Friday, May 1, 2009

SOUPY SAILS: Joel McHale Comes to Indiana


Oh Joel McHale, how I love thee. Let me count the ways.
OK, maybe not.
But let me promise to keep my standing date with you each and every Friday night. At 9 p.m. on E! is where I know you will be. As will I.
As host of “The Soup,” a reality-based clip show, McHale has surpassed former “Soupers” Greg Kinnear, Hal Sparks and Aisha Tyler in the laughs department.
And it’s the search for snickers that brings him to Hammond this weekend.
I have to be honest and say I am not sure what to expect from McHale’s show, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino.
McHale has had me in tears many a time while watching “The Soup,” so I do hope for big laughs.
But I also wonder how his short spurts of comedy will translate into an hour-long stand-up act.
“It’s Miley!”
Born in Rome, McHale spent his formative years in Seattle, where he graduated from the University of Washington in 1995.
It was during his time in college that McHale started performing as a member of the improv comedy group Unexpected Productions.
Following graduation, it was on to L.A.
You know, where dreams happen.
Over the years, McHale has appeared in bit parts on several television shows such as “CSI: Miami,” “Will & Grace” and the NBC improv show “Thank God You’re Here.”
He also frequently touts his role in “Spider-Man 2.”
No, he didn’t play a superhero or villain. He had an exciting role as a bank manager. Come on though, it’s Spider-Man, right?
But it is with “The Soup” where the comedian has left his mark on pop culture.
“Sanjaya ...”
Since 2004 the funnyman has been coming into living rooms sharing sublime and silly snippets from television shows.
From Ann Curry’s “Good morning, good morning everybody, good morning” on the “Today Show,” to Stains, the pup that’s mesmerized by food on “It’s Me or the Dog,” McHale’s staff at “The Soup” has an inane talent to find the simplest yet extremely insane television clips. Ever heard of the shows “I Love Toy Trains” or “Dutch Oven Cookin’ with Cee Dub”?
Yep, I hadn’t either. But I dig them now.
“Chicks, man.”
As McHale awaits his next big film role in Steven Soderberg’s “The Informant” with Matt Damon, the married father of two will still be cracking the jokes.
Not only on stage in theaters and comedy clubs all over the world, but also on the small screen.
And he and I will continue our budding relationship.
Every Friday night.


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