Monday Ramblings

I specialize in abject failure, let last night be no exception. I failed to watch or Tivo anything reviewable. The Angels/Red Sox game took 5 and a half hours and that was pretty much my night.

However, I did get to see Little Britain USA and The Life and Times of Tim on HBO West around 1:30 this morning. Its the second episode of both so a lot has probably already been said of them already, but then again, how is one man expected to catch the premier of every new show of the fall season? Have you seen either of these shows? I say unlikely.

I'll start with The Life and Times of Tim, which as it turns out, is much better than all the promos have made it seem. It comes across as an animated Curb Your Enthusiasm/cringe humor type show but the situations are more outrageous and are even less likely to happen in real life. For example, in last nights episode Tim is asked by his boss to refer to himself as Tim Sanchez because there aren't enough Latinos in upper management with predictable yet genuinely funny results.

It has its weak spots. Sometimes Tim's deadpan just doesn't work and the jokes fall flat, and there was a NAMBLA joke(in this case Newly Appointed Minority Business Leaders of America) that was unnecessary not because its inappropriate, but because South Park really cornered the market with NABMLA jokes years ago. Overall its definitely worth watching, the only problem is its on after Little Britain USA.

Which brings us to that.

I don't hate Little Britain, it has its clever moments, but its far too reliant on crudeness for laughs from two guys who are actually really funny. David Walliams and Matt Lucas are good writers but a lot of it seems to go to waste on naked, disgusting characters. Too much is based on easy stereotypes and dick jokes.

Where it excels is just how hilarious everyone looks. The make-up and great British tradition of cross dressing shines here, but you just wish they'd keep the costumes on. The show has been a huge hit in England for years and I think it translates well for the American audience but i don't think its found its niche on HBO.