Oh, the humanity. I mean, I"ve always loved Martin Short’s work, but this was so funny I damn near cried. For those who don’t know, MS puts on what looks like about a hundred pounds of fake fat and plays this bizarre celebrity talk show host. IN the one I just saw, he’s recounting an experience directing George Wendt (who did that wonderful series that Jiminy Glick never got to see). At one point he’s so frustrated he says, "I must SPIN, to lose my sense of self!, and just whirls around about 5 times.
I DESPISE the way he modulates his voice - it’s like he’s taking Ed Grimley to the extreme - from falsetto to bass and back in the space of ten words. IRRITATING!
I love how he makes no bones about not having seen any of the things his guests have done. Take 'em down a notch. Too bad the REAL talk hosts don’t do this. (Of course, they wouldn’t be on the air long if they did.)
Yeah, Glick never sees any of the work his guests do. I’ve never been a fan of Short’s, but I have to admit, I do love those interviews. The rest of the show I could do without, but I think I’m gonna start taping the interviews. They’re priceless.
The first time I ever saw Martin Short’s show, I thought it was crap, but Jiminy was the straw that broke the camel’s back and pushed the show into the gagfest catagory for me. He’s so annoying and horrible and… annoying.
I didn’t find it even slightly funny. It’s Martin Short pretending to have never seen any of Tom Hank’s work… it’s not real, and so he’s just a jerk talking in a stupid voice to guest who look like they wish they were elsewhere.
Sorry, but colour me amazed that people like Jiminy Glick. I can’t think of anything more annoying.
I like Glick, too. I love it when his guests are openly hostile towards him. You should have seen him when he interviewed Conan O’Brian, and Conan stormed out in the middle of it. Freakin’ hilarious.
The sketchs between the interviews I could go either way on. Some of 'em are kinda funny, some of 'em are kinda lame.
BTW,
"I DESPISE the way he modulates his voice - it’s like he’s taking Ed Grimley to the extreme - from falsetto to bass and back in the space of ten words. IRRITATING! "
I’ve watched it once when Kathie Lee Gifford was on, just to see what would happen. She attacked him, and it was pretty funny. Other than that, it’s a complete waste of time. His portrayal reminds me of Jerry Lewis’s worst moments. Maybe he’s trying to compete with Adam Sandler!
My favorite part is when Glick is only familiar with one thing that the celebrity has done, and it’s some hoary chestnut that he/she thought had long since been stored in some “The-Public-Will-Never-Speak-Of-This-Again” vault of secrecy. He talks with Bill Mahr, and pulls “DC Cab” out of thin air. Mahr seemed genuinely amused with that being the one thing of his that Jiminy knew.
I think it’s something you either love or hate. I’d say Glick is pretty much in the slapstick genre, like the Three Stooges. The people who think Curley Howard is hilarious as he does his laundry in a golf-course ball-washer, singing merrily the while, are probably the same ones who like Glick. At least it’s certainly true in my case.
What I find interesting about it is trying to figure out how his guests feel about it. Are they enjoying the send up? Are they annoyed? It’s hard for me to tell, and it keeps me watching.
I actually find that amusing. Like he’s taking himself so seriously.
The sketch stuff I can take or leave. But I love “Adrian Van Vorheese & The Van Vorheese Seven.” Especially that woman in the back playing the bass… I just laugh every time I see her.
And of course the interviews. My two favorite lines…
Jiminy talking to Janeane Garofalo: “There’s so much I want to ask you…but…part of me just doesn’t care.”
And in the interview with Steve Martin:
Steve’s cell phone rings…
SM. [to Jiminy] Oh I’m sorry. Hold on one minute.
SM. [to phone] Hello.
Pause.
SM. The answer is C – Madagascar.