(It sounds better than "comedy junkie".)
I've posted recommendations before. Here are a few more:
My Name is Earl. Mild and positive, life-affirming and funny.Green Wing. Season two of this hospital comedy is even better than the first season. Often roll-on-the-floor funny. (British show, seems not to have been released in the US yet.) Very bizarre, very daring.
Gilmore Girls. I regard it as a comedy. Of the highest order. A show that seems mainstream on the surface, but really is very unique.
The Boondocks. Pretty funny, pretty edgy comedy about black life in America. Rather uneven though, despite good production values. (Animation.)
Curb Your Enthusiasm. Hmm, I liked it for a while, but then got sick of it. Basically it consists of Larry David behaving like a complete asshole, and then not understanding why he has problems with people.
Featured comment from F. Identity:
"Surprised you aren't into either 'West Wing' or (the new Sorokin concoction, just move the cast and ideas to a night-time TV program's backstage) 'Studio 30'."
Oh, I didn't say I'm not, it is just not really a comedy, though it is often very funny. The West Wing (at least the first four seasons, while Sorkin was writing) was extremely brilliant. It says a lot about the show that it captured my attention despite my disdain for and lack of interest in politics.
I hadn't heard of Studio 30, but when it comes on DVD, I'm getting it.
I rented Extras and watched a couple episodes, but like the (UK) Office, I found it more embarassaing than funny, so I gave it up.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's an acquired taste.
But I wonder why "embarassment-humor" seems to be so prominent at the moment.
Surprised you aren't into either "West Wing" or (the new Sorokin concoction, just move the cast and ideas to a night-time TV program's backstage) "Studio 30."
ReplyDeleteI agree that shows like "The Office" (either the BBC version or the new North American failure copy-cat) and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" leave me cold. I mean, I "get" the joke -- these people are dorky losers, just like in real life! -- but the DRAMA and creating a well-wrought show don't seem to be issues for the people behind the show. It's just a tiny step up from some "best videos" TV, where they just mount a hidden camera and watch people being typical idiots. Not comedy, merely, stupidity. Big difference.
Wonko: in your last paragraph, you just said what I wanted to say about shows like "The Office," in your comments about stupidity. It's funny that you led into that by disagreeing rather than agreeing with my comments, in your first paragraphs. :)
ReplyDelete(Hey, checkitout, the word verification picture has randomly spelled out "billypubs" this time 'round!)
Dang, are we analyzing comedy now? I've never thought of humor as something you have to think about. Like a pretty girl, you don't think about why she's pretty, you just enjoy the moment.
ReplyDeleteThen again, I'm also one of the generation of kids who was traumatized by Ren and Stimpy(which I still think is one of the greatest shows ever), and I also think Jim Carrey is one of the coolest people to ever live.
When Sorkin was writing for West Wing it was at it's pinnacle. When he left the show it slipped into a boring soap opera.
ReplyDeleteI watched an extremely funny movie called "Click" with Adam Sandler in it. Talk about a funny comedy. Man, it also had a great story line.
And honestly the last half hour of the film brought me to tears. I never knew Sandler had that ability with drama as well. Please watch it everyone. It's worth the small cost.
Thanks, will do.
ReplyDeleteA word that begins with the "K" sound ...
ReplyDelete"I wonder why "embarassment-humor" seems to be so prominent at the moment."
ReplyDeleteJust at the moment? I never could "get" the humor in National Lampoon movies and the like. Making embarassment funny takes more than repetition, it takes talent. And moderation in quantity!
"It's [...] not comedy, merely, stupidity. Big difference."
Yes, exactly what I'm talking about. Sometimes, the sight of people being incredibly stupid just gets on my nerves, if there's nothing else in it. Alas, this is a huge trend in France now. Almost every network airs "funny" shows in the pre-evening news stategic hour, which are nothing more than making the average lame-o feel good and amused by showing him people artificially being way stupider than even he could ever be (hopefully!!!). I pray that nobody thought of displaying these abominations in Guantanamo!
Don't take me wrong here, stupid CAN be funny. But not simply because it's stupid. Rowan Atkinson in Mr Bean, for instance, is brilliant. Some of his other stuff is ho-hum.
Too many of my classmates also mistake lewd with hilarious, and start very stupidly guffawing like hyenas before I even get to the punchline of a funny dirty joke.
Spoils all MY fun in telling it. ):-P
On the opposite, the innocent naiveness of little children I find irresistible. Partly because I don't laugh AT them. They're just being funnily cute, candid, or poetic.
Yesterday morning, my little nephew (2½) opened his mouth wide to show me he had new teeth. I asked : "Does it still hurt now? - No."
Then the little tyke added in a quiet, very matter-of-fact voice: "I'm very happy."
I melted.
"There are whole areas of our populations where doing well at school is frowned on, or even an excuse for bullying."
Well, it's today's new philosophy: "If you can't match them, drag them down."
):-P
"I've never thought of humor as something you have to think about. Like a pretty girl, you don't think about why she's pretty, you just enjoy the moment."
But the moment can be spoiled prematurely if you find out that the pretty girl is very stupid. Unless you don't mind it, of course!
"I also think Jim Carrey is one of the coolest people to ever live."
Well, I've heard that he's a pretty annoying guy in private. But I fully agree he's an awesome funny comedian. He illustrates that intelligently done "stupid", in the style of Jerry Lewis, is very entertaining. Ace Ventura (the first one) left me breathless with laughter. And The Mask is already a timeless classic.
Carrey also showed he can do intelligent roles, much more moving than amusing, with The Truman Show. He's good. Hats off.
"Wonko outside the asylum said...
final identity: that's very interesting that despite coming at the subject from different angles we've reach similar conclusions!"
Well, this proves there's more than one way to be intelligent, doesn't it? :-)
Alas, my word verification did not come out as anything so cheerful as "billypubs".
This is the first time I hear of that gizmo giving you more than 8 letters.
It did offer me to buy a second-hand "wolvo" lately, though...
I suspect some of Harry Potter's weird words, like Fizzwizzbizz, Waddiwasi, Horcrux and Hermwyny, might be owed to a creative blogpost engine.
Richard Pryor :
I remember discovering him in what was probably his debut, "Superman 3". (Doesn't make me any younger!)
I thought two things: "Who is this incredibly bumbling guy who's never been in the comic?", and "God, for an idiot's character, he sure is funny, even with all his overacting!"
As my nephew would say in his simplicity : "I like him."
Final,
Would you please stop getting distracted by the random letters? We're trying to have a very serious conversation about comedy here, you know? Grow up!
;-)
Actually, the corect name is "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" or just 'Studio 69' if you dont like long names.
ReplyDeleteAnother good 'dramady' is Boston Legal, with William Shatner. If you can get the first season on dvd I highly recommend it.
I havent really found any US comedies that have caught my eye lately. I did watch the Gilmour Girls for the first season or 2 but then found myself mentally screaming "alright, shut up already!" at the screen. Its as if the writters have an ongoing bet to see how many words they can fit into an episode.