I’d call VH1’s So NoTORIous a guilty pleasure, but I’m really not that guilty about liking it. I know, it’s a pop trifle next to an epic of celebrity self-absorption like Curb Your Enthusiasm, but La Spelling knows you expect pop trifles from her, and she works furiously not to disappoint.
Granted, it’s not novel for a star to build a show around her selfless willingness to let her writers make any joke at her expense, no matter how merciless. (I laughed at Kirstie Alley’s similarly self-flagellating Fat Actress too — make of that what you will). But what is unique is the execution. Unlike other celeb-reality sitcoms that belong to the Larry David/Ricky Gervais school, where embarrassing moments are followed by squirmy, lingering silences (a technique taken to such extremes in The Comeback that it wasn’t really a comedy at all), So NoTORIous has a pace that doesn’t let up. It’s just one humiliation after another, bing-bang-boom, no let-up, but after each one, our perky, optimistic heroine pops back up, unfazed, like a Weeble. Watch this week’s episode for yourself (it’s streaming at VH1.com; there’s a sequence in a sex-toy shop that’s a little too PG-13 to watch at work), in which Spelling lampoons her own lack of serious thespian skills, the nepotism that launched her career, and her apparently lingering fear of Shannen Doherty.
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I love this show it is hilarious!
I have been wanting to see this! I will watch the streaming episode! I have always had a soft spot for Tori Spelling (except no thank you to her lifetime movies!) Cheers Tori!
VH-1 needs to have this show as an iTunes download! Come on Vh-1 get to it!
OH MY GAWD. That stream was freakin’ hiliarous!!! I’m hooked. That video at the end had be falling out…Finally a medium for Tori to shine. I knew “Trick” wasn’t just a fluke.
Aramis, FYI that particular episode was also directed by Trick director Jim Fell.
Thankyou so much for putting this up. The show is a lot better than one would expect. I loved the Scientology episode.
The only reason I tuned in initially was because I am in serious withdrawl until 90210 comes to DVD…what happened is that I found quite a quirky, off-beat and oh my god- subtly brilliant show. I knew Tori had the goods- kudos to VH1 for picking up the show when no one else would!!
Thank you daddy for giving me an acting career because I am not educated enough and independant enough to get a job of my own!
The show is great. If you haven’t seen it you’re seriously missing out! Love it!
Don’t you love it when petty, jealous people like Stephanie try to post some snarky comment and they can’t even spell things correctly (independAnt)? Just because Tori has a fun show is no reason for you to get all up in her grill, Steph!
Ok Tori rocks! I saw her the other night in one of my favorite gay stops in Manhattan (XL) and she’s so cute, nice and friendly… loved her in TRICK, 90210 and I loooove her in So noTORIous… VH1 rocks!
Stephanie would be right, but thankfully, Tori puts those shortcomings right out there. And I think we all have lingering fear of Shannon Doherty.
I myself was curious and ended up watching the whole show at the sex shop. My husband and I loved it! Love the manager’s comment about women being so silly needing all that equipment…and the Shannon scare! But seriously, and I am not trying to be snarky, has it ever bothered anyone else how her head is so huge?
the comeback is the best show ever.
Stephanie-
So if your dad was a gazillionaire, and he offered you a job where you would make a ton of money and get to hang around with Luke Perry, you would turn it down?
They definately need to get it on itunes! I can’t find torrents anywhere. Go Tori! BTW THE COMEBACK is indeed the best show ever!