Comedy

Many of you probably tuned in to Saturday Night Live this weekend for their opening spoof on the Vice Presidential debate, presided over by Queen Latifah as moderator Gwen Ifill (who pitched that her book was available for pre-order at Amazon, ha!) and once again starring Tina Fey as Sarah Palin (someone get her another Emmy, stat). Here it is again, if you missed it:

But for those of you who turned it off afterwards, too tired or impatient to sit through 90 minutes of commercials and usually mediocre bits, here are the top 3 I enjoyed from this weekend after the debate sketch, with guest host Anne Hathaway. The episode was actually better than average; Hathaway did a great job poking fun at her own mini-scandal this summer in her monologue, and also managed to sing in nearly ever sketch she participated in.

First up: a Mary Poppins spoof (Hathaway perfectly embodies Julie Andrews), where the real meaning of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is revealed:

Meanwhile, Mark Wahlberg talks to some farm animals. I rolled with laughter only because I didn't realize Mark Wahlberg was so spoof-able. ("Say hi to your mother for me, OK?")

The third highlight I picked actually not available to watch (it's Will Forte's song during Weekend Update attempting to run down how everyone voted on the economic bailout), so I'll show the honorable mention, Andy Samberg's digital short with season MVP Kristin Wiig. -- Ellen

Recently, I had the chance to talk with Rainn Wilson (aka Dwight Schrute) and executive producer Greg Daniels about the new season of The Office (find episodes here) and the appeal of the Dwight character (aka, the Fonzie of the 21st century). Enjoy! -- Stephanie Reid-Simons, TV Demander

The Office is all about the comedy of awkward, and it's been able to ride the wave of pained laughter to become probably the most successful U.S. re-imagining of a U.K. TV hit. Kath & Kim similarly celebrates awkward ... but will the Molly Shannon/Selma Blair version of the Aussie favorite make a splash on this side of the world? Their Kath & Kim makes its broadcast premiere on NBC next week, but you don't have to wait that long to see the show and decide for yourself. It's available to watch now  -- free, of course -- at Amazon Video On Demand, following in the fall sneak peek footsteps of Chuck, Life, Knight Rider and Lipstick Jungle. Kath & Kim is odd, but it did make me laugh, like when Kath breathlessly described an adored sweater this way: "It's like they threw a leopard in the air and caught it in embroidery." Instead of the workplace, their canvas is the mall, and the lives of those who consider the apex of culture. -- Stephanie Reid-Simons, TV Demander

This American Life

What it is: Old favorite Chicago Public Radio show in a new format.
Why it's significant: Are you disgusted by reality TV saturation on TV? Are you sick of a small whinny population of L.A. and Orange County residents getting a disproportionate amount of air time related to their actual contribution to American culture? Then, This American Life is for you. Not quite reality TV, not quite documentary, This American Life Started as a Chicago Public Radio Show in 1995 and debuted in 2007 on Showtime as a new TV series. Long time listeners might ask why?  However, after watching the first episode, it’s easy to understand that the TV version allows the audience a new way of identifying with the person in the story. As it turns out, these people with their astonishing stories are just the opposite... ordinary. Despite how peculiar, outlandish, or eccentric their narrative, we can see that in fact they are quite normal people. Second, the visual format allows for a new depth of understanding. Something that we miss by just listening, the story teller’s environment, choice of clothing, hairstyle, manner of speaking, and hobbies all help to shape and tell their story.
For people who have never heard the radio show, This American Life is difficult to explain because the subject, the location, and even the format are slightly different between episodes. One episode is about how people experience God the next is about how the camera crew reacts to one of their unusual assignments. Engaging and interesting, each episode presents different perspectives and solutions to what sometimes seem to be common problems.  Watch the first season of This American Life and it’ll make you laugh, it might even make you cry, but most importantly it’ll make you think.  --Mike

Last night I watched a group of 80-somethings sing rock ‘n roll covers for two hours. And loved it. Yep, I know, “nerd alert” right? Well, I challenge you to watch Young @ Heart and NOT enjoy it. A huge hit at the Los Angeles Film Festival, Young @ Heart is a documentary that follows a singing group of senior citizens (with an average age of 81 – the oldest being 92) who do covers of everything from The Rolling Stones and James Brown to David Bowie and Radiohead.  They were filmed during the weeks leading up to a sold out show in their home town of North Hampton, MA. Rehearsing up to three times a week, it was hilarious and I have to say, pretty touching to watch WWII vets and great great grandmas spend countless hours memorizing  the words to Sonic Youth’s "Schizophrenia" (their version by the way, is awesome) and discuss topics such as still being a “sexy beast” (I won't elaborate any further about that). Young @ Heart was a surprisingly up close and personal peak into the lives of a group of people who refuse to let their age prevent them from doing what they love, even when faced with the inevitable challenges of growing older. I’ll admit, along with the laughing came a few tears (but I'm kind of a crier in general), and overall it was a lazy weeknight well spent. Even if the whole senior-citizens-singing-covers-of-Clash-songs isn’t your cup ‘o tea (definitely can’t say that it’s mine) watch this movie and I bet you'll like it, simply because it's good. --Kelsey

First impressions of upcoming movies, based on trailer (Click on the title to watch the high-resolution trailer: You may need QuickTime for most). Release dates are subject to change. --Ellen

