Underrated / Overrated

Maria Bamford: Amid all of the post-Thanksgiving shopping hype, we hope you caught this L.A. comic’s series of surreal ads for a certain department store’s “Black Friday” sale. With a twisted gift for voices and characters, Bamford nearly stole Comedy Central’s “Comedians of Comedy” series, and we’re thankful she’s finally getting more exposure without compromising her wonderfully weird perspective.

The Muppets: In case it hasn’t already shown up in your in-box, last month’s YouTube release of the Muppets’ reliably ridiculous yet reverent cover of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a brilliant reminder of just how many things in life can be vastly improved with Muppet magic. We’re not sure which inspired cameo we adored the most: Beaker, the Swedish Chef or Sam the Eagle. Take that, “Wayne’s World.”

‘Friends’: Amid all the well-deserved hype “Curb Your Enthusiasm” earned over the past few months for its show-within-a-show “Seinfeld” reunion, we couldn’t help but notice how little its one-time partner on NBC’s Thursday night schedule resonates these days by comparison. The years when it dominated pop culture are well behind us, but as Chandler might say, “Could this show be any more dated?”

‘The Road’s’ sense of timing: We haven’t yet seen this adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic tale of a father and son’s search for survival, but we’re struggling to imagine when we will. Viggo Mortensen is probably fantastic and we’re told the film captures McCarthy’s ruthlessly grim vision, but where does all that fit amid festivals of lights and tidings of great joy? Was October all booked up?