Episode 5 - Schmemmys, Rediscoveries, And Unusual Justice
Title: Schmemmys, Rediscoveries, And Unusual Justice (August 27, 2010)
The episode begins with the results of the the 2010 Creative Arts Emmys, also known as the Schmemmys, where they lump the categories deemed too boring or lowbrow for the Primetime Emmy broadcast. They discussed Neil Patrick Harris’ win for Outstanding Guest Actor (Comedy) (Youtube video) for Glee and Betty White for Outstanding Guest Actress (Comedy) for SNL. Randy Newman’s win for Best Music prompts Stephen’s rant about how one of music’s best satirists has devolved into writing the same songs about friendship.
The panelists also debate the value of having a Best Commercial category, which Old Spice (Youtube video) won. Callback to Episode 2!
Tomorrow’s Rediscoveries
This segment focuses on personalities whose popularity or reputation has waned but who may be poised for a Mickey Rourke-style comeback.
Linda - She chooses Tony Danza (formerly of Who’s the Boss?), whose comeback hinges on his reality show Teach: Tony Danza, a reality show where Danza becomes a teacher at a Philadelphia public school.
Glen - Glen surveyed the land for an 80s action star that can make a redefining JCVD-esque movie. He chooses Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Kurt ‘Gymkata’ Thomas, who made a 1985 movie called Gymkata where he infiltrates the fictional Himalayan country of Parmistan and exacts some Gymkata justice. Glen the proposes a sequel where the mulleted Thomas is dropped into a Taliban stronghold. Hilarity ensues.
Trey - Lindsay Lohan is Trey’s pick, after news that she may be relocating to New York and speculations of a Broadway role. He cites her performance in Georgia Rule. He also mentions that she has had a minor role in the movie Machete.
Stephen - He chooses Jim Belushi based on the trailer for the TV show The Defenders (Youtube video). He talks about Belushi’s hangdog expression (“The battered shell of a broken funny man”) that reminded him of Bill Murray in Rushmore. and how a feat of stunt casting can put him in a different light. William Shatner and George Clooney are mentioned as parallels.
What Is Making Them Happy
Yet another episode without this segment!
Some Episode Highlights
- The first time that Stephen Thompson hosts PCHH! “It is my theory that by asking me to host this week, Linda is setting me up to be the Tarvaris Jackson to her Brett Favre in the hopes that the audience will beg her to come back and host just one more season.” (Callback to Episode 3)
- The term ‘Schmemmys’ is attributed to Kathy Griffin. (Link to Youtube video of a Kathy Griffin comedy special. Language warning.)
- Aside from his Randy Newman impersonation, Stephen also busts out his Bill-Paxton-as-Brett-Favre
- Trey mentions that Tony Danza played the role of Max Bialystock in the musical The Producers.
- Glen’s exhortation of Kurt ‘Gymkata’ Thomas this episode is the dawn of a legend.
- “People will forgive a lot of self-immolation. Just ask Robert Downey Jr.” - Linda Holmes on Lindsay Lohan’s chances for a comeback.
- “Swagger sometimes decays in an interesting way. Not necessarily the ‘rot’ sense but in interesting changes over time as a result of different forces.” - Linda Holmes
- Trey Graham alludes to the character Willy Loman from Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman as the archetype of defeated bravado.
