mocrash

I wonder if Sam Elliot is as uncomfortable delivering the tired one-liners as he appears to be (his strength is droll humor, not punchlines). There is nothing original or creative about this show: the situation is hardly new -- wayward son comes home to a resentful brother and dismissive father and canned laughter ensues. The jokes are stale; if I had time, it would be possible to find them on other shows since they are as old as those heard on any Tyler Perry production. I'd be surprised if there is a second season. This would have been much better if played straight, without the laugh track (and a poor one at that), with the situations creating the humor rather than having it forced by the performers -- more along the lines of a Larry McMurtry creation.

Any fan of the Abraham-Zucker-Zucker send-ups who hated pretentious '70s mini-dramas should find some amusement in "The Spoils of Babylon." There's a ridiculousness to the entire project, including its heavy promotion, that plunges deeply into absurdity. This is parody that produces chuckles rather than guffaws, and the humor is in the details.

Effort was expended to make every scene excessively cheesy, although when sustained at this extreme level can dull the senses. An excellent cast can be commended for executing such ludicrous material in the straight deadpan manner required.

This is a show that doesn't work for those needing their satire to be clever or witty. Instead, TSOB bludgeons the viewer with the preposterous, from the overblown melodramatic dialog to the intentionally fake props and special effects to the blatant references to previous directorial styles.

To best appreciate TSOB, take it at face value and don't expect more than what it is, which is unadulterated spoof without refinement or sophistication.

Even with an appreciation for cars, I routinely overlook automotive programming beyond racing due to their dry, technical nature. Recently- discovered Top Gear (UK) shatters the image, with hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May providing narrative styles and tastes which contrast as much as their physical appearance. From their regular features such as their unsparing reviews of the top models (without commercial influence), "Stars in Sensibly Prices Cars" and the "Cool Wall" to their adventures and challenges, the boldness and originality of the endeavors and cheeky humor of the hosts is reminiscent of Python at its absurdist best. Thankfully, BBA America provides ample opportunity to catch up on this under-appreciated show.