Doubt (dir. John Patrick Shanley): Based on a Tony-winning play, Meryl Streep stars as a nun who suspects a priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of molesting a boy and sets out to ruin his name without evidence. Amy Adams co-stars as a young nun who follows, then questions, Streep's convictions. Streep, who was sunned and singing in the Greek isles this summer in Mamma Mia!, now sneers behind a bonnet like the Wicked Witch of the West. Seeing her and Hoffman yell at each other is a breath of fresh air after the past month of summer druthers. (Dec. 5)

Four Christmases (dir. Seth Gordon): Reese Withspoon's first comedy since 2005's Just Like Heaven teams her up with Vince Vaughn as a couple who normally avoid their divorced parents for Christmas but must visit all four when their vacation plans go sour. We love Robert Duvall as Vaughn's dad and Jon Favreau as his mohawked, UFC-fighting brother, and really hope this is not one of those cases where all the funny bits are in the trailer. (Nov. 26)

Changeling (dir. Clint Eastwood): Not a feel-good movie by any means, this latest from Clint Eastwood follows the true-life tale of a 1928 kidnapping of a 9-year-old boy and his mother (Angelina Jolie), who was sent to a psychiatric ward for claiming the boy the police returned was not her son. Is it police corruption? Conspiracy? Or Oscar gold? (Oct. 24)

The Soloist (dir. Joe Wright): Nathaniel Anthony Ayers (Jamie Foxx) was a Julliard-educated cellist who was found playing on the street (with missing strings) by a reporter (Robert Downey Jr.). Inspirational or cheese-tastic? This true story reads like perfect Oscar material for Foxx, who won the Oscar for Ray, but most of the emotional scenes belong to Downey. Wright (Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) directs his first film without Keira Knightley. (Nov. 21)

Milk (dir. Gus Van Sant): Sean Penn's last acting job, the critically hyped--then pounded--All the King's Men, did not serve him well. But this next go-round as a politician looks promising: Penn plays Harvey Milk, the first ever openly gay elected official. This civil-rights drama, based on Milk's run for office in San Francisco, includes James Franco as his lover and Josh Brolin as the city supervisor opposed to him. It's also Van Sant's first major studio film since 2000's Finding Forrester.  (Nov. 26)

So the kudos are rolling in for Tina Fey's turn as vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, not surprisingly. It was perhaps the most anticipated SNL impression ever, and Fey lived up to the hype. She didn't just fall back on her surface resemblance, she rocked the voice, and added silent business like a shotgun-cocking gesture. (It helps when you've got a comedic partner like Baby Mama co-star Amy Poehler -- as Hillary Clinton -- at your side, of course.) Even more impressive: Fey was busy shooting her own show (30 Rock, in case you live under one), so it wasn't certain that she'd even be available. I didn't get a chance to see the show until last night, which meant I spent all day yesterday dealing with people who wanted to talk about it. Don't let this happen to you! Get a free peek at Amazon Video On Demand. (The rest of the episode is pretty funny too -- athlete-hosts can sometimes be stiffs, but Michael Phelps did all right.) -- Stephanie Reid-Simons, TV Demander

Sometimes even a nemesis needs to take some time off from backstabbing, target acquiring and sabotaging. I figured, during my nemesis’ time off, they might appreciate it if I recommended some punishing movies. So, I decided to compile a list with the help of my regular co-workers. During a two-week period, I put up a sign-up sheet in the bathroom stalls here in Amazon asking for movie recommendations for a nemesis.  Here are just some of the results:

Let's recap.  First off,  I thought Titanic was hilarious.  Second, I had no idea that there was an Iron Eagle IV but it looks like the first three were a solid success.  Someone listed, "Battlefield Earth (on a date)".  I always find Scientology movies about Rastafarian aliens very romantic myself.   Let's not stop there.  Who was the clever genius that put up "Amazon Sexual Harassment Training"?  Just for the record, Amazon does not have a video showing how to sexually harass coworkers. Though, in fact, we do have a very appropriate sexual harassment awareness and prevention training video.  Either way, I doubt this video will be released to the public regardless of how many people request a First To Know for this title.  Moving on.  "My wedding Video."  Ouch!  Good luck with that.   In conclusion, someone listed, "Any Veggie Tales".  I am sorry...but I can't think of any better movie to watch while up too late and loopy from lack of sleep.  At that moment, "Any Veggie Tales" movie would academically and logically be the most entertaining movie since Iron Eagle II. I don't know. These are just our statistically sound results.  What would you make your nemesis watch?

Hey, fans of How I Met Your Mother!  Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the making of "Sandcastles in the Sand," the music video performed by "Robin Sparkles," the teen-pop nom de plume of Robin Scherbatsky (played by Cobie Smulders) in the third-season episode of the same name.  (Yep, that's James Van Der Beek of Dawson's Creek fame playing Robin's old flame, Simon.)  Do you like this Amazon-exclusive clip?  Let us know in the comments and we'll get more of these for you. --David

Do you love quirky and sometimes awkward comedies? Were you a fan of Arrested Development? Then you should watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The quick wit, obscure humor and underdog appeal have definitely made this FX comedy a hit. With it's third season about to release on DVD (9/9) and fourth season about to premier (9/10), you still have time to catch up on all the ridiculousness of a show that is surely ahead of its time. Want to know more? Check out an interview with the cast of this self-proclaimed "snorf" comedy. Have no idea what that means? Well then, l