What was on TV? Sat, Dec 4, 2004

20 years ago, George Clooney was People Magazine's sexiest man alive. But really Colin Farrell was the sexiest man alive, who are we kidding. (You're still pretty George! Go make Michael Clayton.)

8:00 The Wool Cap (recorded)

Available on DVD

This TNT movie presented by Johnson and Johnson is good, and not just good for a TV movie. Good for real.

William H. Macy plays Gigot, the mute superintendent of a crumbling New York City apartment building. He's a drunk who lives in the basement and wants to be left alone with his pet monkey (yes, really). But on a fateful Christmas day, a series of unfortunate events leave a preteen named Lou (Keke Palmer, getting an "introducing" credit) in his care. The film follows Lou and Gigot for the whole year until the following Christmas.

You can probably guess where this is going. He tries to find a guardian for her, but it proves impossible. And of course, by the time it becomes clear that it's impossible, they've bonded. Eventually, social services come calling, and Gigot has to try and turn his life around and address all his buried trauma if he wants to keep Lou in his life.

It's schmaltzy, but it's made with real craft and care. Macy and Palmer are both excellent, and they have great chemistry. But the rest of the ensemble is great too: Don Rickles Gigot's friend, Catherine O'Hara as a sex worker he frequents, Julito McCullum (Namond from The Wire) as a young boy in the building, and Ned Beatty as Gigot's father.

Director Steven Schachter and the whole team make surprising choices that keep the movie grounded. Someone will react to devastating news in an unexpected way, a background extra will get an unexpected spotlight, or the movie will hold on a shot when you expect it to cut. Then, when the movie does go for your tear ducts, it hits all the harder.

There's even a great original song (in addition to a great jazz-inspired score by Jeff Beal). Namond from The Wire is in a very mid-2000s band, and his neighbor is constantly bothering Gigot about the noise (he works nights!). Their big song is called "Six Dead Cats in a Blender," and it is perfect, and proves surprisingly important to the movie. The movie is full of delightful details like that.

I only found this through inter-library loan. But I might have to post it online. People deserve to see it, and to hear "Six Dead Cats in a Blender." And I want to watch it next Christmas.

Later A Christmas Carol: The Musical (recorded)

Available on YouTube, Hoopla, Tubi, and most FAST services

There's a sub-genre I call the "giant dollhouse movie." These are movies filmed on soundstages. They're live-action, but not realistic. They ask you to use your imagination. And so the whole thing feels like it takes place inside a giant dollhouse, like it all could be your very own dream, like you could create something just as amazing.

The pinnacle of the genre is obviously The Wizard of Oz. But any movie filmed on a soundstage with some dress-up-y costumes can capture this magic. This Christmas Carol has mediocre songs, and Kelsey Grammar isn't a great Scrooge. But it has that giant dollhouse energy, and I love it.

Plus, the cast is pretty great overall. Jason Alexander plays Marley and does a whole number with ghosts! Jane Krakowski is doing a British accent, which makes it easy to pretend that she's Jenna Maroney. Jesse L. Martin's costume almost manages to obscure his handsomeness, which is impressive in the worst way. But he's totally dialed in. There's a real orchestra and it's shot on film and that makes everything so much better.

And there's one moment that I found strangely powerful. As Scrooge watches Emily and his younger self duet, he begins singing along. Jennifer Love Hewitt is never more than not embarrassing as Emily, but it doesn't matter. Watching Scrooge watch himself is truly moving, as Dana Stevens pointed out in her review at the time. And then they lean in to kiss, and Scrooge's face disappears...it got me!

11:30 Saturday Night Live! on NBC

with host Colin Farrell and musical guest the Scissor Sisters

Colin Farrell hosted, and it was 2004, so the episode is mostly about how hot he is. Sometimes this is annoying (no, I do not think that sexual harassment and assault by the TSA is funny!). But sometimes it's fun. My favorite sketch involves Amy Poelher going back to Colin Farrell's apartment, only to discover a cockroach infestation (the cockroach is Horatio Sanz in a costume). I feel like the sketch started with someone wondering what could possibly kill the vibe if you were lucky enough to bag Colin Farrell. And a person-sized cockroach would do it!

What Else Was On

Willie Nelson serenaded Jimmy Carter in some kind of CMT special.

TiVo Status

The three-hour Masterpiece Theater miniseries The Lost Prince and The Office Christmas Special from across the pond (2 hours). 6 hours with 22 hours of space left.