Instant Gratification

Because if you don’t, Burlesque will somehow, some way, win every Oscar imaginable.

http://www.tumblr.com/directory/recommend/film/instantgrat

Looks like Netflix is getting all biddy (just made that up) with shit these days, as their Chief Content Officer (???) Ted Sarandos confirms the company is trying their hardest to acquire HBO content for their users. Time Warner (HBO’s parent company) CEO Jeff Bewkes was all like “$8 a month? for us they’ll need to charge $20!” SNAP.

Respect mah authoritah.

So can Netflix and HBO become HB-brOs? (horrible, I know). Maybe…?

I seriously hope y’all reading this are rolling your eyes around in your sockets so much that it hurts (and saying, “no doyfy”), but let’s just, FOR THE SAKE OF A GOOD BLOG POST, assume that you, fair reader, have not watched the brilliantly canceled Party Down. Since we’re assuming that, let’s also just assume that at a basic level, you suck at life for letting this show fly under your radar for so long.
 
I’m sorry (nope)! But the sleeper hit seems to be gaining even more attention in it’s wake as cast members like Jane Lynch (Glee), Adam Scott (Parks & Recreation), Ken Marino (Children’s Hospital), and Lizzy Caplan (True Blood) all seem to be finding much more lucrative work. And who’s to blame them? Party Down was too absurdly-packed with great talent to stay cohesive for very long. Besides, the show’s format, which follows around a bumbling group of L.A. party caterers from gig to gig, reveals its weakness early on (there are only SO MANY different kinds of parties to cater). But what saves PD are not the situational comedy of the parties themselves, but the hilarious and quietly human characters all living out their own Hollywood dreams and nightmares. It doesn’t hurt that the show is also chock full of great guest stars.
 
Much like Arrested Development left tons of devoted fans in a lurch and state of denial, Party Down will leave you similarly depressed that it’s off the air and Real Housewives seemingly has no end in sight.

Watch it now >

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn | Run time: 92 mins.

Netflix categorization: Violent, Cerebral, Mind-bending

Hey, I don’t say this very often, but this movie is fucked up. Just look at the cover…what good do you think will come of watching this? I will hand it to Netflix’s categorization bots though, as there is no doubt that Valhalla Rising is violent, cerebral, and mind-bending, but I’ll add one more: WEIRD. Set in Scotland sometime around 1000 AD, we get a bloody glimpse into the world of  a one-eyed slave, forced to fight other slaves to the death. A dull, meaningless existence maybe, but Refn’s moody and dark tale drifts everywhere and back, and that’s not such a bad thing.

More after the break…

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This is a great one here—finally, one of HBO’s best comedy shows is available on Watch Instantly! The Larry Sanders Show was not just an A-class lampoon of the ridiculous world of late-night television, but also a bonafide breeding ground for establishing up and coming talent (on the cast, such as Janeane Garofalo and Jeremy Piven and numerous guest stars).

Created by the hilarious Garry Shandling (who plays the show’s host, Larry), TLSS delves into the late-night talk show world where celebrity seems to be a curse of stupidity and banal three and a half minute anecdotes. Now a widely popular idea, the show routinely has celebrities play amped-up or stereotyped versions of themselves (like a catty Carol Burnett or a dickish Peter Falk). From animal segments to live commercials, there seems to be an endless array for ways Larry can humiliate himself, but it never stoops to the corniness of a real world Leno.

Larry goes along with most of the show’s absurdity in good spirits, but he knows when to say “no” (and if not, he relies on the show’s producer, Rip Torn, to do his dirty work)—he almost always looks on the show’s ludicrous proceedings (or staff’s indiscretions) with either an otherworldly wonder or schmucky smile, likely thinking “who the fuck are these people?”

Along with Larry is Hank, his “best friend” and sidekick on the show (played brilliantly by Jeffery Tambor…who has an unfortunately strong resemblance to Dr. Phil). Hank is not only constant comic relief, but always hanging onto showbiz’s darkside, doing commercials for RV shows and Green Giant. He’ll do anything to make a buck or get a bit, and compared with Larry’s austerity regarding his personal/professional life, it plays for good laughs.

The Larry Sanders Show no doubt inspired countless of modern comedies like Curb Your Enthusiasm and 30 Rock. As such, it feels wholly original (though it doesn’t get much credit), even if the subject matter seems worn. Watch a couple episodes, I’ll guarantee you’ll get hooked. 

Seasons 1-4 are now available to stream. Hey now!

Watch Season 1 now >