Going into this roast, I knew that there was no way it would top 2013’s Franco one. That roast was one of my favorites because they brought up a bunch of his friends, and there was a genuine, good-hearted undercurrent throughout the whole night. The Bieber Roast is weaker than the Franco Roast, but there’s still quite a bit to like (and dislike) about it. Here are some of my assorted thoughts:
Saturday Night Live “Dwayne Johnson/George Ezra” Live Blog and Review (40×16)
28 MarTHE ROCK OBAMA: This is a silly sketch that rests on the physical comedy by Dwayne Johnson and Leslie Jones, and it’s without a doubt fun to watch. Also, people like Ted Cotton, John Boehner, and Ted Cruz getting various body parts torn off is always going to be great. GRADE: B+
MONOLOGUE: I’m usually not a fan of singing monologues, and I’m pretty ambivalent about this one. It’s an alright song, I guess, and it’s a little bit better than the lazy “taking questions from the audience” monologue. I have to say, though, the Stephen Hawking voice bit is pretty funny, and you can tell The Rock is having a lot of fun. “Another Smurf movie?” “No.” GRADE: B
Person of Interest “Skip” Review (4×18)
25 Mar“The man who created God? I never thought we would be friends.”
Like so many episodes before this, “Skip” deals with the ideas of humanity and compassion in the face of loss. It’s an entertaining and snappy piece of television that also finds a deeper and more poignant meaning behind its storylines, and while it’s far from a perfect episode, it’s certainly a step up from last week’s middling outing. “Skip” is able to find a better balance between the case of the week and the overarching Finch-Samaritan struggle, and as a result, both plots have excellent moments throughout the episode.
Justified “Trust” Review (6×10)
24 Mar“I gave you what you always wanted, Raylan: Boyd Crowder bleeding out at your feet.”
This is getting good. As we move into the homestretch of Justified‘s brilliant final season, it’s becoming clear that love and alliances are coming secondary to survival instinct. Relationships are coming undone, trust is being broken, and people are splitting off in order to accomplish whatever goals they want to accomplish. No more do we see the idea of running off into the sunset with the person you love; now, it’s all about the nitty gritty, all about who’s left standing when the smoke clears.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Season One Review
21 MarNote: Full spoilers for the season follow.
“We’re the strong ones, and you can’t break us.”
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is an infectiously energetic, quick-witted, and constantly entertaining show that both reflects the 30 Rock roots of its creators and crafts its own world with aplomb. It’s an easily binge-able 13 episodes, and although its jokes come rapid fire and make you laugh, there’s also a beating heart underneath it all: the story of Kimmy Schmidt, one of four “Mole Women” who is rescued from an Indiana doomsday cult’s underground bunker.
Justified “Burned” Review (6×09)
17 MarJustified is nearing its end, and everyone’s jostling for a piece of the pie. Deals are being made, plans are being put into place, and some people are getting ready to leave Harlan behind. All that stands between them and an open road? Each other. It’s a tricky situation that’s getting tricker by the minute, and it’s clear that these characters aren’t just going to sit back and let others take control; they are going to do what they have to do to survive, to maintain some semblance of control over their surroundings, and it sure is damn exciting to watch.