Previewing Are We There Yet? 2.x

For those that are wondering where did all the situation comedies you grew up go? Well they have gone to TBS. The one they isn’t brought to you by Tyler Perry, Are We There Yet? returns tonight for a second season with back to back episodes starting at 10:00 (and will probably be a better lead in for Conan than The Jay Leno Hour was, at least he won’t have to compete with them for guests).

Unlike the movie, the “There” in the title is metaphorical and the Kingston—Persons clan is still trying to get there. They may get closer with Nick’s new job as a sports reporter, but thoughts of interviewing Pete Carroll are quickly dashed when he gets his first assignment. And a wretch gets thrown in when Charlie Murphy (Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories) returns as Suzanne’s ex-husband. Also returning tonight is Ice Cube as her black ops brother who needs help throwing maybe the funniest bachelor party ever.

In the second episode tonight, the kids find Nick’s old box of VHS tapes and amazed to learn they actually let black people on network television in the eighties. The final scene includes the funniest scene you will see all week. Also showing up later this season is Sandy “Pepa” Denton, Wayne Brady, Toccara Jones, Michael Strahan, Lil JJ, and David Rasche who will know better as Sledgehammer! (And if you have never seen Sledgehammer! we cannot be friends).

Are We There Yet? airs Wednesdays at 10:00 and 10:30 on TBS.

You're Living in a Cartoon World

Some might wonder what purpose does The Ricky Gervais Show on television serve. Well first it is for those fans of Gervais that have yet discovered the wonders of the internet or just think you must have an iPod to listen to a podcast. Then there are people like me that listen to their podcasts while exercising and looks like a fool enough doing that, adding in laughing out loud randomly would actually make me look worse.

For those unaware of the podcast or the subsequent HBO animated version, Ricky Gervais (who also serves as his own person laugh track )and his The Office and Extras collaborator Stephen Merchant basically just make fun of radio producer Karl Pilkington, his absurdly bizarre theories and perfectly round head. This includes regular features where Merchant reads straight from Karl’s diary and Monkey News where Karl retells a story about monkeys doing amazing (and likely made up like being a winning horse jokey) things that then Ricky taunts Karl for believing.

If you listened to the podcast, the animated series doesn’t add much as it just takes the podcast and put it to quite literal animation with Karl looking like an adult Charlie Brown, Ricky looks like a modern day Fred Flintstone (both of which get mention, the latter mostly because Karl starts to believe The Flintstones was based on historical fact). But it is a find for anyone who missed the podcast or is just a Gervais fanatic. The DVD features all thirteen HBO episodes across two DVD. There isn’t much in the way of special features, there is a bonus Gala animation and you can view one of the episode storyboard.

The second season of The Ricky Gervais Show premieres January 14 at 9:00 on HBO. Below is a synopsis of The Ricky Gervais Show The Complete First Season which you can own it on DVD starting today (1/4):

From the creators of the smash-hit series The Office and Extras and based on the original record-breaking podcasts, comes the new animated comedy series, The Ricky Gervais Show. The series is an animated version of the original podcasts that earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most downloads. It is voiced by Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and colleague and friend Karl Pilkington whose offbeat musings inspire many of the storylines which include the merits of 20th century inventions; Karl’s suggestion for population control; how philosophy has evolved through the ages and not forgetting Karl’s perfectly round head!

Full Disclosure Notice: This DVD was given to me on behalf of Warner Bros. for the purpose of reviewing the season.