The funniest show on TV right now...

Last night, the Writer's Guild awards named Modern Family best new show, a title I think it more than deserves. I've recently gotten found more and more people that are getting hooked to this show. Which is great, because I truly believe it might be the funniest show on television right now.

I think what's most great about the show is that it started off so well. That first episode was perfectly crafted. The humor was already in place and all the characters were fleshed out. I really felt like this family had been around the whole time, only we were just now getting to peak into there lives. Most comedies take a bit of time to develop and get to that place where the whole show truly works. Look at how shows such as The Office and Parks and Recreation took time to build. But Modern Family hit the ball out of the park right from the beginning. There are so many great characters I couldn't even begin to choose who's the best. A great problem to have.

With its success at the WGA awards, I think there might be a new best comedy in town. Better watch your back 30 Rock

Here's a funny little video the show made of its insanely funny original song.

Seriously, can Glee come back any sooner?

The amazing...Chelsea Handler

When I moved back to Los Angeles back in October, one of the first things I had to do was go to a taping of my favorite talkshow: Chelsea Lately. I've become only mildly obsessed with the show over the past year. It is now appointment viewing for me. I never miss a show.

So the first Monday I was here I had a ticket to go to the taping...only to be turned away because there was quite a line to get in. I was third from making it. It seems Chelsea has gotten to be very popular. Luckily, I was given a number to call and told that I could come back and be on a wait list. No longer would I have to worry about my spot in line.

It sounded great and two weeks later, I was back. Even being on the list, I made sure to get in line early enough. I was at the building in Santa Monica at around 12:30 almost 1ish. We weren't set to go in till about 2 o'clock.

Most of the time was spent waiting. Waiting in line. Waiting to get your ticket checked. Waiting to go through security. I could care less, I was just happy to finally be there.

Then we finally went through the doors into the studio. No cameras were allowed inside of course, but I did manage to snap this picture on my way out.


Once inside, I was surprised at how small the studio and stage see. I guess everything does look bigger on television. We were given our seats inside the freezing cold studio.

Then we had to sit through the warm up routine of Brody Stevens. Now...he's no Chelsea. He kept trying to make us laugh. And all throughout the show he kept telling the audience when to laugh and clap. Uhm, we all think Chelsea is very funny. You don't need to tell us when to laugh. Thanks though.

Then finally the show was starting. And out came the talent. Chuy, looks exactly like he does on the screen. He waved and took his little seat. The panel that day included Bryan Callen - the minister from The Hangover, Michelle Collins, and staff homosexual Guy Branum. Then Chelsea came out and everything got rolling.

What surprised me was how quick the taping moved. Chelsea was out and hit her opening monologue in one take. I've been to a few show tapings and they usually take a long time. But Chelsea Lately was running nearly in sync with its actual run time.

After the monologue it was on to the round table. It was a little hard to hear everything, but I still got a kick out of the jokes. Then before you knew it, that part was over and on to the interview. The guest of the day was Brooke White, from American Idol. Now, I would have much rather been in the audience on a day a Kardashian or two were there, but it was still funny listening to Chelsea joke about Brooke's Mormanism. Especially since Chelsea is half-Morman.

Then it was time for the closing. I almost made it on television at this point, as Chelsea moved in to shake the hands of audience members. But this big girl managed to stand up right in front of me as the camera was on me. Oh well, always next time.

Afterwards, Chelsea stayed around long enough to sign copies of her book for whoever had brought one. I didn't have a copy on me, but I thought it was really nice how she did that for everyone.

And I was out of there by 4:30. Not to bad for a show taping. It really was an amazing experience, I can't wait to go back for another taping!

Modern Family makes me LOL

Modern Family truly is the funniest comedy to come out this year. This quote from last night's episode is a perfect example why:

Alex: "What's Jagermeister?"

Phil:"You know how in a fairy tale there's always a potion that makes the princess fall asleep and then the guys start kissing her? Well, this is like that except you don't wake up in a castle — you wake up in a frat house with a bad reputation."

My Vampire Show Obsession

Yes, I have a problem. I can't stop watching vampire television shows.

It all started with Buffy The Vampire Slayer. It was the first grown-up show that I watched and still remains my all time favorite. More recently, I've been hooked on True Blood after reading the books the show is based on for years.

Now I can add another show to the mix. Yes, one of the suprise hits of the year for me has been The Vampire Diaries. I didn't watch this show when it first came on. True Blood was just winding down and I didn't think The Vampire Diaries could compete. And really it can't. TB is on HBO and TVD is on The CW. It's like comparing apples with apple vodka. But TVD makes the most of being on a broadcast network. It mixes romance, horror and supernatural elements seamlessly. I watched the first episode and was hooked. And now, I'm all caught up and desperately waiting week to week for a new episode.

The one coming on tonight should be very good as it uses flashbacks to show us more of the vampire brothers history.



I've gotten so into the show that I'm currently working on my own version of a Vampire Diaries script. In the television business that's called writing a spec. A spec basically shows that you can go into a show that already exists and figure out the tone and voice of the show and create a script, just like if you were staffed on the show. Doing TVD has been a great way to try to enhance my writing. Additionally, I'm also working on a script that is an adaptation of one of my favorite book series. And I've got my own original script on the back-burner. That's a lot of writing, but I really am enjoying it.

The start of a perfect week on HIMYM

I thought last nights How I Met Your Mother really knocked it out of the park. And part of what made the episode so great was that all the characters were in situations you could totally believe would happen to them. After 4+ years with these characters, you really feel like you get to know them.

Most of the episode surrounded Barney's attempt to get a perfect week. He's a womanizer and everyone knows it. Of course he would try to go for a perfect week.

And we all know Robin would totally want a guy to call her back, even if she had no intention of going on another date with him. And Ted embarrassing his student (COOK PU) was totally something that would happen to Ted.

The most believable and strange thing was Lily and Marshall admitting that they share a toothbrush. Of course they do! They share everything. Then it just snowballed from there so that Ted also shared the toothbrush and even Robin used it once and a while.

Some of what I'm learning from being in the writer's room is that you really have to understand your characters and their motivations. Last nights HIMYM was a great example of how the writers truly understand their characters and why they tick.