I finished up watching the second season of Dead Like Me this afternoon. I was so worried that I was going to get to the end of it and be royally pissed like I was with the US version of Life on Mars.
I do know that there is some sort of follow-up movie to DLM, but to be honest, I don't think it will be the same without Mandy Patinkin. Of course, I'll eventually see it but I suspect it won't be for a few years - if I stay par for my course of things like this.
Anyway, if you aren't familiar with it, a girl gets killed by a toilet seat that fell from a Soviet Mir Space Station and considering this little incident takes place in the first episode, you'd think it would be the end of the show. Instead, she has been selected to be a Reaper and go around taking the souls of people who are about to die. Very kind indeed.
If ya need to know more, read about it here and if you want to see it, check it out on Hulu.
Last night was also the final episode of the season for Rescue Me, the show with Denis Leary that my wife and I just love. Great finale which I won't spoil in case you have not checked your DVR yet. The only good thing about this being the end of the season is that now we can start watching Sons of Anarchy. Can't wait.
We have been watching Nurse Jackie and Hung. Both of them are half hour shows that should really be hour long episodes, but it does make it easier to fit them in to our schedule of limited TV watching times.
I have written previously, not very glowingly I might add, about the local to San Antonio show that comes on late Saturday nights called The Cleto Show. I have several of the episodes saved on the DVR and just haven't gotten to them. This is one show that took my wife all of the first five minutes to completely swear off of. I think it was the third or fourth episode that I was skimming through where I realized that it might be slightly funny, and at very minimum, the supporting actors on the show are very funny.
There was some guy who commented on my original post about the Cleto Show who probably worked for the producers. His comments and my subsequent fisking thereof, were probably more entertaining than the show itself; but again, I continue to hang on to the chance that Cleto will turn out to be a very funny show worth recommending. I'll let you know when I get around to watching the rest of the season. One thing for sure is that Cleto does not mind being the butt of the joke, and that is a good thing.
So I have already received a few suggestions for my next series to watch while hitting the treadmill. My sister suggested Buffy the Vampire or something like that. I'll have to commence searching through the selections on Hulu (they should start paying me for these plugs, but really, I just love that web page) and see what sparks an interest.
Or, I could just get some suggestions from you folks... Tell me what I need to watch next or leave a comment below.
Dave
Your Host
Showing posts with label Cleto Rodriguez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cleto Rodriguez. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
TV Report Update: The Cleto Show...
So call me a glutton for punishment or just someone who is willing to give a show a few shots, but I let the DVR roll last night for The Cleto Show. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, see my first report here. Oh, and be sure to check out the comments - someone was pretty offended that I didn't just rave about our own home grown Cleto Rodriguez.
Anyway, the news is good. I can say with all honesty that I had two full belly laughs and numerous smiles during last nights show. And for me, that is pretty good. I'm one of those people who can find something amusing without busting a gut for the next thirty seconds.
Anyway, the opening scene has Cleto and his trusty agent Jesus (I'll just call him Jesus, though we understand his real name is Tommy) in a restaurant ordering an assload of tacos when they are joined by the mother with infant and grandmother. Of course the grandmother yells at Cleto for being a Gordo.
Anyway, a waitress comes up and asks for an autograph and goes on and on about how she likes the show. When Cleto acknowledges that he is the celebrity, the waitress ignores him and seeks Jesus' autograph. It was actually well done and I give props to the abuelita for her comedic timing and the waitress for her solid portrayal as a, well, waitress. Especially funny was the mother pouring Big Red into the baby bottle. If you aren't from San Antonio, you may not catch the local stereotype, but it is damn funny and quite accurate.
My wife and I both got a giggle from the whole thing.
Next, we are on the set of Cleto's new theater and he is interviewing Whoopi Goldberg . In fact, it actually goes off pretty smoothly, and was very well edited (compared to the webisode version), accept for the fact that my wife tells me that it really isn't Whoopi. Of course, what do I know?
Next thing you know, the tape pauses and we are in the Hollywood producer's office and he is chastising Jesus and Cleto for using an impersonator. Friends, it was funny and it worked.
For quite some time, the show does a segment about Fiesta and hits the local parades and events with lots of stuff that is pretty typical of San Antonio, enough to generate a smirk or a nod of understanding. For some reason, the focus was more on Jesus instead of Cleto, highlighting an increasing stack of beer cups and the different antics fat drunk guys perform while getting liquored up at Fiesta. Not that I would know.
Anyway, we cut away to some random backyard party where Cleto is doing comedy stand-up. I'm sorry to report, this was the least funniest bit of the show. Not that Cleto isn't cleaver, but from a TV production aspect, it was just not done well at all.
