Black Jesus

The second coming is here. Jesus is back and blacker than ever. This Adult Swim show answers the burning question on every religious scholar's mind: What if Jesus walked among us today and was also a 6 foot tall black man wearing a wig? The answer is Black Jesus.

The most anticipated comeback in history is here. BLACK JESUS has arrived - http://mad.mn/blackjesusjb. Check yo faith. Subscribe to our channel for all the latest updates & videos! Website: http://www.madman.com.au Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/madman Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/madman © 2014 Madman Entertainment

I had to see this show just for the premise alone. I immediately became hooked on watching and have since plowed through the first and second season.

The most engaging aspect of Black Jesus is how believable all of the interactions with Jesus are. Some people dismiss him as a false prophet or a crazy person. Others acknowledge his role as the son of God, but demand that he use his divine powers to further their own selfish ends. Then there are the ones who hang out and smoke blunts with him and let him crash on their couch sometimes.

Created by Aaron McGruder, it also features Boondocks veterans Charlie Murphy and John Witherspoon, who serve as the primary antagonists Vic the Landlord and Lloyd the Homeless Guy. Slink Johnson plays the titular Black Jesus and brims with sunshine as Jesus tries to spread love and kindness among his slacker/stoner friends living the struggle in Compton.

Overall,  Black Jesus is a funny show with a ton of heart. It's not overly preachy and not even as outlandish as some of the other stuff on Adult Swim once you get over the name/premise. Both seasons are streaming now on AdultSwim.com for your viewing pleasure.

NTWON: Big Time in Hollywood Florida

This month's Nothing to Watch on Netflix isn't on Netflix. But Big Time in Hollywood, FL is such a great show that I think it is deserving of a write-up. Especially because the season finale is happening this Wednesday, now is the most appropriate time to highlight this amazing action-comedy.

Backed by Ben Stiller, Big Time centers on two brothers, Ben and Jack Dolfe and their dreams of becoming big-shot Hollywood filmmakers, things go wrong in the best way.

On March 25 at 10:30/9:30c, two delusional filmmaker brothers will find themselves in the middle of an epic shoot show. Find out more about Big Time in Hollywood, FL: http://on.cc.com/1M5BhzC

The thing that really sets Big Time apart from a lot of other comedies is the fact that it is serialized. There are no throw-away jokes or one-off plot lines. Things don't return to the status quo at the end of the half hour. Every action creates ripples in the plot that inevitably resurface.

The first episode of the series starts with Jack and Ben's parents forcing them to move out of their childhood home. Being in their late twenties, this is not unreasonable. Wanting to secure funds to cobble together another homemade short film, the boys decide to fake their own kidnapping at the hands of a phony drug dealer (Ben Stiller) in order to get a $20,000 ransom. Not too different from a regular sit-com scheme. However, because this is Big Time, there are lasting consequences that resonate through the entire season, including a police investigation, a trip to rehab, and the acting debut of a chimp named Rico.

Big Time in Hollywood, FL's comedic style comes from two places: the utter stupidity of the Dolfe boys, and the absurdly serious situations that they land themselves in. There are dark streaks in this show that get played for big laughs, such as when Jack, Ben, and their friend/camera-man/punching bag Del try to make a suicide look like even more like a suicide. The fact that every situation is played with a straight face only makes things funnier.

Even outside of the farcical nature of the show, the plot is complex and engaging. Similar to shows like Game of Thrones and Mad Men, Big Time keeps the viewer guessing. There's no telling what will happen next or who is going to show up by happenstance, which makes this that much more enjoyable to watch. The production values are also off the charts, so the season finale should be something special as all of the plot points come to a head.

Coupled with the tight writing are big names filling the roles. Producer Ben Stiller makes a cameo in the first episode to set everything in motion. Through sheer circumstance, Ben and Jack end up working with Academy Award winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. (who plays a strung-out, coked-up version of himself similar to NPH in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle). Jason Alexander plays a fictionalized version of himself as well, introduced to the boys by Cuba.

Basically, Big Time in Hollywood, FL is well-shot, well-cast, well-written, and hilarious. There's no reason not to give this spectacular first season a chance, as all of the episodes leading up to the finale are available for streaming on Comedy Central's website. Catch up before the season one finale this Wednesday at 10pm!

(Also, Big Time has one of the best theme songs ever. Here's the full version:) 

Music Video for Bobby Jealousy "Rainbow" produced by Tranny Machine productions 2012. Bobby Jealousy's debut album "A little death" out now. http://bobbyjealousy.bandcamp.com http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/a-little-death/id510455855 http://www.bobbyjealousy.com http://www.facebook.com/bobbyjealousy http://www.twitter.com/bobbyjealousy

The Greatest Show You're Not Watching

I'm a huge nerd. I'll admit it right off the bat. I like reading. I like playing video games. I like anime.

I rarely talk about my nerdiness because I've got a cool-guy persona to keep up.

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But, I feel like I need to show my true colors today because there's a TV show that you all need to watch.

The Legend of Korra is the successor series to Avatar: The Last Airbender. (No, not that movie. Or that other movie.)

Yes, it's a cartoon.

Yes, it's for kids.

But it's also really fucking good. 

Both series take place in a world where people have the ability to control the elements- earth, fire, air, and water. There is also a sole individual known as the Avatar who can control all four elements- the main character in each show. 

Both shows are heavily influenced by Eastern culture. The elemental "bending" is inspired by different real-world martial arts. Black belts serve as consultants in order to make the techniques look as realistic as possible.

The Last Airbender was good, but the Legend of Korra is great.

The Legend of Korra tackles darker issues and plots than its predecessor, which is no small task considering The Last Airbender dealt with the genocide of an entire race of people.

In the first two seasons alone we've seen a potential revolution of the non-bending class, one of the creepiest villains I've seen on TV, an invasion of evil spirits, and this adorable little guy. 

I could rant and rave and froth at the mouth about why this is such a great show and why everyone should watch it.

But I won't.

Instead, all I will say is that with the Legend of Korra the audience gets treated to great action sequences, endearing characters, and an amazingly intricate fantasy world. 

I'm not the only one who thinks so either.

Two new episodes come out every Friday evening on Nickelodeon, so you get a double dose of it every week! (I record it and watch it on Saturday mornings because I miss my Saturday morning cartoons.) 

CHECK IT OUT!

Image courtesy of tvtropes.org