TVSquad

A day hasn't gone by where we haven't received some sort of tip or email asking us, the TV Squad, how to get on [insert reality show here]. Unfortunately no, Simon Cowell does not work for us, and Donald Trump isn't my BFF, so we really can't help all that much.

The folks at RealityWanted.com often send us a list of new and existing reality shows that are looking for new, er, talent, and they've given us permission to make mention of them here. We'll try to make this a regular feature as often as we get a new list.

This time we have The Bad Girls Club, The Biggest Loser and other new shows.

In the last twelve years, Lewis Black has gone from being "that angry guy on The Daily Show" to a comedy icon. Now, he finally has his own show.

In Lewis Black's Root of All Evil, which airs on Wednesdays at 10:30 PM ET on Comedy Central, two comedians argue why the pop culture item they represent is "the root of all evil." Last week's premiere episode, for instance, pitted Oprah against the Catholic church. Black plays the judge who controls the proceedings and makes the ultimate verdict. Sounds corny, but the first episode, which featured Paul F. Tompkins and Greg Giraldo, was wickedly funny and just a tiny bit subversive, everything you want in a good comedy.

I spoke to Black by phone last week; he was in Atlantic City on his stand-up tour. We discussed everything from the 2008 election to being on a cable news show with Ben Stein to sharing a jail cell with Jim Norton. The interview is after the jump.

After last night's powerful gay marriage debate with Bill Bennett, Jon was asked what went on between commercial breaks. "He asked me out. I would have gone, but I'll tell you why I'm not going to go... 'Cause... I don't know how to salsa dance," he tearfully admitted.

"Leonar-D'oh!": Jon Stewart started with some important news about the upcoming Da Vinci Code film. He somehow managed to take advantage of the word "Cannes" and work it into a "Khan!" joke. What a geek. Anyway, loads of religious groups are really angry over the film, staging protests and hunger strikes, just like Gandhi did to protest the Gold Diggers of 1933 (this joke gave Jon an excuse to dance/twitch rhythmically to Indian music). Apparently, some albino groups are pretty irked, as well. Jon said that religious groups always get attention for their huge protests, so it was good to see albinos get their moment in the sun -- um...

I think I hear someone yelling and it sounds like he's angry at everyone and everything. That can only mean one thing: Lewis Black.

Black picks up the mic again on Saturday, June 10 when he returns to HBO with his second special Red, White, and Screwed. Now this is something to look forward to. Black, as many of you know, frequently appears on The Daily Show (although, not as much as he used to) where he screams and complains to Jon Stewart about anything from politics to human behavior.

For those who never saw his first HBO special (Black on Broadway), his "Back in Black" segments on TDS are a good reference point. He always reminded me a lot of George Carlin because of his sharp political commentary and delivery, but Black truly has a style all his own that needs to be experienced by everyone. However, if you don't like being yelled at... this might not be for you.

On a side note, I'm actually in the middle of reading Black's new book Nothing's Sacred right now. It's good stuff. Check it out and don't forget about the special. If you forget, I think Lewis will punch you. Look at him. He'll do it.

A few days ago, Jon started by poking some fun at the Terre Haute, Indiana's weatherpeople because they were wickedly competitive, airing attack ads against rival stations' weather teams. Well, Terre Haute's locals caught the jokes (they have cable in Indiana?) and the general manager that helped to make the commercial said that The Daily Show "must have been pretty hard up for material... I didn't quite understand the point." Jon sobbingly apologized for making fun of their precious weatherpeople and proceeded to show a clip of him doing something more meaningful with his time (he went to a hospital to cheer up a sick little boy by showing him the attack ad... Unfortunately, the little boy -- who looked more like twenty than ten -- died from laughing too hard at the stupidity). What have you done, Terre Haute?!