Watching

Video Digest: February 16, 2007

Sarah comes clean about her ability to see into the future: the never-ending Idol juggernaut; the perhaps-funny career of Carlos Mencia; self-defense in New Orleans (not funny!); Osama Teen Hunger Force; Metal Skool.

Last year, I predicted that American Idol had peaked. I did this over a plate of cheese enchiladas, laying out the reasons why the phenomenon had undoubtedly run out of steam, including but not limited to: Abdul’s obvious drug abuse, the inclusion of “rockers,” and the cultural triumph of a white-haired man-child who said “soul patrol!” every time you pulled his string.

“You should pitch that story,” my friend told me.

“I should!”

I never did. And it’s a good thing, too, because I was completely wrong. Pulling in the highest ratings in its history, American Idol not only hasn’t shown any signs of decline, but it also tightens its vise-like grip on pop culture consciousness. This is too much, even for me, a woman who has a promotional American Idol flag in her kitchen, a woman who is drinking water from a promotional American Idol cup as she writes this. I haven’t watched the show this season, and I won’t until they whittle down that unwieldy group of 24—which is not a finalists’ pool, by the way, it’s a class size.

Anyway, our first video today is an American Idol spoof starring singing rabbits. It’s as good as it sounds. It’s made by video satirists Buns and Chou Chou, as part of their talking-bunny series (swoon!) Rabbit Bites.



Whether talking rabbits are funny—that may be subjective. Comedy, as we know, is a subjective game. Thus, the career of Carlos Mencia. Another subjective call is whether or not this Christian stand-up is funny. Spoiler alert: There are buckteeth.



Last year, I was robbed at gunpoint in New Orleans. Not funny! (Well, maybe a little funny. On the other end of that gun.) What I should have had was a lesson in self-defense from Brent Kaywood. What I should have had was wrist control.



The Osama Teen Hunger Force imagines the scenario that led to last week’s Boston imbroglio. “We will disrupt their workday with a mildly offensive blinking neon light!”



Oh, and lest I forget: L.A. cover band Metal Skool sings Journey with Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Mr. Belding. They also drop a fusillade of f-bombs and kind of drag things out for a bit. But don’t stop believing.



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