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« Roush Dispatch
Critics' Notebook: Laughs Abound on Monday
Sarah Chalke and Josh Radnor in How I Met Your Mother by Monty Brinton/CBS
Since there seems to be some division in the office today on Monday night's CSI-style Two and a Half Men, I'll respectfully part company with Cheers & Jeers and give the episode a tentative thumbs-up.
The tweaking of the theme song with a little taste of The Who? Sweet. The graphic CSI-shots following all manner of food down Jake's gullet into his stomach, culminating in the mother of all fart jokes? Genius. Yes, I've previously come out against flatulence humor in general — and in particular on Boston Legal — but keep in mind that where young Jake is concerned, this is the epitome of humor, and watching his bubble of gas from the inside was inspired. And what about the moment when the CSIs look for traces of semen in the crime scene of Charlie's bedroom (!) and the room lights up "like a Jackson Pollack painting." Very funny, in classically grody Two and a Half Men fashion.
Less inspired: every joke involving the word "hoo-hoo." Again, comes with the territory here, but this can't help but invite pot shots at the show's overall leering smarminess. And while George Eads' cameo was surprisingly pointless, the Marg Helgenberger look-alike was a treat.
The interrogations were a fun change of pace, and besides, any chance to integrate Holland Taylor and Conchata Farrell more fully into any episode is always welcome for me. I'm not sure why Evelyn was singing The Man I Love and Unchained Melody at the piano at her own reception, but Taylor is always a scream. (Also laughed when she was asked if it was her lipstick on you-know-what and she scoffed to the police, "Oh God no, I'd rather drink your coffee.")
All things considered, and as sweeps stunts go, this lived up to the billing, as far as I'm concerned. But since this writers' crossover was first announced, I've much more eagerly been anticipating this Thursday's CSI episode written by Two and a Half Men's team — if only for the symbolic payback of dispatching a demanding sitcom diva to the great beyond.
Was Two and a Half Men the night's funniest outing? Not when The Big Bang Theory (introducing Sheldon's improbably stunning twin sister, an amusingly alluring object of desire for all the other geeks) and especially How I Met Your Mother are on such high-quality rolls.
On Mother, I loved seeing Will Forte unshackled from the current mediocrity of Saturday Night Live and given a truly funny character to play: Randy, the hapless "rebound bro" reluctantly recruited by a despondent and desperate Barney to be his new post-Ted wingman. Barney knew nerdy Randy wasn't suitable for being called up to the majors: "This slot is VP of awesome, and you're like assistant undersecretary of only OK." But Randy gave it his creepy best: "Dripping with game," he boasted, but it was more like nose-dripping with blood and flop-sweating with anxiety. On the Ted front: love him and Stella (the beyond-charming Sarah Chalke). If she's not the one, who is?
Still, my fave moment of laughter of the entire night came from an unexpected source: the pre-credits opening of an excellent and heartfelt episode of Bones, when Bones laughs uncontrollably at Booth's theory that the bizarrely contorted skeleton they're viewing could have ended up in its current state by being rolled up in a carpet. She literally is guffawing in this scene (well played, Emily Deschanel), prompting grumpy prosecutor Caroline to declare, "I did not know she could laugh." I'd like to see more of that, myself.
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May 6, 2008 1:56 PM
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I am with you Matt; loved the CSI take on Men. Loved the opening song all the way to the end. Only downer is that they killed off Robert Wagner...been my fav actor since It takes a Thief....
Can't wait for CSI this week. Also loved Big Bang...that show always entertains me as I personallly know people just like Sheldon...
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May 6, 2008 4:11 PM
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I was hoping you'd have some kind words for "Bones" after such an excellent episode. This is truly the best procedural on the air in terms of character development -- and by a mile.
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May 6, 2008 4:32 PM
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Loved 2 1/2 Men - thought it was very well done and totally ridiculous in appropriate 2 1/2 Men fashion!
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May 6, 2008 4:37 PM
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Courtney Henggeler was a great find for Big Bang Theory. They should consider finding a way to move Sheldon's sis to the area and adding her as a regular next season. It'd give Penny a believable friend that's still connected to the neighbors; Sheldon, another foil; and Raj, a potential love interest where his inability to talk keeps mines the laughs and keeps it in the "potential" stage for some time to come.
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May 6, 2008 5:08 PM
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I agree, Matt, about Bones. The person who could keep from laughing at that opening scene has surely not been born!
And this is a "crime" show!
Great episode.
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May 6, 2008 5:55 PM
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I loved the opening scene in Bones, too! It was quite a contrast to the emotional rest of the episode, but one reason I love Bones is because it blends comedy and drama so effortlessly.
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May 6, 2008 9:23 PM
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Thanks for mentioning BONES. That was a wonderful episode! It had humor, heartache and love.
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May 6, 2008 10:16 PM
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I loved 2 1/2 Men too and thought the CSI people did a great job - in pure 2 1/2 Men fashion - though HATED that Robert Wagner was killed off but what a hoot of a way to have it happen. Matt, do you know if they were planning on writing Wagner out anyway?? Never could have expected this outcome. Didn't get the George Eads cameo at ALL but guess it was just meant as a shout out to CSI. Didn't notice there was a Marg Hellenberger look alike but then you probably caught it while you were agreeing with Charlie on her tank top being distracting!! Can't wait to see how they handle CSI on Thursday. That rubber chicken in the promos seems dumb to me so hope it fits in the show better.
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May 6, 2008 11:59 PM
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We also loved that Bones opening, but were disappointed they never explained that skeleton! We want answers!!! Overall VERY good epi.
As for 2.5 Men, we were howling the whole time and had to rewind several times to catch all the jokes we missed. And we really enjoyed the "distracting boobs" and "is that tank top police issue" comments. We've also said those same things several times over the years while watching the various CSI's, especially CSI:Miami.
Agreed, pity they killed off Teddy as we also love Robert Wagner's acting.
Can't wait for the 2.5 Men writer's take on CSI. We just hope Grissom's throw-away line in the preview about "drama is easy but comedy is hard" doesn't presage a problem with that epi. Here's hoping they have the right mix of comedy and drama!
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May 7, 2008 1:32 PM
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Big Bang is losing steam for me. Sheldon is generally as hilarious as ever, but Leonard is coming off whinier and a bit creepier then I remember.
HIMYM is better then ever, though! "Their... meat is delicious," has to be one of the best lines in the series. I hope we see Randy again, and Stella is the only thing making pouTed bearable.
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May 7, 2008 7:48 PM
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I have a quick question and I hope someone can answer this for me since we are sort of talking about CSI. What happened to the CSI Blog/RECAP? They have every show (even the ones who are very low in the ratings) but the CSI's recap has disappeared. 
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May 9, 2008 1:51 PM
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you forgot about samantha who?
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May 9, 2008 4:37 PM
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