Hot Soup

Reality TV is the lowest form of entertainment today (not the game-show genre, but the self-exploitative, dehumanizing, the dumber-you-act-the-better kind of shows such as, say, The Real Housewives of Orange County). Since Americans are responsible for producing the majority of entertainment airing on glowing boxes across the globe, we get to show every other country just how ridiculous and unnecessary dignity, self-respect and tact can be in a society. Fortunately, we have comedians such as Joel McHale, the devilishly handsome, quick-witted host of E!’s The Soup, to mock the idiotic drivel we send out to the universe. McHale’s social commentary helps us to realize that not all of the faces in that box are willing to make out with Flavor Flav or stick cockroaches down their pants for their 15 minutes. Watch him do standup live this weekend at the Grove—no eating of cow balls necessary.
Sat., Sept. 20, 8 p.m., 2008