REVOLUTIONARY CHARACTER ALERT: Mighty Joe Jon- The Black Blonde

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Review: Nepotism

Delocated is more brilliant than your show. The premise of a reality show about a man in the witness protection program has proved to be a poignant commentary on the state of celebrity and fame. Main character "Jon" often is distracted by the fact that someone is trying to kill him with his own obsession of making money of his fame. That premise works because reality shows are so ripe for parody. Now- in season 2, we have a new character that makes "Jon's" day-to-day problems meet his bigger problem of someone out to kill him in the form of a TV executive out to make better ratings.

Enter Mighty Joe Jon- The Black Blonde. (click and watch clip)

As stated- Delocated is possibly the most brilliant show currently on TV. They so well established their premise that anything can work within their means. Mighty Joe Jon is a TV Executive, and the character serves as a point to call out all the ridiculous things reality shows do to their 'stars'. Mighty Joe Jon exists to make his reality star money... he gives "Jon" hints on to broaden his appeal, encourages a catch phrase, coincides that catchphrase into a popular song from the 80s, and even finds a food to market one of "Jon's" strengths (SPOILER: his strength was grief and they made grief jerky (hahahahah)). But just take in Mighty Joe Jon. See him for what he is. He is not only a black guy who dyes his hair blonde... he is THE black guy who dies his hair blonde. He has cornered that niche market on reality TV and now has taken his talents to TV Executive (after he wrote a successful book on 'reaction faces'). I like to think that Joe Jon was so good at being a reality TV show star, that a black blonde person can never be on a reality TV show again because they will just live in Mighty Joe Jon's shadow (I also imagine his blonde hair shows up in his shadow). The character just reminds me of the marketing of Jersey Shore or Kate Gosselin clinging to fame. Mighty Joe Jon is bringing the disturbing truths of reality that Delocated has hinted at before. Now that they have full half-hour episodes, they really can flesh out just how awful reality TV is.

I would be remiss not to mention Jerry Minor, who has been one of my favorite people since high school. You'll remember him from Mr. Show, and forget him from his lone season on SNL. Jerry is a legend in my house, and this remarkable character (who is a full time character, as Jerry was second billing) is now part of the pantheon of his remarkable career.

Seriously, Delocated is unfairly funny. I feel a warm transcendence whenever I watch it. It's like watching Da Vinci paint or Prince fuck. Turbulently controlled. I would say it's on a Python-level, but it is not a sketch show. The things that paved the way for it are Get a Life and Strangers with Candy, though Delocated brings a more informed balance to the show. Which is weird to say, because they never show that they do. So many ridiculous sentences are said so nonchalantly, that this shouldn't even be a TV show. This should be a love letter we send to the future that says, "We had art, and beauty, and we were smart and were outraged." But that would mean the future would have to be a lovely place. *sigh*

I'm Upset: why isn't PFFR sweeping the nation?

Shut up for a second. I'm not going to simply recant the jokes and comic foibles of Wonder Showzen, Xavier: Renegade Angel, and Delocated. I am not that stupid. People say of Monty Python that they were groundbreaking and doing things on TV that have never been done before. Yes they did and it was great and most people simply shot under that bar instead of going over it. PFFR go over the bar while taking the bar down and re-shaping into a form not yet revealed to us because we, as an unswept nation, don't deserve to know it yet. Why'd I invoke Python? So I can draw another comparison. Where Python had a knight hitting characters with rubber chickens, PFFR speeds that up to the point down the line where the knight recoils in his own murderous chicken slapping and decides to become entrenched in his life choice and goes on a chicken slapping rampage. Or the wouldn't and do something better. Because they know what is funny because they know how to amuse themselves. In a bit of Howard Stern, who is still wonderful at finding the amazing next level entertainment capabilities of homeless people and common man on the street, PFFR go next level with man on the street interviews using kids or the guise of a children's show. They so much as don't let the fire burning be the show, as much as throwing the gas on it is or setting subversiveness into it. And with a show like Xavier: Renegade Angel where usually a sitcom gives you a break in the action, the show simply advances with every line. And each line in itself is a jewel to behold. The show literally forces you to watch it multiple times. They created a show that you have to watch and love in order to watch and love it. HOW GENIUS IS THAT! OK- ok. I am not making sense, and I am just telling you to watch something. But as far as original thought and furthering the development of comedy and thinking are concerned- PFFR take chances. In bad taste, but in bad taste to make you think what bad taste really is. Is it bad taste even if it is still clever? What is defines 'bad' and where does that bleed into good? Why am I asking so many questions during a TV show when I can simply let the show go on? Who are we if we are not always bettering ourselves? Answer: we are the country that rewards Jon Cryer for not being Charlie Sheen in a show with a catchy name. The only way to get better is to allow things to be better. Give every single Emmy to PFFR. In 20 years if we are not where we are now, then holy shit does everything suck. This wasn't meant to be poetic or remotely close to articulate. I'm upset at this. Tim and Eric has some lame fans and they have a movie coming out. So at least that. But please, please, buy and watch Wonder Showzen, Final Flesh, any episode of Xavier, and Delocated, and continue to be ashamed of yourself for not helping out Totally for Teens. I'm still upset. More on this at some other time.