Ferrell brings Bush send-up to HBO Saturday night
3/12/2009"...as human beings we are capable of making sense of situations based on the thinnest slice of experience."
Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point.
DUBYA REDUX: Former president George W. Bush has slipped quietly into retirement, but Will Ferrell isn't letting him off the hook just yet. Ferrell's send-up of Bush during his Saturday Night Live days was as brilliant and snarky as any past presidential lampoons on the show. And the impersonation has only gotten better as he's honed it during a limited Broadway comedy show, You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George W. Bush. In perhaps a final parting shot at the ex-president, HBO is airing live Ferrell's second-to-last performance of the 90-minute show beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday. (KB)
DVD PICK OF THE WEEK: Also ... this week marks the 52nd anniversary of the Twenty One quiz-show scandal that rocked network TV. So, consider checking out the 1994 dramatic, engrossing, and surprisingly moving remembrance of said scandal, Quiz Show, a fine directorial effort by Robert Redford that's blessed by a strong cast, including Ralph Fiennes, Rob Morrow, and John Turturro. (KB)
WE CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!: Thin Slices hero Jon Stewart is going to have CNBC's Jim Cramer of Mad Money on his show Thursday night to throw down over their long running feud. The Daily Showhost teed off on Cramer and his CNBC pal Rick Santelli a few weeks ago and since then it's been potshots galore. That's what we call entertainment. Here's how it all started escalating. (RL)
JASMINE, YOU'RE FIRED: Oops, wrong reality show, but you get the point. Wild card choice Jasmine was the first contestant on American Idol to be voted off the island, er, we mean show. She got dinged for being a bit "robotic" and for not "bringing it." In the meantime, Wednesday night Ryan Seacrest announced a new AI rule that will allow the judges to "save" a contestant. (RL)
THOSE CRAZY SOUTH PARK GUYS: On the season premiere Wednesday night it looked like they were going to pick on the Jonas Brothers. Instead they took their whacks at... Mickey Mouse? Yep, and it worked. (RL)
POP GOES THE IDOL: American Idol plumbed the Michael Jackson songbook Tuesday night, which didn't go over so well for some of the contestants while others benefited. Here's a breakdown of how the kids are doing. And never forget the power of AI when it comes to snagging great ratings. (RL)
SANTINO, WE SALUTE YOU: Chimps have been getting a lot of bad press lately, but we here at Thin Slices think it's safe to say that humans are to blame. (High horse alert!) We lock them up, try to domesticate them, and essentially treat them like dumb dogs instead of the intelligent wild animals that they are. Santino fought back and taught scientists something in return. (RL)
GUT CHECK TIME: A London department store is launching a gut-cinching garment for men. But what do we call it? The man girdle? Mirdle? Either way, it doesn't seem like what we meant when we asked for help in these belt-tightening times. (RS)
THE WIZARD OF WOZ: Steve Wosniak might be a computer genius and an entrepreneurial god, but apparently he dances like a "Teletubby going mad." At least that's what one Dancing With the Stars judge said. (RL)
MAN UP, MEN: Esquire magazine has taken it upon itself to list the 75 albums "Every Man Should Own." Check it out and see where you stand. If you're a woman, I'm not sure what you should do. (RL)
BARBIE FIGHTS BACK: In Japan, Barbie's not real popular -- go figure -- but she's battling back with a full line of wedding gowns. Good for her. And, don't forget to wish her a happy 50th birthday. (RL)
UGLINESS UPDATE: The sheer nastiness of the Chris Brown vs. Rihanna domestic violence case has kept it out of the Thin Slices realm for the most part. There's obviously nothing funny about it. But here's an update, with Brown wanting to be charged for a simple misdemeanor. (RL)
DON'T CRY FOR JEWEL: Yes, and injury has forced her off Dancing With the Stars but at least she takes really cool vacations. (RL)
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