It's pretty consistent with his sort of comic book approach to fiction.  The stories he tells are all about larger-than life characters intruding suddenly into real world scenarios.  I think those joke moments sort of sum up in the course of a scene why this stuff appeals to him.

That's what I figured, but apparently there's a grand conspiracy at work.

That's what I figured, but apparently there's a grand conspiracy at work.

We ought to refer this to the SCOTUS, and pretend that doesn't sound horribly dirty.

We ought to refer this to the SCOTUS, and pretend that doesn't sound horribly dirty.

Childhood: broken.  I don't care if it's true or not: now that the possibility has been raised, things can never be the same.

Childhood: broken.  I don't care if it's true or not: now that the possibility has been raised, things can never be the same.

Seconded.

Seconded.

I got your reference!  I got your reference!

I got your reference!  I got your reference!

The most expensive option is almost always the tackiest.

The most expensive option is almost always the tackiest.

Perhaps there is a universe, however, where everyone else is even worse than him.

Perhaps there is a universe, however, where everyone else is even worse than him.

Or just a deep instinctive love of anything featuring those Yip Yip aliens.

Or just a deep instinctive love of anything featuring those Yip Yip aliens.

(> '.' )>

(> '.' )>

I feel the same way.  And I actually kind of like the Private Life of Bill and Sue.  It somehow makes the vapid celebrity culture we all constantly rail against seem kind of harmless.  And I was (pleasantly?) surprised that Daybreak Over the Ocean is far from the worst song on the album.