For Pete's Sake
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FINAL-1 Sat, Jan 27, 2018 5:20:59 PM Your Weekly Guide to TV Entertainment for the week of February 3 - 9, 2018 OLD FASHIONED SERVICE For Pete’s sake FREE REGISTRY SERVICE Pete Holmes as seen in “Crashing” HBO’s “Crashing” is currently enjoying its Massachusetts’ First Credit Union sophomore season, with a new episode airing Located at 370 Highland Avenue, Salem John Doyle Sunday, Feb. 4. Writer, creator and star Pete St. Jean's Credit Union INSURANCEDoyle Insurance AGENCY Holmes (“Ugly Americans”) has drawn humor from some of his deepest memories and most 3 x 3 Voted #1 1 x 3 Serving over 15,000 Members • A Part of your Community since 1910 Insurance personal life moments. He plays a fictionalized Agency version of himself in the dark comedy — a Supporting over 60 Non-Profit Organizations & Programs character who struggles with the realities of Serving the Employees of over 40 Businesses adulthood, such as the disollution of his mar- Auto • Homeowners • Business • Life Insurance riage and the difficulties of carving out a place 978.219.1000 www.stjeanscu.com 978-777-6344 for himself in the comedy world. Offices also located in Lynn, Newburyport & Revere Federally Insured by NCUA www.doyleinsurance.com FINAL-1 Sat, Jan 27, 2018 5:21:00 PM 2 • Salem News • February 3 - 9, 2018 Divine comedy: HBO’s ‘Crashing’ explores faith By Sarah Passingham plot of “Crashing.” Confronting di- for comedy is felt by audiences and pitched the concept of “Crashing” comedies lean on, and the goodness TV Media vorce and a new career pushes Pete critics, as his turn playing a fictional to Apatow, the latter told Vulture he of Pete is what steers the show into Video to question what his faith means to version of himself in “Crashing” felt it was “too sad.” Holmes, how- plots less traveled. While comedians releases ike many comedians, Pete Hol- him, and he is not the only character has gifted him with the most well- ever, was motivated and certain are often portrayed as bad people mes (“Ugly Americans”), writer, in the show who contemplates his received performance of his career. about the show, and after writing a making bad decisions, for “Crash- Lcreator and star of HBO’s spirituality. Holmes shared with Paste maga- series of episodes, the partnership ing,” Holmes created Pete from a “Crashing,” has drawn humor from Lange, playing himself in the fi- zine that in creating “Crashing” as a with Apatow became a match made different cloth. He is a thoughtful, if some of his deepest memories and nale of the first season, engages in dark comedy, he felt that he was in heaven, and they got to work. The at times naive person whose decen- most personal life moments. The a discussion about the place of spir- “playing catch-up with other great series leans into the adulthood mal- cy is often what causes problems for concept of the series was formed ituality in a world where people artists like Lena Dunham and Ricky aise that Apatow is known for pro- him, as well as some of the most en- from Holmes’ experiences as he re- seek logical meaning for life’s Gervais.” It is not a surprise then ducing not only in his television se- joyable tension. A key factor in what dedicated himself to the pursuit of a events. Artie comes out of the con- that Judd Apatow, who famously ries, but in his film career as well. In makes “Crashing” work is the op- standup comedy career. The comedy versation giving himself a sort of executive produced “Girls” for HBO, “Funny People” (2009), a comedian posing natures of the fictional ver- is currently in its sophomore season, baptism as a new believer. For would settle into the same role for deals with a terminal illness with sions of Holmes and Lange. Lange is with a new episode airing Sunday, Lange, getting out of New Jersey “Crashing.” Holmes shared with signature Apatow humility as he de- the gruff veteran comic to Pete’s in- Feb. 4, on HBO. and finding a home in New York The Hollywood Reporter that what velops a quick friendship with a nocent newcomer, and the two ex- The show’s lead — also named City as a successful standup come- inspired him to need Apatow as a green comic. So, while it is a story plore parallel problems questioning Pete, and played by Holmes himself dian was its own spiritual experi- mentor was the “serious heart and told many times before, it may be faith and entertainment. Centering — struggles with the realities of ence. Speaking to Exclaim! about warmth” he felt the characters of told best with “Crashing,” as Holm- the story from Pete’s point of view is adulthood, such as the dissolution leaving his home state, he said he “Girls” had and which he wanted in es and Apatow have practiced and what makes “Crashing” a fresh take of his marriage to Jess (Lauren Lap- “became more enlightened than the characters of his own show. are at their best. on a comic’s origin story. kus, “Orange Is the New Black”), my friends by going into show busi- What seems like a perfect fit now “Crashing” upends some stereo- Catch a new episode of “Crash- questioning his faith, and reimagin- ness.” The passion that Lange has almost wasn’t. When Holmes types that many autobiographical ing,” airing Sunday, Feb. 4, on HBO. ing his dreams when confronted with the difficulties of carving out a place for himself in the comedy world. As the series is semi-autobio- graphical, many of Holmes’ comedy contemporaries appear as them- selves in the show, including Artie Lange (“The Artie Lange Show”), T.J. Miller (“Silicon Valley”), Hannibal Kristen Bell stars in “A Buress (“Broad City”) and Sarah Sil- Bad Moms Christmas” verman (“I Love You, America”). Other comedians, such as Jermaine A Bad Moms Fowler (“Superior Donuts”) and Christmas Aparna Nancherla (“Inside Amy Moms and best friends Amy Shumer”), feature as well, albeit in (Kunis), Kiki (Bell) and Carla more fictional roles. (Hahn) are all looking for- This is not the first endeavor for ward to the coming Christ- which Holmes has combined his mas season, until all three personal and professional lives for of them have their own compelling content. He has long mothers show up unexpect- been the host of the popular pod- edly to spend the holidays cast “You Made It Weird,” in which with them and their fami- he welcomes friends, guests and lies. It doesn’t take long for other comedians into conversations the younger women to start that explore complex ideas. Be- butting heads with their in- tween the podcast, the confessional nature of standup comedy and the trusive moms, and during a series inspired by events from his day out Christmas shopping own life, Holmes has honed his skill together, they vow to take of oversharing until it becomes art. back the holiday and do Holmes attended Gordon Col- things the way that they lege, an Evangelical Christian col- want to. The souring rela- lege in Massachusetts, and his faith tionships between them and has been challenged and broad- their moms, however, ened since those formative years. threaten to ruin the holiday Following his upbringing in Christi- that they’re trying so des- anity, Holmes explored Buddhism as perately to save. an adult, and he brings his knowl- Directors: Jon Lucas, Scott edge of and experience with faith Moore. Stars: Mila Kunis, with him in his everyday life, includ- Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, ing in his creative projects. As Holm- Christine Baranski, Susan es told the New York Times, spiritu- Sarandon, Cheryl Hines, Jus- ality is “not just a Sunday-only thing tin Hartley, Jay Hernandez. for me. It’s something I’m constantly 2017. 104 min. Comedy. reading and thinking about.” So, Jermaine Fowler in “Crashing” naturally, it’s a driving force of the Continued on page 16 FINAL-1 Sat, Jan 27, 2018 5:21:01 PM February 3 - 9, 2018 • Salem News • 3 NESN (51) NCAA Florida State vs. Pitts- ESPN2 (50) NCAA Davidson at Rhode Is- Noon GOLF (69) Golf Central Pre-game Sunday 3:30 p.m. NBCSN (48) Saltwater Expe- Live Live Live burgh Women’s land 5:30 p.m. NESN (51) New England rience 1:30 p.m. WCVB (5) NBA Countdown CSNE (52) Celtics Pre-game Live Live 2:00 p.m. GOLF (69) PGA Phoenix Open Hockey Journal 4:00 p.m. NBCSN (48) George Povero- Live 7:30 p.m. CSNE (52) NBA Indiana Pacers Round 3 Live mo’s World of Saltwater Fishing Sports (5) NBA Live Monday (69) this week 2:00 p.m. WCVB Los Angeles at Boston Celtics 2:45 p.m. GOLF Golf Central Pre- NCAA Wednesday Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder Live NBA game Live 5:00 p.m. NESN (51) Boston Col- 8:00 p.m. ESPN (49) Minnesota Noon NBCSN (48) Americana Outdoors 2:30 p.m. CSNE (52) Celtics Post-game Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls Live 4:00 p.m. WBZ (4) PGA Phoenix Open lege vs. Northeastern Beanpot Tournament AUTO RACING Semifinal Live 12:30 p.m. NBCSN (48) Bass 2 Billfish Live Live ESPN2 (50) NCAA Detroit Round 3 Live 9:00 p.m. (51) Beanpot Face-Off NBCSN (48) Into the Blue Saturday 3:00 p.m. ESPN2 (50) NCAA Stanford at Mercy at Oakland Live 7:00 p.m. GOLF (69) Golf Central 7:30 p.m. NESN 1:00 p.m.