First of all, stand-up sometimes has to be propped up by the energy from the audience. In this case, the microphone sound was on Cleto but you could only faintly hear the audience (all six of them?) Secondly, behind Cleto were real party goers at the party this scene was filmed at, who clearly were more interested in picking up each other rather than listening to what Cleto had to say. Surely a stage manager could have asked the people to move away from the set or at least pretend to enjoy the routine.
Actually, he had several solidly funny jokes, but again, it was the production quality that just sucked. Work on it, people.
Finally, we find that a now 'faced Jesus, complete with Fiesta-stacked beer cups is going to to interview George Lopez. Cleto can't make it so he prays for Jesus to have some common sense. Of course, we learn that George Lopez is actually a police officer named , really, George Lopez, and we find ourselves back in the producers office looking at the tape and smacking Jesus and Cleto for being stupid.
It was again, slightly humorous.
In the end, our friend Jesus nurses his hangover with lots of menudo and water and we all live happily ever after.
I do enjoy the stereotypes of life in San Antonio. That alone makes it worth trying to stick it out for another show. The down side is, I find myself more interested in what Jesus and the producer are doing, and a lot less interested in Cleto, the star of the show.
This is the fault of the writers and the producers.
Did you see last night's Cleto Show? Will I get another round of scorching comments from Ricardo Montalban? Can't wait.
Anyway, the news is good. I can say with all honesty that I had two full belly laughs and numerous smiles during last nights show. And for me, that is pretty good. I'm one of those people who can find something amusing without busting a gut for the next thirty seconds.
Anyway, the opening scene has Cleto and his trusty agent Jesus (I'll just call him Jesus, though we understand his real name is Tommy) in a restaurant ordering an assload of tacos when they are joined by the mother with infant and grandmother. Of course the grandmother yells at Cleto for being a Gordo.
Anyway, a waitress comes up and asks for an autograph and goes on and on about how she likes the show. When Cleto acknowledges that he is the celebrity, the waitress ignores him and seeks Jesus' autograph. It was actually well done and I give props to the abuelita for her comedic timing and the waitress for her solid portrayal as a, well, waitress. Especially funny was the mother pouring Big Red into the baby bottle. If you aren't from San Antonio, you may not catch the local stereotype, but it is damn funny and quite accurate.
My wife and I both got a giggle from the whole thing.
Next, we are on the set of Cleto's new theater and he is interviewing Whoopi Goldberg . In fact, it actually goes off pretty smoothly, and was very well edited (compared to the webisode version), accept for the fact that my wife tells me that it really isn't Whoopi. Of course, what do I know?
Next thing you know, the tape pauses and we are in the Hollywood producer's office and he is chastising Jesus and Cleto for using an impersonator. Friends, it was funny and it worked.
For quite some time, the show does a segment about Fiesta and hits the local parades and events with lots of stuff that is pretty typical of San Antonio, enough to generate a smirk or a nod of understanding. For some reason, the focus was more on Jesus instead of Cleto, highlighting an increasing stack of beer cups and the different antics fat drunk guys perform while getting liquored up at Fiesta. Not that I would know.
Anyway, we cut away to some random backyard party where Cleto is doing comedy stand-up. I'm sorry to report, this was the least funniest bit of the show. Not that Cleto isn't cleaver, but from a TV production aspect, it was just not done well at all.
First of all, stand-up sometimes has to be propped up by the energy from the audience. In this case, the microphone sound was on Cleto but you could only faintly hear the audience (all six of them?) Secondly, behind Cleto were real party goers at the party this scene was filmed at, who clearly were more interested in picking up each other rather than listening to what Cleto had to say. Surely a stage manager could have asked the people to move away from the set or at least pretend to enjoy the routine.
Actually, he had several solidly funny jokes, but again, it was the production quality that just sucked. Work on it, people.
Finally, we find that a now 'faced Jesus, complete with Fiesta-stacked beer cups is going to to interview George Lopez. Cleto can't make it so he prays for Jesus to have some common sense. Of course, we learn that George Lopez is actually a police officer named , really, George Lopez, and we find ourselves back in the producers office looking at the tape and smacking Jesus and Cleto for being stupid.
It was again, slightly humorous.
In the end, our friend Jesus nurses his hangover with lots of menudo and water and we all live happily ever after.
I do enjoy the stereotypes of life in San Antonio. That alone makes it worth trying to stick it out for another show. The down side is, I find myself more interested in what Jesus and the producer are doing, and a lot less interested in Cleto, the star of the show.
This is the fault of the writers and the producers.
Did you see last night's Cleto Show? Will I get another round of scorching comments from Ricardo Montalban? Can't wait.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
TV Report: The Cleto Rodriguez Show...
