Peter Funt, who "can be reached at www.candidcamera.com," has built a career on his sirname's reputation for trying to pull the modestly amusing out of the banally amusing. Perhaps, then, he's best suited to explain the power behind one simple little expression of comedic acknowledgment: "Ha."
"Thanks to Chris Matthews, the engaging yet often bombastic host of Hardball on MSNBC, this laughable little term has popped into the media lexicon. Every time Matthews shouts 'Ha!' his guests seem genuinely startled, much as they would if the host inadvertently let out a loud belch."
But does Matthews really get to own "ha"? CONTINUED »
To pass the time between slavery and Scotch, do you often find yourself streaming old episodes of The Simpsons on illegal, Asian-based Web sites? Um, neither do we, but if we did we think we’d notice that almost every old episode offers the viewer something new at which to laugh. The show’s got staying, and a key element of that is its background puns.
When The Simpsons took over suburban 7-11s, we pointed and said, "Oooh, cute. Crusty-Os!" But now, with the movie's DVD being released today, New York City must brace itself for an ugly onslaught of yellow marketing.
"Anyone in Midtown will find it difficult to miss the yellow-jacketed street teams, the "Simpsons on Ice" show at Bryant Park, the giant inflatable Homers and the Empire State Building lit up yellow in the landmark's first-ever movie tie-in," writes Variety. Not only is this evidence as to how smart some are to be moving their companies' HQs to Hudson Square, but apparently, it's evidence that New York once again has a relevant role in society.
You see, Will Smith's running around the city looking for humans in I Am Legend scored big, Denzel Washington's violent side in American Gangster got you hot and bothered in Harlem, and next year's Sex and the City movie has attracted more interest than Samantha's va-jay-jay could hope for.
So rejoice, Manhattan. You're cool again. Just don't mind Marge and Bart skating around Bryant Park.
Last night, The Simpsons played catch-that-social-reference with a montage of Homer Simpson pictures inspired by photographer Noah Kalina's 2006 YouTube sensation "Everyday." We have a feeling that the people who still watch The Simpsons on primetime also saw the Kalina clip at work, perhaps in between counting paper clips.
The original clip "Everyday," which was oddly moving, is after the jump.
As part of our self-made responsibility to showcase MSNBC's Keith Olbermann is all his glory – whether counting, talking about sports, or appearing in animated form – we bring you Keith's The Simpsons cameo.
…Why Keith Olbermann refuses to comprehend the term "four-day weekend." The hardworking MSNBC pundit's bespectacled mug interrupted our lazy respite by popping up last night on The Simpsons (in all his jaundiced yellow/cartoon glory) and then again during the halftime of the NBC Sunday Night Football game—which, incidentally, featured the undefeated Patriots coming this-close to losing to the Philadelphia Eagles, much to the chagrin of loyal Pats fans/scary bookie types.
TMZ is reporting that Britney Spears and Kevin Federline have finally resolved their boring melodrama of a divorce settlement. Except actually, nothing's really been resolved (except the amount of K-Fed's palimony checks) since Brit can—and will—appeal to the courts seeking full custody of the kiddies.
K-Fed is pulling in 15K a month from Britney for child support. He's also getting 20 grand a month in spousal support, but that's based on the prenup, and it appears the alimony gravy train will come to a screeching halt in November.
As for custody, we've learned it will stay at 50/50. It's amazing disso-queen Wasser was able to get a 50/50 custody split given Brit's craziness, which included wild partying, erratic behavior and a stint in rehab. This type of custody arrangement is typically reserved for a stable couple.
Congratulations, K-Fed. Guess The Simpsons Movie isn't the only thing raking in the dough (or should we say "d'oh?")* this week! Now, all that's left to do is sign above the dotted line (next to the greasy fried chicken stain) thereby relinquishing your rights to full custody, bestowing equal decision-making power on a follically-impaired rehab veteran and ensuring they make an E! True Hollywood story about your fucked-up kids by the year 2010.
* No, no we shouldn't.
