At the risk of destroying whatever smidgen of credibility I’ve gained with folks out there, I’m going to confess that I actually watched–and, worse, enjoyed–The Nick & Jessica Variety Show tonight. There were high points and low points–Jessica’s American Idol-worthy wails on Take My Breath Away being the worst of the latter–but overall it was an amazing simulation of a better-than-average 1970s-era variety show.
High- and low-lights:
- Both stars handle self-parody well: Nick La Shave and the Mouseketeer bit were probably the most fun.
- I’m not sure exactly what Simpson was trying to accomplish in her duet with Jewel: was it mockery of Jewel’s style, an impression of Cher, or the way she actually sings?
- Mr. T. I pity the fool who doesn’t like T. Ten Seconds Of Awkwardness wouldn’t have been possible with anyone else.
- The goofy jokes in the She Works Hard for the Money montage… heard ’em all, but again they were able to pull them off.
- The real Kermit and Piggy, straight from the Muppet Show set, and not the impostors that have replaced them for the last 20-odd years.
- Jessica’s… um… smashes bottle over head.
- I’ve Got You (Babe). It had to be done, it had to be the finale, and it worked.
I’ve been contemplating writing a screed about how current popular music is overwhelmingly angry–I even have difficulty listening to Weird Al
Yankovic’s last album of parodies, and I’ve been a fan of his forever–but the show tonight was enough goofy, simple, plain ol’ fun that I’m just too happy to get any of it down. They got it right.
You watched this!?
You’re dead to me now!
We got home late from dinner at my brother’s, and missed Nick and Jessica. I wanted to see it. I think she’s a knockout. Then I heard it was horrible. I just googled them and there seems to be an assorted bunch of likes and dislikes of the show. I’ll definetly catch them next time.