By Melissa Antoinette Garza
If you’re like me, television is becoming less and less appealing. Very few shows are funny. Sure there’s The League, NTSF SD SUV, and Community but other than that TV is just lame. I don’t care how quirky Zoey Deschanel, I have no desire to watch her precocious antics every week. I get that The Big Bang Theory is popular, but I’ve never understood that either. Honestly, most of the time, I find myself questioning why I have cable. I miss good TV.
Thankfully, I have found where all the comedy geniuses are hiding. They’re online.
It started when I was introduced to the Angry Video Game Nerd. Other than Super Mario Bros. and the original Pitfall, I’ve never been big into video games. When I was a child, I loved Atari and I enjoyed playing Nintendo, but after that, I was done. Still, these game reviews are hilarious. James Rolfe who portrays the nerd does an amazing job. His outbursts are hilarious. His thoughts on the games are usually dead on and his delivery is fantastic. There is something quite endearing about the AVGN. I cannot wait for the movie to be released!
James Rolfe also does a skit called Board James where he reviews board games. Those are my personal favorites. The Mr. Bucket and Dream Phone sketches are funnier than SNL at its best.
Next, I was introduced to The Nostalgia Critic who is portrayed by Doug Walker. I am someone who is very nostalgic. There are horrible movies that I loved as a child and because of such, I own them. I hate them now, but I need to possess them because it brings me back to a good part of my childhood.
Everything about the critic is hilarious. The anger he exhibits towards movies that he dislikes is expressed in such a funny manner. I feel that words can’t do justice to Walker’s performance. At times, films are so horrible that it seems to make the critic insane. Sometimes he just laughs in a menacingly way as he destroys the film; other times he’ll start crying; sometimes, he’ll actually try to escape doing the review, only to be brought back and forced to continue.
For a long time, there was a “rivalry” (completely staged of course) between The Nostalgia Critic and the Angry Video Game Nerd. This definitely brought the best out of both parties. Their epic battle is ingenious. If you’re asking yourself, “does it involve light sabers?” Yes, yes it does.
Last but certainly not least, my husband introduced me to the work of Brad Jones. He often portrays the Cinema Snob who in a very arrogant and holier-than-thou fashion talks about movies that are below par. Have you heard of the 1991 Terminator remake? Neither did I, but the Cinema Snob has. Many of his picks are very low-budget horror movies. One of my favorites, Video Violence gets torn apart by the Snob….but he made me laugh, so that’s all that matters.
Jones also does a review series as himself where he discusses bootleg DVDs. Many of them are Super Christian productions that put down everything fun. Music, toys, cartoons, soap operas and commercials are all targets. Thankfully, Jones doesn’t put up with the nonsense and points out the hypocrisy, ridiculousness, and often insanity of those who hold issue with shows as tame as The Smurfs or as cool as ThunderCats.
On a side note, I must admit I got way too excited when Jones mentioned Patch and Kayla from Days of Our Lives in an episode. That was awesome!
I absolutely love this trio of gents. They’re hilarious and so talented. I love when they do crossover episodes. To have one talented person is a rarity, when they get together to do shows, I’m vamped!
Why is it that we’re stuck all this unfunny, awful crap on TV when insightful, smart and witty people like these exist? Why aren’t they on TV? I wouldn’t mind spending $100 a month for cable if I could watch TV shows with these guys!
If you haven’t already – seek these people out. Talent does still exist! It’s just in a different forum.
