The Price is Wrong, Bitch: Discussing Charlie Sheen for the New York Times

It's always a real treat — and a huge honor — to participate in a New York Times Room for Debate discussion, and the latest one I did was no different. Actually it was different, if only because one of the debaters was Damon Lindelof. That Damon Lindelof. So, yeah, quite an awesome moment here at 42 Inch Television.

You can read my mostly coherent points about Charlie Sheen, and why CBS put up with him for so long, by clicking here.

Royal Mumbles: 'The King's Speech' Reviewed

After multiple attempts — some of which were waylaid because of cold weather and/or lack of ambition — Kase and I finally saw The King's Speech on Friday night. In a word, it was fine. In another, it was adequate. Yet on no planet was it better than any of the other nine nominees for Best Picture.

The King's Speech was basically a solid TV movie, dolled up with a great lead performance from Colin Firth, a wonderful score by Alexandre Desplat, and some truly interesting visuals courtesy of director Tom Hooper and cinematographer Danny Cohen. It wasn't a failure, but if it wins Best Picture on Sunday night, it might be the worst film to do so since Crash. And this coming from someone who thought The Hurt Locker was a lousy Michael Bay wannabe, and Slumdog Millionaire was treacly drivel designed to incite a reaction from sad-feeling first worlders. But at least those two films had stakes (The Hurt Locker) and emotion (Slumdog Millionaire).

Power Down Conversation Robot: NBC Thursday Night Comedies Recapped

Before we hop into the recaps, remember this? That's the piece I wrote for Movieline in December about how Community and Glee are basically the same show. Cool theory, right? Well, apparently, it was so cool that AVClub wrote pretty much the exact same piece two months later — albeit one with an additional 2,000 words. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Or something.

Anyway! Enough of that — let's go to the recaps.

The Wit & Wisdom of Gossip Girl: I'm a Fleabit Peanut Monkey, All My Friends are Junkies

"Anyone know why all the Gossip Girl voice-overs referenced the Rolling Stones?" wrote Dave Itzkoff after Gossip Girl on Monday night. "Other than to make me laugh at Kristen Bell's line readings?" To answer his questions: Nope, and nope! And nothing in "While You Weren't Sleeping" referenced this bizarre occurrence either. Perhaps the writers were huffing too much ether while breaking down this fairly excellent episode of Gossip Girl? Either that or there's only so many voice-over tricks a show can use before falling back on the Stones.

"While You Weren't Sleeping" was a pretzeled episode of Gossip Girl (think Inception, but with minions), and while it didn't make a whole lot of sense — what, exactly, does Vanessa have over Ben since he returned the $100,000 check? — it was still a fun time. To wit: Rufus did stuff! And he was good at it! (Also: Dair, Dair, Dair!) Let's chill out on the fanboying and investigate the British Invasion-infused wit and wisdom.

Kid B-Sides: Track by Track Breakdown of Radiohead's The King of Limbs

Longtime 42 Inch Television readers might recall that I don't really like to review music. Unlike movies and television — mediums which feel ripe for criticism — music is very subjective. You can like listening to something that I don't, but I'm not going to think you're wrong because you like listening to it. On the flipside, if you tell me you think Valentine's Day is a great movie, or Outsourced is funny, I'll probably knock you down a few pegs on the credibility scale.

It's with that long-winded introduction in mind that I bring you my review of The King of Limbs, the new Radiohead album that everyone you know is listening to right this very second.

More Fish for Kunta: NBC Thursday Night Comedies Recapped

Another Thursday night, another round of NBC comedies. Does anyone else wish these four shows were spread out throughout the week? It would certainly make recapping them easier. Just sayin'.

The Wit & Wisdom of Gossip Girl: Here in America, We Call It a Frittata

Michael Boatman is a terrible actor. That we're supposed to believe his Russell Thorpe is this titan of industry — the kind who can buy and sell Chuck Bass with change from his morning coffee purchase — is one of the funniest jokes currently running on Gossip Girl. Well, that and the fact that Blair Waldorf is basically running W magazine.

And yet! "It-Girl Happened One Night" was... awesome! Sorry if that's not critically accepted terminology, but screw it: This isn't a master's class in television criticism, and I'm not a dork. Well, other than for the fact that I recap Gossip Girl in my own free time. For free.

Ahem. This edition of wit and wisdom is a tad late because Monday was Valentine's Day, but such a good episode warrants some commenting. To the good stuff!

Saving the World Has Never Been This Hard: NBC Thursday Night Comedies Recapped

You know it's time to write weekly recaps of the four funny — or "funny" in the case of Community — NBC comedies when Outsourced comes on after 30 Rock. How is that crap still on the air? Memo to NBC: Good idea expanding comedy into the 10 p.m. hour — too bad you currently air two shows that are complete garbage (the other being Perfect Couples). Maybe fix that in the fall? Thanks!

Anyway, enough of that — to the recaps!

The Wit & Wisdom of Gossip Girl: Dead Men Don't Wear Belts

Just so we're clear: Russell Thorpe is supposed to be type of titan of industry who can buy and sell a company like Bass Industries over breakfast. And, yet! The dude doesn't have time to throw a belt on his $2600 pants? To quote Gob Bluth: Come on! Bad form, Russ!

That quibble aside — if you're not a psycho like me, you could see a beltless Russell in the kitchen with Chuck and Raina — "Panic Roommate" was the best episode of Gossip Girl in 2011. It felt like a season finale! Or a midseason finale! And not just because Josh Schwartz used The Naked and Famous' "Young Blood" as a triumphant music cue in the same way he did during the Chuck "midseason" finale (which wasn't a finale, but should have been). This was more than just a chess game; stuff happened in "Panic Roommate" that actually moved the plot forward. Plus, Nate admitted to liking The Sound of Music because Julie Andrews was hot, and it included Nazis and nurses. Through it all, Gossip Girl was her pithy self. To the breakdown!

Shenae Grimes on Scream 4, Franchise Fatigue and the Lack of Good Female Roles in Hollywood

Fun fact: Never judge a book by its cover. Especially when the book is a 21-year-old actress on 90210, who has always been rumored to be an on-set "problem." At least that's what I learned when Shenae Grimes spoke to me last week for Movieline. The 90210 star — who we all know from Degrassi; just me? — was outspoken, thoughtful, intelligent and nothing like the silly starlet you might expect. Oh, sure: You could mock her for saying that she doesn't consider herself an actress, but believe me — she seemed pretty on the level. Girl has got opinions!

Anyway, you can read the full interview over at Movieline. Free suggestion? Read it.

You're the AT&T of People: NBC Thursday Night Comedies Recapped

The foursome of Thursday night comedies embraced their inner Rancho Carne Toros on Thursday night — the first night of February sweeps: They brought it. On.

Let's take a look at the highs and highers.

The Wit & Wisdom of Gossip Girl: Never Own a Scrunchy

Despite the headline kicker, which references Blair's resume (presumably under "Skills"), "Damien Darko" was just a terribly written episode of Gossip Girl. Not just the plotting, which was even more absurd than Serena's bust, but the dialogue. Here's an actual line uttered by resident Upper East Side drug dealer, Damien: "You say potato, I say pedophile." GROAN.

The short of "Darko": Dan and Blair get an internship at W (just go with it), Serena and her non-rapist maybe-boyfriend Ben start getting closer (much to the consternation of everyone), Eric buys some drugs from Damien, and Nate and Chuck career-block The Captain. All of that happened while Vanessa and Jenny were presumably having a hair extension competition in Hudson. Is this the winter of our discontent? Only Gossip Girl knows. To the wit and wisdom!