Mulaney: The New Seinfeld?

In the late 80's and early 90's, it seemed every comedian had their own sitcom. Most were simply "based on the comedy" of the main character, putting the star in situations that provided the best situation in each episode. Whether it was Roseanne, or Home Improvement, The Cosby Show, or Everybody Loves Raymond, the comedian was never a comedian on the series. Except, of course, on Seinfeld, probably the most successful and influential of them all.

Since the "show about nothing," several stand-ups have followed in their footsteps with series that followed a version of their lives in comedy. Curb and Louie come to mind, but the format has strayed from the milti-camera, laugh track days of Seinfeld. Until now. Twenty-five years after Seinfeld debuted, Fox is trying to make history repeat itself with an obvious homage to the ground-breaking NBC sitcom. So, what's the deal with Mulaney? Sadly, the great material at the heart of the throwback comedy can't save it from feeling out of time. Believe me, we all know how important timing is for comedy.

Part of Fox's new Sunday Funday lineup, Mulaney follows an up-and-coming New York stand up comedian named John Mulaney. His roommates include an uptight personal trainer named Jane, played by formerr SNL cast member Nasim Pedrad, and Seaton Smith as Motif, another struggling but working comic. Another veteran of Saturday Night Live, Martin Short stars as Mulaney's new boss, a self-absorbed comic legend turned game show host named Lou Cannon. Also in the cast are Zach Pearlman, who plays trust-fund baby/drug dealer/punching bag Andre, and Academy Award nominee Elliott Gould, who is the elderly Jewish stoner neighbor named Oscar.

The main problem for any throwback is to avoid feeling dated, and Mulaney suffers by not adding a new spin on the old formula. It is Seinfeld all the way down to the stand-up sequences and noise between transitions. I promised myself I wouldn't mention Seinfeld in this entry, but that's nearly impossible. Even the sitcom itself calls Mulaney (the character) a 'Seinfeld ripoff' in the much improved fourth episode, titled "Sweet Jane," that dramatizes his bit about the impossibility of forcing girls to be friends.

The good news is that the Fox series does get better with each installment. the bad news is that the pilot is terrible, so getting worse was practically an impossibility. None of this is good for me because I'm a fan of Mulaney's work, the stuff he wrote for SNL (including Stefon and his two Weekend Update appearances), his stand-up bits with Nick Kroll on Kroll Show. He's funny, but his show is not good and I don't know why. The pilot got no laughs out of me and that's not good for a comedy.

Perhaps having seen some of the material before cause some would-be laughs to become smiles? I'm willing to admit that maybe Mulaney doesn't feel fresh to me because I've already heard the jokes and not because of the well-worn format. However, I don't think that's the case. I like the cast, and the show does improve with every episode (I've seen five), just not enough to recommend when there's so much more to watch on Sunday nights.

Top 10 Rock Drummers

These guys rocked to the beat of a different drum. Welcome to Kiker's Blog, and today I'm listing my top 10 rock drummers. For this list I chose standout drummers who were the perfect mix of technical talent, popularity, and who proved themselves essential to the music of the bands they were in. I'm excluding drummers from genres such as heavy metal, hip hop, and jazz.

10. Phil Collins-Genesis
As Genesis evolved from progressive to pop rock, Collins showcased a strong musicality and versatility on the drums. Audiences were also impressed with his rare talent of singing and drumming simultaneously. Though he played jazz fusion, folk, and blues in other projects, it was as a solo artist that Collins found further success; with the gated reverb of In The Air Tonight shaping much of the 80's pop drum sound.

9. Nick Mason-Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd wouldn't have been the same without Mason, who was the only unchanging band member on all their records. Weather playing acoustic, or electronic drums, or even percussion, he knew how to bring everything together to complete the psychedelic and progressive rock sound. The proficient studio musician also also knew how to show off on stage as demonstrated by the band's heavy and extravagant live performances.

8. Ringo Starr-The Beatles
He may not have been the finest technical drummer ever, but his offbeat and creative style helped build The Beatles' sound we love. Despite being left-handed, Starr used a right-handed kit to keep the beat and ensured the tempo was just right. His crucial contributions showed that drummers can be just as important to songwriting as other band members, and influenced countless drummers from then on. 

7. Mitch Mitchell-The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Mitchell's session drumming including his time with The Who landed him a permanent spot in The Jimi Hendrix Experience's lineup. By fusing his Jazz influences with rock, he developed a rhythmic and melodic playing style that perfectly complimented the music. Mitchell's heavy beats, snare drum stroke patterns, rolls, and fills were also a source of creativity for Hendrix in studio and on stage.

6. Ginger Baker-Cream
Cream's blues and psychedelic rock would've been very different without Baker's flashy jazz inspired drums. While in the group, the drummer broke new ground by using double bass drums and playing lengthy solos. Baker continued to find success with his world music after the breakup of Cream, but it was his booming 60's style that set the stage for today's heavy metal drummers.

5. Stewart Copeland-The Police
He helped craft The Police's new wave mix of punk, reggae, and jazz by incorporating those styles with his rock and Middle Eastern influences. Known for using accented beats and splash cymbals, he had a highly defined and innovative technique and had a nack for enhancing songs with groove.

4. Dave Grohl-Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures
He's best known as the frontman for Foo Fighters, but this multi-instrumentalist first made waves by hitting hard and fast in several bands. It was his fierce and intense drumming in Nirvana that cemented Grohl's place in grunge. The nicest guy in rock further flaunted his passion for drums by lending his passion for drums by lending his talents to Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, and many more. 

3. Keith Moon-The Who
Moon lived life as wildly as he played the drums. Knowing his time was cut short, his ingenious and frenzy drumming lived on. With an intense and sensational style, Moon epitomized sex, drugs, and rock and roll. He also proved fundamental to The Who's sound with his back beats and double bass drum playing. He often stole the spotlight with his explosive antics. 

2. John Bonham-Led Zeppelin
Thanks to his speed, heavy drumsticks, powerful arms and rapid right foot, Bonham's thunderous bass drum was unlike anything anyone had ever seen. His talent for finding the groove and mighty drum solos helped forge Led Zeppelin's original and unforgettable blend of hard rock, blues, and folk. Despite his short life, Bonham's style remains unmatched and fans, critics, and musicians alike continue to crown him one of the all time greatest drummers.

Honorable Mentions:

Tré Cool-Green Day

Mike Portnoy-Dream Theater

Phil Rudd-AC/DC

Chad Smith-Red Hot Chili Peppers 

1. Neil Peart-Rush
From hard rock to jazz then to progressive rock, Peart could play it all and he could play it well. The Award winning drummer distinguished himself with his unconventional time signatures and unique rhythmic styles, but also displayed extreme endurance by playing extensive live solos on massive drum kits. Respected for his technical experience, he is known for reversing his drum sticks to make heavier sounds.