Those of you not living in San Antonio are automatically excluded from the chance to set your DVR's for the local Fox station, 11:30PM, Sunday nights. The rest of you, go ahead, do your San Antonio duty and record The Cleto Show. Not because you will want to watch it, but because I'm sure it will somehow turn into a localized drinking game. And you wouldn't want to miss that.
I think it was last Friday when I was driving to work and had the radio tuned into the Big 99, listening to John Lisle get really upset during an interview with Cleto and his sidekick Jesus (really Tommy, but the show required him to use the name Jesus). Cleto and Jesus were talking up the big new show with lots of giggles and forced belly laughs as Lisle tried to ask some serious question about whether or not Eva Longoria Parker was somehow actually involved in the venture. They seemed squeamish in their response. But, as we found out last night, in the same way actress Sandra Bullock took on the benefactor role for the George Lopez Show, Tony Parker's wife has added her name to Cleto as Executive Producer. It must be nice to have disposable income.
We want so much to love, no, even like this show. It is based on life in San Antonio and of course, lots of local shots of the city. They even were able to slip in a reference to the much hated, but appropriate reference to our city, Fat Antonio.
Oh, did I mention that Cleto is a man of my size - meaning he could stand to lose 50 pounds if he knew what was good for him - and his cohort Jesus (played by Tommy) is clearly, morbidly obese. This isn't a slam on fat people, it really is typical of San Antonio and I liked that about the show.
The show has these two guys discussing the concept for the Cleto Show with some slender Hollywood type. He tells them they both need to lose some weight. So for the next few minutes, we see YouTube quality video of two fat guys trying to do pull-ups, run, and stretch. Oh, and we even have a flashback scene to school when the young Cleto, a portly 5th grader or so, is taunted by his coach to do a single chin-up. He can't (of course, the little kid weighs-in at an easy buck-fifty in the 5th grade) and the kids around him laugh. All the kids except of course his, back then, tall and slender friend Jesus (played by Tommy).
The show goes into a commercial break and for no apparent reason or any relation to the episode, comes back in a brief concert by Los Lobos performing in Austin. WTF? No, really; WTF?
Next, we find Cleto on stage at a comedy club attempting one liners. When he looks into the crowd, there is no crowd. Instead, he is heckled by an old lady calling him Panson. He tries to tell another joke and some other lady heckles him. After a third joke, it is his gym coach heckling him.
We then are taken back to the playground where Jesus (played by Tommy) whispers in his ear "Confidence". Well let me just point out that, though not a sponsor for the show, Cavender Cadillac got a good free plug. Anyone in San Antonio knows that the Cavender family uses Cavender is Confidence as their tag line, and honestly, I kept expecting Billy Cavender with his big handlebar mustache to show-up in an Escalade. Instead, Jesus (played by Tommy) whispered "Confidence" as he helped Cleto hoist himself up for a complete chin-up.
Next thing you know, Cleto is out at Woodlawn Lake running laps and jumping over people who all give him the thumbs up and shout, "We love your show Cleto." Aside from the time travel problem, the whole thing is just creepy. Let's hope all of those people were relatives, and none of them were paid. Otherwise, Mrs Parker might need to see receipts.
At the end of Cleto's big run around the lake, he ends up on top of some famous hill in San Antonio (the street name escapes me) where we see a really nice view of the city skyline. It is nice. Jesus (played by Tommy) drapes a City of San Antonio flag (yes, we do have an official flag for the City of San Antonio) and in Rocky Balboa style, Cleto raises his sweaty arms in victory.
In the following scene, Cleto and Jesus (you know, Tommy) are back in the office of the Hollywood slim guy and Cleto demands to do the show on his terms and chides him never to call San Antonio "Fat Antonio" again.
And of course, the final scene has Cleto and Tommy (or was it Jesus) stuffing their fat faces with beautiful enchiladas, tacos, rice and beans from La Fonda.
Okay, the last scene made me hungry. Aside from that, the show has no redeeming qualities at all.
In the same way that Seinfeld (hmmm, and why does Seinfeld seem so familiar?) shows outdoor scenes of NYC between scenes, Cleto shows various shots of the River Walk and the downtown area. Only apparently, Mrs. Parker only sprung for the home video version, because they look really cheesy and low quality. Honestly, could we have not purchased some stock footage from the NBA? Whenever there is a national Spurs game on TV, they have really awesome quality shots of the city and the river walk.
I plan to continue taping the show in hopes that within a few weeks, I can write a follow-up telling you that the show has gotten better. But in a way, I can now appreciate why John Lisle was so upset with these two jackasses. He had seen the Pilot and knew just how bad it really was. Hopefully, it will transform into a talk show and not the little skit we saw Sunday night.
Did you see it? Are you Cleto, Googling for reviews? Tell me what you thought of the show or leave a comment here.
