Easily Entertained

Hooray! Some of the cast actually pronounced Nevada correct. (the “…vad…” part sounds like dad, mad, or bad, not like jihad.) Strangely this included the Chinese interpreter girl as well as all the characters from Nevada. Not so strangely, everyone pronounced Pahrump correctly.

Harriet is incompletely quoted when responding with her views on gay marriage with, “the Bible says it’s a sin.” and leaving out, “It also says judge not lest ye be judged, and that it was something for smarter people than me to decide.”

This makes people mad, including some non-stereotypical gay hooligans who threaten her, whereupon Tom pushes one of them. The next day, the pushed guy decides to file a complaint with the police. Tom, dressed in a shepherd/Jesus costume and a borrowed jacket (apparently Jesus/shepherd costumes are breezy), is arrested. Because he failed to pay a speeding ticket in Pahrump, there is a bench warrant out for him, so instead of a quick in-and-out at a local police station, he is extradited to Pahrump. Because of that three year old law that moved it from Halloween to the last Friday in October, it is Nevada Day. AND … Friday is live taping day.

Simon follows him, because his borrowed jacket contains a half smoked joint. Danny follows because everything is better with Bradley Whitford. Jack follows because he is a network bigwig who is trying to win over a huge potential Chinese investor whose teenage daughter’s only wish is to meet Tom (so include the Chinese investor and viola playing daughter in the group.)

In case you’re counting… the about-to-be-aired show is down two major actors and an executive producer. Oh, John Goodman is the local judge who is called in from a fishing trip… hijinx will ensue next week… in part two.

The dialogue is expectedly great. The jokes are quite funny. I’m really adoring Tom, the Nathan Corddry character, because he’s the last person you’d expect to be the mysterious one, yet he is. (Why was he driving 120 miles an hour in a 65 zone? Why would they be more lenient if they knew? Where does he stand in the culture wars? Etc.) Matthew Perry is giving the chance to be far funnier (and smarter) in this than he ever was in Friends. Really all the actors are as good as actors who have been given a fantastic script can be.

I also am fascinated by this whole exploration of the “culture wars” (conservatives versus the liberal media) which is being explored from a very liberal point of view, but one that is making a significant attempt to make sense/understand it. Its similar to the way the Daily Show makes fun of both sides objectively, even though their political leanings are obvious. Am I correct in assuming that the liberal entertainment community is doing more to show both sides objectively, while the conservative side frequently fails to give the other side the benefit of the doubt? That’s just the way it looks to me.

Quotes:

Harriet: I don’t even know what the sides are in the culture wars.

Matt: Well, your side hates my side because you think we think you’re stupid. And my side hates your side because we think you’re stupid.

*****

Matt: Half the shows in prime time start with two strippers getting strangled after a lap dance, and that’s fine with me but if it’s also fine with Jesus then I don’t see the need to tiptoe around his name.

*****

Matt: It’s one thing to be asked to respect someone else’s religion, it’s another to be asked to respect their taboos. In my religion it’s disrespectful to God not to keep your head covered. You don’t see me insisting that the cast of CSI:Miami wear yarmulkes.

Danny: That’d be an unusual creative direction for CSI:Miami.