“The Soup” has always been funny - well, since Joel McHale started hosting “The Soup” proper in 2004, at least. I was pretty lukewarm-to-negative on “Talk Soup” hosts John Henson, Hal Sparks and Aisha Tyler, though I was and remain a huge fan of O.G. host Greg Kinnear (sort of weird of at this point to remember that he actually did host “Talk Soup,” and that it wasn’t the kind of weird dream that I have where I’m starring in a sci-fi time travel epic with Dan Ackroyd and Marissa Tomei). But I’ve only recently been DVRing it each week; before it was at “catch it if I can” status, and since I’m usually weeping silently in a corner of a crowded bar at 10 p.m. Fridays, that wasn’t very often. Now it’s a priority, and I’ve been able to see gems like Spaghetti Cat.

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In even happier news, McHale is coming to the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix on Nov. 14, according to his official Web site.There’s no information up yet on Celebrity’s Web site at all, so no details on ticket prices and on-sale dates are available as of now. But, Smashmouth apparently will be there on Nov. 15. So there’s that.

FX’s excellent “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” the show that’s given the world wonderful moments like this -

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- is going on tour. No, not the actual stars of the show (that would be awesome, though), but a promotional tour of ten universities across the country, starting today in the Univeristy of Colorado, and coming our way 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2 at Arizona State University. It’s a game show-type thing where you answer trivia questions about the show and spin a wheel to win wacky, vaguely show-related prizes like a “dumpster baby trophy,” which, based on the picture, was inscripted by Charlie Kelly himself (”dumpster baey”?).

The official FX site says the ASU event will take place at “Vista del Sol.” My immediate thought was, “hey, I went to ASU for four years, I’ve never heard of Vista del Sol, they must have not known where it was taking place and strung together some random Spanish words.” Turns out, actually, Vista del Sol is some kind of super-dorm, with a “24-hour fitness center” and “huge resort-style swimming pool & sundeck with lounge cabanas,” a far cry from the prison-style residence halls that I spent five semesters in just a few short years ago. They’ve even got “large living rooms with leather-style furniture package.” The only living room I ever had was the six inch radius around my TV/VCR (not counting the wall), and there was certainly nothing leather-style about it.

For the first time ever, “American Idol” is holding auditions in the Valley area - at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale on Friday, July 25, for season eight. Given the victory of Glendale’s Jordin Sparks in season six, and the success of  former Mesa resident and fifth place finalist Brooke White this past season (not to mention the fun controversy of singin’ male stripper David Hernandez, also from Glendale). So prepare your comically bad auditions in hopes of making it for a few seconds on the early episodes, and perhaps in promos leading up to the season premiere!

“Idol” gives AZ more love this week, as they’re kicking off their “American Idols Live Tour 2008″ this Tuesday, July 1 again, at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale. Read more about it here.

“I don’t have a minute - tonight is ‘Sex and the City’!”

That’s what a rabid “SATC” fan told me told me last night when I attempted to get a quote from her (joke’s on her - I did get one! Just not her name, or any of that supposedly important information).

The “Sex and the City” movie is “Star Wars” for girls, and the crowd at last night’s midnight showing - make that showings, four of the sixteen screens at Harkins Tempe Marketplace come 12:01 a.m. were dedicated to the film version of the HBO comedy - proved it. I’m used to seeing a variety of geeks, nerds and dorks lining up to see a movie at midnight; risking not sleeping until 3 a.m. on a work or school night just to be among the first folks in the nation to see “Spider-Man” or “Lord of the Rings.” I’ve done it - many times! But seeing a variety of women in their late ’20s to late ’30s doing it is something else entirely.

While scoping out the crowd, I spot no more than four men at a given time, outnumbered roughly 5-to-1. All, as one would stereotypically yet accurately predict, seemingly dragged there by significant others. Finally, I find some people willing to talk to me about why seeing “Sex and the City” so early in its release and so late at night is so important.

“I’m so excited,” yelped Carson Chappins, of Scottsdale. At 17, she’s definitely at the young end of the spectrum, but the fact that she was in elementary school when the show debuted in 1998 didn’t damper her enthusiasm one bit. “I have work tomorrow night, so I wouldn’t be able to see it until then.”

Her friend, Claire Bashaw, also 17, of Phoenix, was similarly excited. Well, the word she used was ’stoked.”

“It’s fun to stay out later,” said Bashaw. “I heard Aidan might return,” she said, as I pretend to know what that means - I guess it’s like the after the credits cameo in “Iron Man.”

Not only did these two fans not have work in the morning to worry about, they also had both gone to midnight “Harry Potter” screenings in the past.

In a way, the vibe was similar to a “Harry Potter” screening - people were dressed up, but instead of Hogwart’s Academy robes, many attendees were proudly wearing high heels and short dresses, clearly trying to emulate their four favorite females. I overhear someone saying their purse is a “tribute to Samantha.”

Even the snack bar is full. Is popcorn truly the proper sustenance for “Sex and the City,” or are nachos a more suitable accompaniment to Manhattan haute couture?

Despite being blown off earlier, I spot a group of nattily dressed yet outwardly friendly women about to enter. Surely they’ll be able to take a few minutes to talk to me about how excited they are for puns and raunchy sex talk.

“We gotta get seats - sorry!”

…at some point on Sunday, at least.

A casting call for the upcoming, Ryan Seacrest-executive produced NBC reality show “Momma’s Boys,” where mom’s help their sons find love (only slightly creepy) is being advertised for Six in Scottsdale on Sunday, even though no time is listed on the flyer.

I put in a call to Six, and the employee that answered didn’t even know about the event, but it’s possible that you might catch someone there that knows if you call at a different time.

It’s pretty enticing. Who’s going to show up? Actual repressed mama’s boys crawling out of their parents’ basement for the first time in months, or Scottsdale d-bags who want to get on TV and are dragging their reluctantly consenting mothers along for the ride? Both? They’re casting “single ladies” as well. Exciting stuff.

If the constant repeats of “Seinfeld” in the past 10 years since the show stopped producing new episodes have left you wanting more, why not check out the comedian when he comes to the Dodge Theatre on June 6? I used to have much of his old stand-up act memorized (”You don’t see me knocking on the cockpit and saying ‘I’m having the peanuts now!’”), not so much because I was such a big fan (even though I did enjoy the show), but just because it was the same jokes over and over again every time he was on TV and all that. But they were great! But now, I guess he has new jokes, that’s what that documentary was all about, right, so hopefully they’re still pretty funny. Maybe now he has cutting-edge material on text messages or social networking Web sites! What is the deal with Twitter?