TV | Last year, Andy Samberg unceremoniously left Saturday Night Live and I was all like, “That’s lame.” Then I heard he was starring in a network television cop show and I was all like, “That’s weird.” But then I caught the premiere of his new series Brooklyn Nine-Nine and was all like, “This is awesome.” The show is the brainchild of Dan Goor and Michael Schur, both writers and producers on Parks and Recreation, and at least judging from the first couple of episodes, it’s worth a half-hour of your Tuesday night (8:30 pm on Fox). Samberg stars as a goofball detective who spars with his captain (Andre Braugher being funny — who knew?) and tries to snag a date with the female detective he’s often partnered up with. So, yeah, I learned something — not all cop shows are stupid.
FOOTBALL | The Seahawks have laid waste to their first three challengers of the season, and that’s due in part to the stranglehold Seattle’s defensive backs have had on their opponents’ passing game. That defense includes Richard Sherman, the Compton-raised, Stanford-educated cornerback who essentially made 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin disappear in the Hawks’ Week 2 steamrolling of San Francisco. It’s been a long time since the Seahawks have had an eccentric loudmouth on the field (Brian Bosworth memories popping up for anyone?) and Sherman plays that role with great aplomb and manages not to come off like an a-hole while doing it. Bonus points: he just launched a nonprofit organization that provides schoolkids with supplies and support.
ALBUM | If you’re getting tired of all this Americana music that your mustachioed, vest-wearing friends have been pushing your way for the past five years, here’s something to remedy that overload. Larry and His Flask, an all-acoustic act out of central Oregon, take old-timey music and give it a punk injection for a sound that’s melodic and raucous at the same time. This summer, the lads released By the Lamplight, which shows the five-piece at its best, replete with thick harmonies, fast picking and a whole lot of crazy energy. See them live to get the real feel of what five dudes can do without a single electric guitar.