It's no secret that couture models (a.k.a. glorified clothes-hangers) are putting their malnourished bodies under dangerous amounts of strain due to a steady regimen of chain-smoking, compulsive exercising and liquid dieting, as well as the misguided impression that a protruding ribcage is this season's "must-have accessory."
But now, a gripping ad campaign in the current issue of Harper's Bazaar showcases a new, heretofore undetected health risk for the elite supermodel: jaundiced yellow skin.
So far, this latest affliction (deemed "beyond glam" by fashion insiders) seems confined to high-fashion runway walkers and the pretentious designers who dress them, but there's no telling how soon it will spread to the pages of more lowbrow fashion advertisements, including (but not limited to) ads for Target, Contempo Casual, Dress Barn, H&M, and Sarah Jessica Parker's bargain basement line, "Bitten."
When reached for comment, bored, disinterested sounding fashionista types staunchly defended the new look, rolling their eyes and explaining in curt, matter-of-fact tones that, "Sallow is the new white."
More evidence of this shocking/controversial phenomenon, after the jump.
Unlike New York City mayors, who spend their spare time marrying their second-cousins, unofficially campaigning for the presidency and pissing off every race, gender and voting demographic with their mishandling of the Crown Heights riots, small town mayors are apparently concerned with the more important things in life. Like entering a nationwide popularity contest and competing for the right to host a noisy, Hollywood film premiere.
And while Springfield, Vermont ultimately beats out the competition, rival town Springfield, Illinois was initially unwilling to accept defeat.
• For a limited time only (a.k.a. until the release of The Simpsons movie) the retail chain formerly known as 7-Eleven will now be known as "Kwik-E-Mart," and will sell Squishees, Buzz cola, KrustyO's and other Simpsons inspired products. Which isn't blatant commercialism so much as "pop culture commenting on pop culture commenting on itself," explains a biased marketing exec. Plus a rare opportunity to make overweight cartoon enthusiasts even fatter.
• Brits trying to court US readers who fancy a tawdry sex scandal along with their morning tea.
• The iPhone is slightly less boring, equally as overpriced as it initially appears.
• WFAN fuels rumors that Don Imus may be unveiling some new racial epithets on a radio station near you.
• Jericho producers are planning a long future, which—in television lingo—means "more than seven shows."
During an uncharacteristic visit to Entertainment Weekly's website this morning, we came across an amazing piece of journalism in which EW editors confess their most embarrassing pop-culture blind spots.
And while we enjoyed reading Joshua Rich's apology for never having having watched The Simpsons ("The first nine chords of the theme song—you know, the notes I hear just after the news ends and just before I flip over to The Daily Show—they make The Simpsons sound so smart and funny") we were damn near blown away by Annie Barrett's musings on the incomprehensibility of mainstream music.
• Britney's rehab status is officially confirmed by the hardest working manager in Tinseltown.
• Meanwhile, with Britney jumping in and out of rehab, shaving her head and whatnot, K-Fed was forced to cancel his trip to Vegas and take care of the children.
• Sly Stallone is getting juiced, possibly preparing for Rocky X.
• Adrian Grenier is much better at being the Entourage hottie than he is at playing ukulele-inspired rock music.
• Oh no! A giant Hotel Gansevoort billboard is threatening to overtake the glorious Meatpacking landscape wasteland.
• After 18 mostly funny years, The Simpsons movie is finally (almost) here!
• Apparently, the new Atlantic editor James Bennet does have phone, and he's not afraid to use it. [NYO]
• Ok, seriously, Bush makes everyone want to puke. We want our news media to be fair, but they still have to be human. [Drudge]
• The Smoking Gun's Bill Bastone goes to NYU. So far we are the only bloggers left not to be invited back to our Alma Mater. Is it because we didn't go that whole "journalist" route? [WWM]
• People will seriously do anything to get on TV. And The Simpsons will to anything to get people to watch their show. [Boston Globe]
• OK! magazine reviews television shows without actually watching them. And nobody cares, along as we get Radar back. [WWD]
Editorial Director
