MTV’s “See You Sunday” lineup
Sundays at 9 p.m.
MTV’s new “See You Sunday” lineup, composed of four new shows, is predictably filled with cursing, sophomoric humor, stunts and shaky camerawork. One thing it does not have, however, is music videos (which, ironically, has become the norm with MTV). And that’s too bad, because the lineup doesn’t really break away from anything MTV has done lately. The last show, “How’s Your News?,” seems poised to veer off to greener pastures, but otherwise, it’s the same old shindig.
First up is “Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory,” which features Rob from MTV’s “Rob & Big” and, you guessed it, his fantasy factory: a 25,000 square-foot warehouse that has been converted into a concrete skateboarding paradise. Doting on Rob is his cousin and new personal assistant, Drama. Drama works at the skateboarding headquarters along with the lawyer, manager and graphic artist of Rob’s skateboarding empire, Dyrdek Enterprises.
Rob definitely has a blast making his fantasy a reality, whether he’s driving his Campagna T-Rex (a three-wheeled racecar) or wearing stilts for a one-on-one game of basketball against professional basketball player Lamar Odom. The real star of the show, however, is the fantasy factory itself, which is filled with skateboard ramps, foam pits and even a blob (a massive partially-inflated balloon intended to launch a person into the air). But the novelty will soon wear off, and there’s a limit to how many contraptions Rob can wheel out. An episode of “Cribs” dedicated to Rob’s playground would’ve sufficed.
Next on the lineup is “The CollegeHumor Show,” a sitcom about the professional lives of those responsible for the popular Internet comedy site CollegeHumor.com. The show was written and shot by the CollegeHumor team, who are also the show’s stars. Contained within each episode are short videos straight from the website, which are usually played right before commercial breaks.
While the show maintains an authentic CollegeHumor feel, the staff’s poor acting doesn’t cut it for the half-hour show. There are, however, moments of extreme hilarity — the team, after all, is made up of the geniuses behind the “Fresh Prince Theme: Gangsta Version.”
Filling the third slot in the lineup is “Nitro Circus.” Produced by “Jackass” star Johnny Knoxville and “Jackass” executive producer Jeff Tremaine, it is basically “Jackass” on wheels. Professional motocross rider Travis Pastrana and several other lesser-known extreme sportsmen (and sportswoman) perform dangerous stunts on whatever rolling object they can get their hands on. Motorcycles, bicycles and tricycles are the most common. When they can’t find anything with wheels, they get out the old Slip ‘N Slide or go skydiving without parachutes.
The problem is that Travis Pastrana and friends lack the anarchic enthusiasm of the “Jackass” crew. Their objective is to do a back flip on a Big Wheel tricycle or to get as much air from a Slip ‘N Slide jump as possible, not to piss people off.
Finally, “How’s Your News?” features a team of reporters with disabilities conducting interviews. It’s difficult to say whether or not the show’s premise is condescending to its reporters, but it’s clear that the “How’s Your News?” team is having a great time, so what does it matter?
The reporters talk to people right on the sidewalk about anything and everything, but their interviews with celebrities are the highlight of the show. They interview Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Kimmel, Sarah Silverman and many others. John Stamos even volunteers to give one of the reporters a lesson in picking up women, then plays the reporter’s wingman for the day. “How’s Your News” is the most promising of the entire MTV Sunday lineup.
“See You Sunday”? Maybe.