I'm Easily Amused...So Sue Me

I have been delightfully entertained the last few days. Felt I needed to share…go and have a few laughs on me!



Superbad (Sony Pictures, Rated R) – Is there anything Judd Apatow & Co. can’t make hilarious? This summer, Apatow had already scored early in the summer with the Seth Rogen driven Knocked Up. At the end of the summer he came back as a producer to the All-American Teenage Hormone Romp that is Superbad. The story is simple: Two buddies spend the night trying to get the girls by providing the alcohol while coming to terms with the fact they are moving in separate directions. Michael Cerna, of Arrested Development fame plays Evan – the awkward but loveable straight man to Jonah Hill’s blustery and blunt Seth. Some people might argue that Superbad is full of low brow and juvenile humor – but they’d be denying their own human roots. The School of Comedy According to Apatow pays homage to the risky business of being a teenager – but he crafts a set of characters that will find you saying, “I know that guy…I WAS that guy!” One of my movie-going buddies said as we exited the theatre, “That was horrifyingly familiar and true to life!” While Cerna and Hill’s best friends are the centerpiece of the film, newcomer Christopher Mintz-Plasse steals a good chunk of the show as the squeaky and oblivious to his nerdiness Fogell, a.k.a. McLovin (“Sounds like a sexy hamburger,” quotes the trailer). For those of you who don’t like your comedy blunt, crude, and awkward…don’t watch this movie. Some of the best bits come in this formula. Especially hilarious is a tête-à-tête of manly emotional expression between Seth and Evan. But seriously, I couldn’t tell you exactly what the funniest part of the movie was. Every 3-5 minutes, something more hilarious and even more daring would come along! This is arguable the funniest movie of the summer and perhaps more true to life than the original American Pie. So if you’re like your comedy raw, nostalgic, and real – this is the movie to see!


Feasting on Asphalt (Food Network, Saturday nights, check local listings) – See Alton Brown ride. See Alton Brown travel. See Alton Brown eat a “Koolickle.” WHAT exactly is a Koolickle and WHERE does one get this thing? Well, that’s exactly what knowledgeable Brown and his band of merry motorists have set out to do in Feasting on Asphalt 2: The River Run. Last summer, Alton hopped on his motorcycle and ventured the U.S. from coast to coast in search of America’s best roadside food. This year, he and the crew take the south to north route by following the mighty Mississippi River. Part travelogue and part food history – Alton declares at the beginning of each episode that they are in search of the food we love and discovers that “…no matter what sophisticated urban chefs create, deep down what we really crave is what the diner, café, and the truck stop can offer.” What I really love about this show is Alton’s attention to the stories behind the regional food he encounters. The audience discovers that home cooking is alive and kicking; while Alton learns that secret recipes are exactly what they are. The best part is that he not only highlights the great eats he finds – but the people behind the food as well. In the first three episodes, he’s delved into the roots of southern cooking and discovered the fruits of the road via Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. I’m not sure how much better it can get than forcing an intern into a sausage costume and making him dance on the side of the road…but I never doubt Alton Brown can get the job done.


Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bull Riding (CMT, Friday nights, check local listings) – Murray, known as the King of the Cowboys, will embark on a 10-day crash course on bull riding with 9 “celebrities” riding along the last of their 15-minutes of fame. Some of the names on the challenge include, Rob “I’m Not Just Vanilla Ice” Van Winkle, Rahib “Rocket” Ismail, and former team heartthrob, Leif Garrison. Okay, I admit this: When I got sucked into this late one night…I thought to myself, “Why am I watching this?” I mean, I’m not bull riding expert. What I know is from the limited knowledge I gained from a cowboy roommate when I first moved to Arizona. So I knew who Ty Murray was…just had no interest further than that. It’s bull riding for Pete’s sake! But the four minute intro to the show was pretty much all I needed to reconsider keeping tabs on Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge. Think about it: These guys are going to attempt to ride multi-ton beast. There is a possibility that Vanilla Ice might be CRUSHED by this animal.

What other excuse do you need to watch?