Grid Effect

Another slow TV weekend. In terms of scripted series, the most riveting TV I saw was a Sopranos trailer. And that actually came immediately before an HBO special, wher Jerry Seinfeld was presented with the first annual Comedian Award. Normally I would never watch something like this, but since it was on HBO and I had been playing football all day, my energy was at a cautionary low and couldn’t afford to do much else.

This wasn’t a typical award presentation, nor was it what I initially believed it would be: a roast; HBO had Robert Klein (older generation), Chris Rock (younger generation) and Gary Shandling (Seinfeld’s peer) join Seinfeld on stage with moderator Anderson Cooper (what?) to talk shop for about forty minutes before some figurehead at HBO did the actual presenting of this manufactured Comedian Award (Ironically enough, Seinfeld had laid into the cluelessness of hollywood executives only twenty minutes beforehand).

At first I was surprised all three of the guests agreed to participate in this. Honestly, why would the three of them want to come on national television and figuratively tickle Seinfelds balls for an hour? But stand-up comedians are the probably the closest knit fraternity in show business. There seems to be a profound sense of respect and admiration these four had for each other. And I am sure the nature of their profession is directly related to whatever bond they may have formed over the years, as it unique to almost any other profession, entertainment industry or otherwise.

And, as one would expect, anytime you can get multiple comedians in a televised conversation/interview, it is always worth watching. Ricky Gervais interviewed Larry David for his show in London and it was probably the funniest thing I have seen all year (Note: this interview is on Youtube and is divided into five parts, the links for the other four are in the right hand column). Professional comedians have a certain ebb and flow when they get together that is astonishing to witness, their minds are somewhat twisted so rarely can they see eye-to-eye with an entertainment journalist or someone of that nature and the interview is always comprised of nervous, non-responsive laughter by the interviewer.

But anyhow, the event turned out to be a successful telecast. All four comedians had their moments (with Gary Shandling probably having more than his fair share) and Cooper did a decent job conducting the interview. I personally have never been the biggest fan of Seinfeld’s stand up routine. But Seinfeld? That’s an entirely different story. His and Larry David’s series has been just as influential for sitcoms as The Sopranos has been for dramatic series’.

The only problem being, instead of inspiring innovative comedy, Seinfeld has precipitated several desperate replications, looking to capitalize on the same premise with slight modifications. Where as The Sopranos, as discussed before on this sight, has resulted in something of a small screen revolution, wherein networks are more susceptible to taking risks with creative storytelling and introspective character development as opposed to the hodge podge slew of criminal investigation shows we are accustom too (I’m looking at you, CBS).

Maybe last nights special will invoke some young, thoughtful writer/producer to piece together a series that doesn’t revolve around thirty something’s hanging out and making insipid conversation about their jobs/boyfriends and/or girlfriends. But let’s just say I am not holding my breath. If nothing else, last night made me nostalgic for a day when the number one sitcom on television was not Two and A Half Men, and a series like Arrested Development wasn’t taken off the air in its prime.