Weekly Roundup: Osama (Been a lot of)

Two shows this week try to have some fun with the events of 9/11, almost begging us to ask the question of 'is it too soon?' To be fair, the comedy sketch series Human Giant already broached the subject with their Shutterbugs feature "Lil' 9/11" (see video,) but this week both The Sarah Silverman Program and British import Skins featured intentionally amateurish plays depicting the Twin Towers coming down. Each took it to the edge and each were, I have to say, funny. So I pose the same question: Is it too soon to laugh?

Silverman's take was a lot more surreal, first by running down anyone with a beard (including SNL's Fred Armisen,) assuming they're Osama bin Laden, then somehow even thematically tying Osama bin Laden's hairy beard to her sister's out-of-control pubic hair. Sister Laura, who deserves some sort of award for how good a sport she's had to be this season, resists 'trimming the bush' because it reminds her of her mother, mirroring Sarah's need for everyone to remember 9/11 (yes, the connection is tennuous). In the end, she gives in and tackles the jungle to gentle sounds of She & Him's "Sentimental Heart". Reaction from the boyfriend is the line of the night: "Oh Larry! You Moe'd Your Curly!"

Skins - Episode 2.02 (playlist)
Meanwhile, the students on Skins put on a play called Osama: The Musical, featuring some laugh-out-loud lyrics and some odd attempts at an American accent. There's a lot of other good music here as well from the likes of Cat Power, LCD Soundsystem and the like, but it's the chorus from a song in the musical that you'll find yourself singing: "Then came the day Osama blew us away." (Download).
More thoughts, tracklisting and video

Life on Mars - Episode 1.03 (playlist)
More remarkable than the songs this time is a dialogue-driven call back to a song from last week, and the new use of Mike Post-inspired score, reinforcing the 70's cop show feel.
More thoughts and tracklisting

Chuck - Episode 2.04 (playlist)
We get a glimpse at Sarah's past with a trip to her 10-year high school reunion. A soundtrack from 1998 is the perfect excuse to use The Prodigy's "Smack My Bitch Up" for a very wet cat fight -- but it also means we get Hanson's "Mmmbop."
More thoughts and tracklisting

True Blood - Episode 1.07 (playlist)
The music theme this week was Americana bands doing covers of great established classics. Featuring The Watson Twins doing "Just Like Heaven" (The Cure,) Cowboy Junkies' great take on "Sweet Jane" (The Velvet Underground,) and The Knitters tackle this week's episode title track, "Burning House of Love" (X). Speaking of a burning house, there's no way our hero Bill is part of that southern fried vampire rubble. Right?
Tracklisting

Life - Episode 2.05 (playlist)
A need to be back in the spotlight leads to a murder, and to the use of Clem Snide's great "Moment in the Sun". Throw in Elliott Smith, Spoon and Guster and the music outshines the paltry mystery here. The series isn't doing a lot right now to move it off the bubble.
Tracklisting

Gossip Girl - Episode 2.07 (playlist)
Serena is a precious snowflake (White Apple Tree's "Snowflakes") that shouldn't have to be subjected to family rules, whatsoever. Sigh.
Tracklisting

More: Mad Men reference the Ibsen Play Peer Gynt both in title and song ("In the Hall of the Mountain King") and end with some great George Jones. Meanwhile, on The Office episode "Crime Aid," Michael revealed his favorite Bruce Springsteen songs, which included "The Heart of Rock and Roll" (Huey Lewis,) "Fast Car" (Tracy Chapman) and "Short People" (Randy Newman)... wha?

Previously: Weekly Roundup (last week)