FOX following American Idol. In a recent chat with reporters, Slater compared his thus-far quixotic quest for regular TV work to that of Goldilocks, saying that while NBC’s My Own Worst Enemy and ABC’s the forgotten didn’t fit, “this bed here at FOX feels just right.” […]

VOD Spotlight: “Little Fockers”

April 5, 2011 Jeff Pfeiffer

More than 10 years after Meet the Parents introduced insecure nurse Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) to the overbearing Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) and six years after the mismatched in-laws first got together in Meet the Fockers, the comedy franchise continues. The characters and the stars who play them are older, as Greg and wife Pam (Teri Polo) juggle work and parenthood in a way that families can relate to. “When you’re making the third film in a series, the constant question is ‘How do you keep it fresh and retain what people liked about the first two movies?’” asks […]

April Fools: Four foolish TV show concepts

April 1, 2011 Jeff Pfeiffer

In honor of April Fool’s Day, we thought we’d take a look at a few of the most foolish ideas for television shows we’ve ever seen. Whether it’s trying way too hard to spin off a legendary show, or greenlighting a project that never even should have pulled up to the traffic light, these examples from over the years demonstrate that networks are willing to get fooled time and time again when it comes to series ideas that they think will work. Fortunately, in most cases, audiences didn’t fall for these jokes. AfterMASH — CBS, 1983-84. M*A*S*H had just ended […]

“Oh, really, fool?”: A compendium of “Billy Madison” quotes for everyday use

April 1, 2011 Ryan Berenz

By Ryan Berenz (Twitter: @ChannelGuideRAB) It saddens me that the youth of today will never know a time when Adam Sandler movies were funny. Many cast off the Sandman’s 1995 Billy Madison as stupid and juvenile, but to me, it is one of the most eminently quotable movies of the last 20 years. Here are some of my most frequently employed Billy Madison quotes, along with appropriate context for their usage: “Don’t tell me my business, devil woman!” Wife or GF bothering you about mowing the lawn, opening a jar for her or putting some pants on? Throw this one […]

Utter CHAOS — CBS debuts new action comedy series tonight

April 1, 2011 Jeff Pfeiffer

By Jeff Pfeiffer In the new comedic drama Chaos, a group of rogue CIA spies in the Clandestine Administration and Oversight Services (CHAOS) combats threats to national security amid bureaucratic gridlock, incompetence and political infighting. The genesis of the series came from an interesting combination of sources, as creator and co-executive producer Tom Spezialy explains. “I’d always been a big fan of [the movie] The Four Musketeers and wanted to do an updating of it. And I was doing research for another CIA show, and it was [a book] about the story of an ex-operative who was telling of his […]

“The Soup Awards” premieres on April Fool’s Day

March 31, 2011 StayTuned Staff

By Athena Voulgaropoulos Awards season just wouldn’t be complete without its most prestigious event, The Soup Awards. E!’s hilarious annual showcase of reality TV stupidity appropriately premieres on April Fool’s Day, this Friday at 10p ET/PT. Hottie McHottie host Joel McHale will hand out awards in such illustrious categories as “Best Nonsensical Phrase” and “Finest Psychological Problem that is Now a TV Series.” Helping him present these dubious honors are a slew of tabloid-friendly celebs, including “troll” Jon Cryer, ’80s teen icon Anthony Michael Hall, Real Housewife NeNe Leakes and the always-fabulous RuPaul, as well as McHale’s Community castmates Danny […]

When it comes to hit TV shows, only fools rush out

March 31, 2011 Tom Comi

By Tom Comi It’s been well documented that television can be serve as a great platform for actors who want to move on to movies, including Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies), John Travolta (Welcome Back, Kotter), George Clooney (ER), Denzel Washington (St. Elsewhere), Sally Field (The Flying Nun), Danny DeVito (Taxi), Bruce Willis (Moonlighting) and Robin Williams (Mork & Mindy). But there is also a huge gamble in leaving a hit show for greener pastures, and TV is littered with actors who ended up on the losing end of that bet. So, with April Fool’s Day being tomorrow, we decided to […]

“Nurse Jackie” is just what the doctor ordered

March 28, 2011 Tom Comi

By Tom Comi Many fans of The Sopranos wondered how Edie Falco could avoid getting typecast after playing mafia matriarch Carmela for six seasons, but her mesmerizing performance as the title character on Showtime’s Nurse Jackie has all but obliterated that concern. Coincidentally, Jackie presents the same dilemma for viewers as did Tony Soprano in that they are both flawed individuals that we want to like. And even though Jackie is a capable and compassionate nurse, her pill addition and extramarital affair make it very difficult to do so (especially since her husband is often left to take care of […]