I think it was last Friday when I was driving to work and had the radio tuned into the Big 99, listening to John Lisle get really upset during an interview with Cleto and his sidekick Jesus (really Tommy, but the show required him to use the name Jesus). Cleto and Jesus were talking up the big new show with lots of giggles and forced belly laughs as Lisle tried to ask some serious question about whether or not Eva Longoria Parker was somehow actually involved in the venture. They seemed squeamish in their response. But, as we found out last night, in the same way actress Sandra Bullock took on the benefactor role for the George Lopez Show, Tony Parker's wife has added her name to Cleto as Executive Producer. It must be nice to have disposable income.
We want so much to love, no, even like this show. It is based on life in San Antonio and of course, lots of local shots of the city. They even were able to slip in a reference to the much hated, but appropriate reference to our city, Fat Antonio.
Oh, did I mention that Cleto is a man of my size - meaning he could stand to lose 50 pounds if he knew what was good for him - and his cohort Jesus (played by Tommy) is clearly, morbidly obese. This isn't a slam on fat people, it really is typical of San Antonio and I liked that about the show.
The show has these two guys discussing the concept for the Cleto Show with some slender Hollywood type. He tells them they both need to lose some weight. So for the next few minutes, we see YouTube quality video of two fat guys trying to do pull-ups, run, and stretch. Oh, and we even have a flashback scene to school when the young Cleto, a portly 5th grader or so, is taunted by his coach to do a single chin-up. He can't (of course, the little kid weighs-in at an easy buck-fifty in the 5th grade) and the kids around him laugh. All the kids except of course his, back then, tall and slender friend Jesus (played by Tommy).
The show goes into a commercial break and for no apparent reason or any relation to the episode, comes back in a brief concert by Los Lobos performing in Austin. WTF? No, really; WTF?
Next, we find Cleto on stage at a comedy club attempting one liners. When he looks into the crowd, there is no crowd. Instead, he is heckled by an old lady calling him Panson. He tries to tell another joke and some other lady heckles him. After a third joke, it is his gym coach heckling him.
We then are taken back to the playground where Jesus (played by Tommy) whispers in his ear "Confidence". Well let me just point out that, though not a sponsor for the show, Cavender Cadillac got a good free plug. Anyone in San Antonio knows that the Cavender family uses Cavender is Confidence as their tag line, and honestly, I kept expecting Billy Cavender with his big handlebar mustache to show-up in an Escalade. Instead, Jesus (played by Tommy) whispered "Confidence" as he helped Cleto hoist himself up for a complete chin-up.
Next thing you know, Cleto is out at Woodlawn Lake running laps and jumping over people who all give him the thumbs up and shout, "We love your show Cleto." Aside from the time travel problem, the whole thing is just creepy. Let's hope all of those people were relatives, and none of them were paid. Otherwise, Mrs Parker might need to see receipts.
At the end of Cleto's big run around the lake, he ends up on top of some famous hill in San Antonio (the street name escapes me) where we see a really nice view of the city skyline. It is nice. Jesus (played by Tommy) drapes a City of San Antonio flag (yes, we do have an official flag for the City of San Antonio) and in Rocky Balboa style, Cleto raises his sweaty arms in victory.
In the following scene, Cleto and Jesus (you know, Tommy) are back in the office of the Hollywood slim guy and Cleto demands to do the show on his terms and chides him never to call San Antonio "Fat Antonio" again.
And of course, the final scene has Cleto and Tommy (or was it Jesus) stuffing their fat faces with beautiful enchiladas, tacos, rice and beans from La Fonda.
Okay, the last scene made me hungry. Aside from that, the show has no redeeming qualities at all.
In the same way that Seinfeld (hmmm, and why does Seinfeld seem so familiar?) shows outdoor scenes of NYC between scenes, Cleto shows various shots of the River Walk and the downtown area. Only apparently, Mrs. Parker only sprung for the home video version, because they look really cheesy and low quality. Honestly, could we have not purchased some stock footage from the NBA? Whenever there is a national Spurs game on TV, they have really awesome quality shots of the city and the river walk.
I plan to continue taping the show in hopes that within a few weeks, I can write a follow-up telling you that the show has gotten better. But in a way, I can now appreciate why John Lisle was so upset with these two jackasses. He had seen the Pilot and knew just how bad it really was. Hopefully, it will transform into a talk show and not the little skit we saw Sunday night.
Did you see it? Are you Cleto, Googling for reviews? Tell me what you thought of the show or leave a comment here.
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About Your Host
- Dave
- San Antonio, TX, United States
- I love to observe the odd things happening around me as I go about my day. I especially like it when I can get a picture of people being themselves. Here, I attempt to report the various people and events I have encountered in my neighborhood, and my city. I'd also love to hear from you. Feel free to e-mail your experiences and photos of life in San Antonio.
