'Chicken' wimps out on porn comedy

By Frazier Moore
Associated Press

Only on that kooky Comedy Central could the ritual consumption of fried chicken and porn films be considered a meaningful act of rebellion.

Well, only on Comedy Central and at Yale University, where a few years ago students formed the Porn 'n Chicken secret society for just such rites. After that, thanks to indulgent press accounts, it took on mythic status far beyond New Haven.

Since any self-respecting rebellion must be exploited for its full commercial value, "Porn 'n Chicken" is now a TV film. Billed as "a coming-of-age story" and Comedy Central's "first original movie," it premieres Sunday.

But what are we to make of a comedy that says "cut loose, dude" yet, airing as it does on basic cable, bleeps its four-letter words and shows no skin?

"Porn 'n Chicken-Hearted" would be a better title. Preaching a neo-1960s line — that college students should liberate themselves from the uptight older generation — this film is too timid to put across its argument. And not funny enough to obscure its timidity.

"Porn 'n Chicken" is only hard-core hokum.

Other shows to look for

• "Who Counts? Election Reform in America" pairs former CNN political correspondent Frank Sesno with "Saturday Night Live" player Darrell Hammond for an unlikely blend of comedy and reporting on election reform. Along with interviews with real political figures, the show features Hammond portraying Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Bill Clinton. "Who Counts?" airs on PBS at 10 p.m. Thursday.
• The popular "Live by Request" specials on A&E continue Oct. 18 with rock legend Carlos Santana, who performs viewer requests (submitted by phone and Internet) in a two-hour program beginning at 9 p.m.
• For the fifth consecutive year, cable's ABC Family presents "13 Nights of Halloween" — more than 90 hours of scary Halloween-themed programming — through Oct. 31. It starts tomorrow with four installments of the network's reality series "Scariest Places on Earth," airing from 4 to 8 p.m.