Last week I became reacquainted with an old friend: VH1's Best Week Ever,"" a recap of the week's best moments in pop culture, relayed by a gaggle of aging hipster comedians. A few years ago it was pretty flawless, and I never missed it. But since it changed its format and name to ""Best Week Ever with Paul F. Tompkins"" it has been pretty disappointing.
The commentary is still clever and probably the best way to quickly and hilariously catch up on pop culture, but with only one comedian directing the whole show, it often turns desperate. Of course, ""BWE"" is so hip that it makes a reference almost every week to the audience hating the new format.
I find this unbearably irritating. You don't get to make fun of us because your show became bad. Make fun of Britney's ""For the Record"" show and Sarah Palin having a turkey executed behind her all you want, but leave the viewer out of it. Proving that you understand audiences hate the new show doesn't suddenly make the show better. Self-reflexivity can only be clever for so long.
""Best Week Ever"" isn't the only show guilty of this. ""30 Rock,"" the best comedy on TV, has been pushing its luck with its slew of guest celebrities this season, enforcing the stereotype that ""30 Rock"" is ""hip"" because it self-references and mocks itself (TV show within a TV show, mixing old TV stars with new TV stars). By no means am I turning against ""30 Rock,"" but the show is four episodes in to the new season, and with all the waving around of guest stars, it hasn't had time to establish any storylines or relationships. So I give ""30 Rock"" a fair warning: Get over yourself and do what a TV show is supposed to do.
You want to know a television show that is absent of cynicism, reflexivity and snark? ""Pushing Daisies"" is a wonderful show on ABC that is interesting, inventive and heartwarming. Yet ""Daisies"" and ""DirtySexyMoney,"" another well-written show on ABC, were not picked up by ABC for another season. Meanwhile, three million medical and/or law shows remain on TV. Case in point, ""Private Practice"" will be replacing one of these ABC slots.
I blame you all, because for some reason even though we're in an economic depression, everyone would still rather watch kids with leukemia and court cases against strippers than light, whimsical programming. Come on, people, in ""Daisies,"" the guy can wake the dead with a touch of his hand! That's the kind of escapist TV we need right now! But instead we'd rather opt for cynical wit or doctors. I suppose that's why ""House"" is so popular.
To be fair, I'll admit that I found out about ""Pushing Daisies"" being canceled from none other than ""Best Week Ever."" But here's the oh-so-clever comment that Paul F. Tompkins made after ABC announced ""Daisies'"" cancellation: ""I guess people must have really hated the new format, sad.""
I hate you, ""Best Week Ever.""
