Episodes one and two were last week: here are episodes three and four. Enjoy!
Review: Wedding Band (TBS) 1×1
In the US: Saturdays, 10/9c, TBS
Straight men are, in general, catered for very well by US television. Or so you’d think. Not all straight men are created equal, however. There are, in fact, two genres that really don’t seem to want us at all: romcoms and musicals. Glee, Nashville and Smash laugh in our faces, while The Mindy Project is still trying to work out what straight men want.
It’s discrimination, I tell you.
Never fear, though: TBS is here to balance the scales. Now, despite its catchline of “Very funny”, TNT’s sister channel should really have been promoting itself as “Cack – for men”. Glory Daze and Men At Work, I’m particularly looking at you here. But in an effort to stop making appalling television, as well as picking up Cougar Town now that ABC had dropped it, TBS has come up with Wedding Band, a romcom musical for men.
A cross between The Wedding Singer and The Hangover, it sees perennial bachelor Brian Austin Green (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) as the lead singer of a wedding band that includes his married-with-kids Ed Helms-alike best friend, his Jack Black-alike slobby brother and the quasi-hip Harold Perrineau from Lost. The band has been doing weddings for years, but they’re ready to go big, possibly with the help of big-time wedding planner Melora Hardin and her novice associate – and possible romantic interest for Green – Jenny Wade.
And while it’s very male-oriented, features fight scenes and has quite a broad sense of humour, it’s surprisingly funny, nuanced and unmisogynistic. And you get about three or four classic rock and pop cover versions per episode: a romcom musical for men.
Oh, and in case you don’t read the tabloids, Brian Austin Green is married to Megan Fox in real life. Which is probably why she’s in the next episode in a leather outfit. Here’s a trailer:
It’s Hammer Time!: Man Bait (1952)
Time for some sleaze – it is Hammer Time, after all. And have I got some sleaze for you – Man Bait with Diana Dors. Look, here’s the poster!
Okay, that’s all a bit misleading. Man Bait – originally titled The Last Page in the UK – was one of Hammer’s first attempts to get into the US market and used the standard Hammer approach (hire a US actor as the lead) to do so. Here, George Brent is a married bookstore owner who’s blackmailed by Dors after he makes a pass at her, and only his secretary Marguerite Chapman can save him.
Despite the pulp fiction poster, it’s not very salacious at all, and Dors doesn’t get to do as much as you’d think. Originally intended as a way for her to become a star in the US market, her failure to stick by her contract – by divorcing her husband – meant that never happened. Ah well.
All the same, it’s a fun thriller and you don’t get many of those set in book shops. Enjoy!
Friday’s Sitting Tennant (week 43, 2012)
What’s he thinking about? Maybe you’ll find out on Tuesday…
- Toby, Hebbie: 20
- Sister Chastity: 10
Sitting Board of Winners 2012
January
Hebbie, Sister Chastity
February
Sister Chastity
March
Sister Chastity
April
Sister Chastity, Shilohforever
May
Hebbie, Sister Chastity
June
Hebbie, Sister Chastity
July
Hebbie
August/September
Toby, Sister Chastity
October
Hebbie, Sister Chastity
Got a picture of David Tennant sitting, lying down or in some indeterminate state in between? Then leave a link to it below or email me and if it’s judged suitable and doesn’t obviously infringe copyright, it will appear in the “Sitting Tennant” gallery. Don’t forget to include your name in the filename so I don’t get mixed up about who sent it to me.
The best pic in the stash each week will appear on Tuesday and get ten points; the runners up will appear on Friday (one per person who sends one in) and get five points.
Each month, I’ll name the best picture provider and then at the end of the year, the overall champion will be announced for 2012!
Tuesday’s Sitting Tennant (week 43, 2012)
I’ll leave it up to you to decide why David’s so happy today. 10 points to Hebbie and see you on Friday!
- Toby, Hebbie: 15
- Sister Chastity: 5
Sitting Board of Winners 2012
January
Hebbie, Sister Chastity
February
Sister Chastity
March
Sister Chastity
April
Sister Chastity, Shilohforever
May
Hebbie, Sister Chastity
June
Hebbie, Sister Chastity
July
Hebbie
August/September
Toby, Sister Chastity
October
Hebbie, Sister Chastity
Got a picture of David Tennant sitting, lying down or in some indeterminate state in between? Then leave a link to it below or email me and if it’s judged suitable and doesn’t obviously infringe copyright, it will appear in the “Sitting Tennant” gallery. Don’t forget to include your name in the filename so I don’t get mixed up about who sent it to me.
The best pic in the stash each week will appear on Tuesday and get ten points; the runners up will appear on Friday (one per person who sends one in) and get five points.
Each month, I’ll name the best picture provider and then at the end of the year, the overall champion will be announced for 2012!