Posts Tagged ‘hulu’
the case for CoCo »
Friday, January 15th, 2010
Inferred in the title, I’m a staunch Conan “People of Earth” O’Brien supporter. This does not mean I regularly watch his show. In fact, I rarely see it since I slimmed my subscriptions in Hulu but I watched regularly at first and enjoy his humorist tendencies.
That and his competition is sub-stellar.
David “Ahead of the News” Letterman is a better interview. His bits and monologue are tired but he, especially with guests he sees as inferior, is a master behind the desk (though, James “Your Favorite Curse” Lipton has him beat hands down in overall style).
Jay “Have You Heard This?/Am I Right?” Leno has a tired monologue, uninteresting interview skills but can make fun of stupid people and typos. Jerry “Show About Nothing” Seinfeld is a genius in observing the comedy in the mondane. Leno’s genius is in trying to be Seinfeld.
Craig “Who’s That Guy?” Ferguson has filled the shoes of Craig “Where’s My Mirror” Kilborn well. Still, he’s a complete goof who I have only watched once or twice. He seems to have a following.
Jimmy “Stick Around After Grey’s” Kimmel has a stronger following than Ferguson and seems to have the staying power. At least on his network, which has ratings, I think, from televisions being left on after “Modern Family” or “Grey’s Anatomy” or, in some cases, “General Hospital“.
Because I’m such an impressive blogger*, I’ll even mention Wanda “Rock-Splitting Voice” Sykes and George “I’m Hispanic” Lopez. Neither are original (or funny) but both have shows (Fox Saturday and TBS during the week, respectively) because networks need to advertise pharmaceuticals to insomniac, depressed, middle-aged viewers. (Pills!!)
NBC’s decision to scrap their Tonight Show (a legacy of fifty-five years) for some hybrid option was rightfully opposed by O’Brien (his statement). After only a few months, O’Brien’s show had a younger audience, something coveted by most studio execs (lower proportion on a fixed income = more money = lucrative advertising). In any case, even Leno defended O’Brien’s ratings issues.
What no one’s talking about is how much Leno’s show sucked. I mean, it’s terrible. His monologue is just as abismal as it was an hour and a half later but the laid back format is boring, the interviews still terrible and his choice in up-and-coming comedians doesn’t fit his demographic. He can still make fun of stupid people but is that better than O’Brien?
No.
Mr O’Brien’s intellectually goofy style is more modern and more in-tune with the not-yet-middle-aged audience. It’s fresh and unique in a landscape of desks and couches. Jimmy “Look at My Gadget” Fallon has taken to the role of goofball after-The-Tonight-Show host, Jon “Say WHAAAAT!?” Stewart covers political humor and Stephen “Even I Don’t Take This Seriously” Colbert has a lock on mockery, so O’Brien can work his niche accordingly.
Playing one off the other here, as NBC is doing, provides a ratings boost and then built-in buzz for O’Brien’s next step. This, I’m behind. As long as he moves to a Hulu-friendly network… (who can stay up that late nowadays?)
* You may have noticed I didn’t even make a case for Conan’s staying at The Tonight Show or moving to another network or just retiring. I’m that good.
hitch in the plan »
Monday, April 20th, 2009
My job hunt has now expanded to Chicago or… well… anywhere, I guess, because my desperation has suddenly blossomed. Why you ask? Even after the fame of my burgeoning photography wealth is only just settling (and non-existent)?
I’ve been kicked out of the capitalist system and am awash in socialist frustration. My UI may be denied. This, obviously, was an unexpected blow to the spleen.
The next course of action is appeal. According to the notice, I can do this online. Golden, I’m there watching terrible television on Hulu anyway. But no. The log-in is disabled so now I have to call.
This is why universal health care will be ignored by 85% of everyone. There’s just not enough incentive in a free service to take on the tedium of government-sponsored services.
No one would want to waste their time on such things if rates for useful health care were reasonable. There would be incentive to have a job that pays for most of it too. Which brings me back to jobs…
I would love one. ::sigh::
Yes, that’s Mussolini, who was technically a Fascist leader. Still, the vast majority of the US doesn’t know the difference.
4.1: when dorks come to play »
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
If you’re connected to the interwebs (via USB, dial-up or bio-microchip), you’ve likely seen the geektastic offerings for this first of April. I could do the same, but that it’s snowing is joke enough for me.
Instead, here’s a rundown of a few choice celebratory items:
- Google puts Gmail on autopilot
For some reason the dorks at Goog go nuts for 4.1 and this is no different. It comes with entertaining copy and is a funny idea. The bit under “match your personal style” is top notch. (Bravo Goog-ites.) - Woot makes a vague statement about consumerism (maybe)
I like the idea of this more than I like it. (If you no what I mean.*) - And then they fail miserably with CADIE
What in the hell are you thinking? I couldn’t tell you because I can’t make it two paragraphs in without my neurons collapsing at the side of the track vomiting blood. - Identi.ca acquires Twitter
In a too-many-won’t-care move, Control Yourself reports their micro-blogging platform has purchased Twitter. The quote from “unnamed exec” at the end is priceless. (Literally?) - Reddit looks like Digg
And the three of you laugh… and laugh… and laugh… - “It’s like Flickr but for your nose.”
For those that double over in laughter at the dorkness of irony or over-the-top boring, this is for you. The fragrances and “icons” shown are obscure to 98% of the population. (The joke of the frangrance/icon combonations make that about 99.27%.) - Kodak releases eyeCamera 4.1
Kodak still makes cameras? - Flights to Mars from Expedia
The idea is… ish but the math is hilarious. Parts of the rest of the copy are entertaining too. (More than I can say for CADIE, that bastard panda.) - Finally a search engine built exclusively for Fox News anchors and viewers
“Tired of being inundated with the contradictory and offensive beliefs of others? Today, the scientists at Yahoo! are releasing a groundbreaking new search filter…” (Priceless.) - Top Gear comes to Hulu
This one is so close to my heart it actually feels like a vice grip on my aorta. (Lift my spirits and then crush them like so many PBR cans.)
There are many more examples of nerds making barely-known references to arcane at TechCrunch. (They’re updating their list as more come in, unlike me.) Enjoy.
* You don’t. Because it doesn’t make any sense.