Reviews

The Tom Green Subway Monkey Hour

Tom Green Subway Monkey HourUnfortunately, Subway Monkey Hour isn’t among Tom’s shining MTV moments. Namely, the Andy Kaufman-esque, oddly-poignant Cancer special and the downright surreal Monica Lewinsky broadcast. Here Tom’s shuttled to Japan, sadly sans Humplik or even ever-tittering Phil Giroux, to spend two less-than-inspired weeks testing the patience of an intensely courteous culture. Tom visits a used panty peddler, simulates man love with a mechanical mall Santa (who inexplicably croons "The Yellow Rose of Texas") and places a talking "adult novelty" onto an automat serving conveyor. Probably what works best is also the simplest. When Green, who speaks Japanese, purposefully misspeaks or feigns misunderstanding even the most basic of instructions. Such as the demand he remove his Godzilla costume, which he uses as an excuse to strip to his underpants. But, at 3 a.m., even Tom seems to recognize the folly of this adventure, "See man, I told you I’d make it! I’m in Tokyo dressed as a FORK! Vomiting!!!"