'DOT COMEDY' A TANGLED WEB.Byline: David Kronke TV Critic There's nothing about ``Dot Comedy'' that suggests that it's doing anything but holding a place in line on ABC's schedule between ``Two Guys and a Girl'' and ``Norm'' until the network finds a replacement for the late, unlamented ``The Trouble With Normal.'' ``Dot Comedy'' is a no-concept, low-impact show that purports to show us funny Web sites we ourselves can visit on the Internet Internet Publicly accessible computer network connecting many smaller networks from around the world. It grew out of a U.S. Defense Department program called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), established in 1969 with connections between computers at the , a late-night basic-cable concept if ever there was one. What we're shown is not-ready-for-prime-time material, stuff basically intended for the amusement Amusement is the state of experiencing humorous and usually entertaining events or situations, and is associated with enjoyment, happiness, laughter and pleasure. Amusement may also be experienced through the recollection of events which have given rise to amusement in the past. of a few hundred or thousand folks, hardly the millions who watch a network TV show. And the show isn't even really user-friendly: You'd better have a good memory, because the Web addresses are mentioned before you see the sites, and if one amuses you enough to consider a visit, its address is not repeated. Amusingly a·mus·ing adj. 1. Entertaining or pleasing. 2. Arousing laughter. a·mus  ing·ly adv. enough, the show requires no fewer than four hosts airlifted from sundry sun·dry adj. Various; miscellaneous: a purse containing keys, wallet, and sundry items. [Middle English sundri, from Old English syndrig, separate. cable networks - three in a studio (brothers Jason and Randy Sklar and Annabelle Gurwitch) before a soporific soporific /sop·o·rif·ic/ (sop?o-rif´ik) (so?po-rif´ik) 1. producing deep sleep. 2. hypnotic (2). sop·o·rif·ic adj. 1. studio audience and a ``field reporter'' (Katie Puckrick). In their forced, glib repartee rep·ar·tee n. 1. A swift, witty reply. 2. Conversation marked by the exchange of witty retorts. See Synonyms at wit1. , each comes across as someone you might meet at a party and initially think is kind of cool and funny, but after a few minutes, just comes across as trying way too hard and gets you plotting your escape. Puckrick interviewed the Web master of the most amusing site of tonight's episode, a museum of air-sickness bags. Of course, that laugh is a modest one at best, and the segment went on way too long (and, nope, the Web address was not repeated). Nothing in tonight's episode of ``Dot Comedy'' is remotely memorable, which, given the sort of funny stuff that actually exists on the Internet, suggests that the show's research department is not trying very hard. The idea that people might actually enjoy this show is enough to leave you dot-comatose. ``DOT COMEDY'' What: Survey of wacky Internet sites. The stars: Hosted by Jason Sklar, Randy Sklar, Annabelle Gurwitch, Katie Puckrick. Where: ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. (Channel 7). When: 8:30 p.m. Fridays. Our rating: One and one half stars |
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