In which we tell you about awesome things that you must look into and enjoy.

THE HEART, SHE HOLLER

Unless you are a fan of Adult Swim, this may have flown under your radar. If you don’t like fluids, holes, or feeling violated on someone else’s behalf, steer clear. But if you enjoy having your wiener confused and questioning whether you took psychedelics earlier, don’t walk, run to this program.

Patton Oswalt Tries to Explain What The Show Is About. Start At 1:38.

“…imagine if you did a soap opera, and every morning you gave the writing staff, you put, just PCP in their coffee, and no matter what they wrote, you had to film it. That’s what this show would be.”

— Patton Oswalt

I’m not sure if the FCC has seen The Heart, She Holler, or if Adult Swim’s lawyers are so brilliant that they Jedi mind-tricked their way to airing. This program makes Children’s Hospital look like Grey’s Anatomy. In America, it’s impossible to air a sex scene that would show nudity, so the writers decide to use the darkest parts of your own mind against you. Can a penis consume steaks in order to keep the sexual desires of a person repressed? Will they show it? Of course not — but a close up on the actor’s contorted face while you hear slurping noises will haunt you in a far worse manner. It’s not the first program to “push the envelope,” but it seems like the writing staff is trying to alienate its own audience. Logically, no one should willingly subject themselves to this.

If Two and a Half Men control the escapee’s comedy, and Louie is the king of a “dark sense of humor,” prepare yourself for the weirdest 15 minutes of your life; the surreal comedy compares to programs like Mr. Show, Brass Eye, and Snuff Box. Through these programs, unlike The Heart, She Holler, I was able to understand what I was feeling. I’m not sure if I’m disturbed, traumatized, or enjoying it; I need someone else to explain my emotions to me.

The only thing I’m sure of is that I’m going to keep watching until I figure out if I’m repulsed or not. Care to join me?-TA

 ENLIGHTENED

        There is an increasing trend in comedies that blur the lines between what’s funny and what’s almost horrific to watch. They do this by taking Michael Scott level of awkwardness, de-cartooning it, and making it achingly real. I use the term comedy mostly because it’s in a half hour format, and that’s how television works. Genres are blending, and we should embrace that rather than freaking out that these shows aren’t broadcasting their punch lines. I don’t even mean in a non-laughtrack sort of way. You can watch Community, and still know exactly which part is a joke, and which part is a heartfelt moment. This new trend washes schadenfreude all over you, and expects you to wallow in it. Let it. Enlightened is certainly in that category, where many who watch it turn and ask, is this funny? I assure you it is, just remove yourself (if possible) from the situations. Laura Dern and Mike White have created a world exactly like ours, down to every boring little fake work interaction, but then throw a wrench in the gears: what if someone stops playing by the accepted boring rules? Dern’s character isn’t wacky, and she certainly won’t make you reconsider life in a Manic Pixie sort of way. But she will hit you right in the soul with her self-absorbed desire to better herself, and sometimes those around her.Also, it’s over so go burn through the two seasons so you can bitch about it getting cancelled too soon.

Watch if you like: Girls, Louie

-MG