The comedy troupe "Asperger's Are Us" is a group of four performers on the autism spectrum. They met at a summer camp for kids with Asperger's Syndrome and discovered a shared love of comedy. Now they tour the country, performing live shows and releasing videos online.
The group's performances are often unconventional, with skits that involve absurdist humor and unexpected twists. They also incorporate their unique perspectives on life and their experiences with Asperger's into their comedy. Their goal is to challenge the idea that people with autism are not capable of being funny or entertaining.
Touring can be challenging for the group due to the sensory overload of new environments and the need for routine. But they have found ways to cope, such as sticking to a strict schedule and practicing mindfulness. Their success as comedians with Asperger's has helped to break down barriers and promote understanding of neurodiversity in the entertainment industry.
Shot in the fashionable "mockumentary" style, allegedly compiled by a foreign exchange student from Sweden, "Modern Family" shows three branches of the Pritchett family tree: Pater familia Jay Pritchett has married Gloria, a much younger, beautiful, passionate and outspoken Columbian, who brings her somewhat unconventional son, Manny, into the family with her. Jay's daughter Claire has married real estate broker Phil Dunphy, and they have three children--Haley, a boy-crazy, attitude-rich high school diva; Alex"”short for Alexis"”a gifted, insightful, but somewhat awkward tween cello player; and Luke, who is cluelessly stumbling through life and elementary school. Jay's son Mitchell, an attorney, and Cameron, his gay partner, have adopted a VietNamese daughter, Lily; and they are adjusting to partnership and parenthood all at once. Together, the family struggles through the predictable crises of everyday life. Spectacular writing distinguishes the show, and its perfectly chosen ensemble cast looks and feels like families who live just up the street. In 2010, at the middle of its first record-breaking season, "Modern Family" collected six Emmy Awards, including the much-coveted award for Outstanding Comedy Series. "Modern Family" also collected a Writer's Guild Award, a Peabody Award, a Directors' Guild Award, and a Television Critics Award.
Legendary bad-boy and all-around ace philanderer Charlie Sheen stars in CBS's hit sitcom "Two-and-a-Half Men," inspiring most loyal viewers to wonder how much the show and its situation actually challenge the million-dollar jokester really to act. Sheen plays, just coincidentally, of course, Charlie, a profligate composer living comfortably on the beach in Malibu thanks to his singular gift for making-up catchy commercial jingles. Charlie's steadfast devotion to "The Playboy Philosophy" meets serious challenges when his frighteningly repressed, skin-crawlingly anxious, and obnoxiously too-preppy chiropractor brother moves into the beach house, bringing his adolescent son with him"”both refugees from a Southern California tract-house divorce. Perfectly cast for his role in "Two-and-a-Half Men," John Cryer brilliantly recreates Alan's tics, quirks, and peccadilloes; and Angus T. Jones, television's consummate anti-Disney superstar, makes puberty and cluelessness look (almost) vaguely adorable. Brilliant, insightful, incisive, snarky and sardonic, frequently edgy, deliciously allusive writing keeps the show fresh and relevant"”lots of running jokes and familiar motifs have developed, but nothing ever seems even vaguely old"¦least of all, Charlie Sheen.
Of course, nerds, geeks, dorks, techies, and intellectuals of all advanced-degree descriptions deserve love and affection"”if only their lips could form the monosyllables, "Will you go out with me?" CBS's hit "The Big Bang Theory" explores this and other mysteries of the universe, putting a lab-coated coterie of Cal-Tech scientists directly across the hall from Penny, premier Pasadena waitress and aspiring actress. "The Big Bang Thoery" proves once again that excruciating self-consciousness and social ineptitude, unfortunately, are always funny; and GED holders may derive extra satisfaction from Penny's frequent mastery of difficult situations on the strength of common sense and hard experience. In its first seasons, "The Big Bang Theory" looked frighteningly like "My Boys" minus Wrigley Field, but the characters and show have evolved, and individual actors and actresses have put their distinctive stamps on their roles. Especially Kaylee Cuoco has found the right balance between ingenuousness and homegrown girl power in her portrayal of Penny. Audiences have noticed, giving "The Big Bang Theory" their nod for a People's Choice Award in 2010. At the 2011 Golden Globe Awards, relatively unheralded, deliciously diffident Jim Parsons took home a handsome statuette for his performance as physicist Dr. Sheldon Cooper, an immensely lovable uber-nerd supreme. And in January, 2011, giving "The Big Bang Theory" the ultimate vote of confidence, CBS extended the show's contract for another three seasons.
Episode by episode, loyal viewers of "How I Met Your Mother" first forget and then cease caring that the stories supposedly are told as flashbacks from some uncertain future when a couple of the characters actually have children. Ted, ostensibly the main character, described by the pitchmen as "architect and eternal romantic, feels the urgency of finding the same true love his best friend Marshall has found with his wife Lily. Marshall is a little dorky, Lily is lovably flaky, and Robin"”Ted's premier love interest"”is gorgeous but better left among the cell numbers of "just friends." Oddball character Barney is the comic centerpiece of the show. Neil Patrick Harris plays Barney"”need anyone say more? Barney, as fiercely opinionated as he is devoted to designer suits for all occasions, specializes in impromptu development of foolproof schemes for meeting and making conquest of women. "How I Met Your Mother" contributes significantly to CBS's domination of Monday night tube, because approximately twenty million viewers agree with the Yahoo! reviewer who wrote, "Good writing and quirky characters played by likeable actors, this one consistently entertains me. NPH has created a classic character in Barney. And with the fabulous Alyson Hannigan on board *sighs*, I just can't stop watching."
