A couple weeks ago, I praised Little Britain’s no-holds-barred comedy and reminisced about the glory days of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Well, the Flying Circus still graces BBC America’s airwaves as an appropriate lead-in to Little Britain. If you’re new to the Python experience, or would like to take a laugh-filled trip down memory lane, set your DVR for 8pm on Fridays.

The series — which ran from 1969 to 1974 — was renowned for developing an absurd, often depraved brand of satire never before seen. Their acid-tongued, masterfully crafted, highbrow brand of humor set the standard for comedy troupes on television. John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin were the brilliant minds behind this classic series. Each member went on to future success as actors, directors, composers and hosts, and all but Chapman are still alive.

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As a wee boy I cut my comedy teeth on Monty Python’s Flying Circus and The Benny Hill Show. Watching the silly escapades of the Python crew and the ribald frivolity of Benny Hill made my tear ducts flow with joy. Both these seminal programs laid the groundwork for sketch comedy smashes like Saturday Night Live, The Kids in the Hall and In Living Color.  While I dig American improv immensely, I’ve always carried a soft spot for the British brand of humor.

The latest comedy cavalcade to cross the Atlantic is Little Britain. What began as a radio gig evolved into a hit TV satire starting in 2003.  Matt Lucas and David Walliams are the dynamic duo responsible for creating a host of barmy characters meant to reflect the disparate personalities of contemporary England. Be it teenage girls or senile old bags, Matt and David spoof all types and classes, sparing no one.

Like most sketch shows it’s all about hits and misses. Not all of Little Britain’s parodies work, but the successes outweigh the failures. A few, in particular, stand out for me.

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AMC

5:00p/4:00 Central

• The CW starts off their long farmed out Sunday night with a 4Real repeat featuring Casey Affleck. That’s followed by a new 4Real features Mos Def visiting the City of God outside Rio de Janeiro.

6:00p/5:00 Central

• Stick with The CW for a repeat performance of the series premiere of Valentine. See, apparently everybody missed it the first time around. Are you going to miss it again? It’s okay, so am I.

7:00p/6:00 Central

• CBS’s 60 Minutes explores credit default swaps, T. Boone Pickens mission to reduce our dependency on foreign oil, Greg Carr’s mission to bring more tourism to the poorest parts of Africa.
• NBC offers up Football Night in America, recapping last week’s action but won’t have NLF Sunday Night Football tonight due to the World Series. If that depresses you, you can always tune into ABC’s America’s Funniest Home Videos. Apparently shots to the crotch are still funny.
• On The CW, a new In Harm’s Way looks at land mine clearance. Talk about a tough job, you can’t pay me enough to walk a minefield looking for mines … What’s that? Oh they don’t– Oh. Technology. Yeah, that would work better.

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HBO

5:00p/4:00 Central

• At 5:30p/4:30 Central The CW kicks off its new Sunday night lineup with a new 4Real, featuring Eva Mendes visiting Vancouver to take a look at its problems with homelessness and addiction.

7:00p/6:00 Central

• 60 Minutes on CBS takes a look at what may be the world’s oldest family business, the battle of Sadr City, and the man who infiltrated the Gambino family reveals his identity for the first time.
• The CW’s In Harm’s Way examines those people who risk their lives to capture live animals. I think they mean more than chihuahuas, though those little bitches can be mean!
• The NFL on NBC kicks off with Football Night in America, while ABC brings you videos of guys getting their arms caught in power windows and getting pooped on by birds.
• But oh my God, that’s not nearly as dramatic as the first season finale of My Super Sweet 16: Exiled on MTV. I mean, those girls really know what suffering and danger is. Sometimes … sometimes they don’t get the exact model sports car they wanted. You know how (*gasp*) hard that is!

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FOX

I don’t know what’s more exciting. The fact that we’ve got fifteen season and series premiere in four hours of programming tonight, or the return of Donnie, Danny, Jordan, Jonathan and *swoon!* Joey to our technicolor screens in their own concert special. You’ve got network favorites like Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters, Cold Case and The Unit, along with the returns of FOX’s animated lineup of The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Family Guy and American Dad.

But interestingly, the kids over on pay cable are apparently ready to play with the big boys. Usually, cable programs their series around network, but Showtime and HBO are jumping right into the fray with season premieres tonight of Dexter and Californication on Showtime and the series premieres of comedies Little Britain and The Life & Times of Tim on HBO. And I haven’t even mentioned reality TV yet. What a big night. Let’s get to it… Read the rest of this entry »