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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

"Friends"


I am rewatching Friends on DVD. That show just rocks. When I'm stressed or tired, nothing picks me up faster or better. It's seminal, it's warm, it's hilarious.
I really hope something comes up to replace it.

ttl said...
"I agree. I used to look down on Friends as unoriginal, canned, "fast-entertainment".
But I gotta agree that it is uplifting, warm and does have therapeutic uses. In this case watching a show such as this from DVD makes more sense than following it when it's on.
For pure comedy value I much prefer, for example, Coupling and Office (the original British versions, not the American remakes which I think are pathetic). But neither of those are as warm or 'therapeutic' as Friends. Office may be downright depressive at times. But it is also artistic.
But then, I also find Columbo to be warm and uplifting!"

eolake said...
Thanks.
It is indeed easy to see Friends as "fast-entertainment", because it is accessible and hugely popular.
But the more I re-watch them, the more impressed with how it is *also* really subtle in so many ways.
Just one small example I noticed just an hour ago: when Rachel was pregnant and giving birth, Jennifer Aniston did not shy away from looking sweaty and distressed, and un-glamorous. And after she had given birth, they even gave her a little belly for a while, and didn't refer to it. Which is subtle for the show, and courageous for an actress mainly known for her glamour power. (It took me a while to realize that she is also an excellent actress.)
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6 comments:

  1. Anonymous21 Mar 2007, 23:44:00

    I agree. I used to look down on Friends as unoriginal, canned, "fast-entertainment".

    But I gotta agree that it is uplifting, warm and does have therapeutic uses. In this case watching a show such as this from DVD makes more sense than following it when it's on.

    For pure comedy value I much prefer, for example, Coupling and Office (the original British versions, not the American remakes which I think are pathetic). But neither of those are as warm or 'therapeutic' as Friends. Office may be downright depressive at times. But it is also artistic.

    But then, I also find Columbo to be warm and uplifting!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Eolake Stobblehouse21 Mar 2007, 23:57:00

    Thanks.
    It is indeed easy to see Friends as "fast-entertainment", because it is accessbile and hugely popular.
    But the more I re-watch them, the more impressed with how it is *also* really subtle in so many ways.
    Just one small example I noticed just an hour ago: when Rachel was pregnant and giving birth, Jennifer Aniston did not shy away from looking sweaty and distressed, and un-glamorous. And after she had given birth, they even gave her a little belly for a while, and didn't refer to it. Which is subtle for the show, and courageous for an actress mainly know for her glamour power. (It took me a while to realize that she is also an excellent actress.)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous26 Mar 2007, 15:31:00

    One problem I have with Friends is Courtney Cox. She is just so mesmerizingly beautiful that shots of her invariably cause me to enter a mild trance. I then am unable to pay attention to the dialogue --- which leaves me with gaps in the storyline. And because of this I have a very poor concept of what actually happened in the series.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Eolake Stobblehouse26 Mar 2007, 21:02:00

    I hear you.
    My theory is that DVDs and TiVo were invented mainly so we can go over and over Courteney until the story seeps through the haze.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous26 Mar 2007, 23:15:00

    You guys are hopeless!
    I bet you also enjoy looking at fine photos of beautiful naked women.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous27 Mar 2007, 06:32:00

    "I bet you also enjoy looking at fine photos of beautiful naked women."

    Not so much. I like dynamics in clothedness.

    But I understand the captain is a purveyor of such imagery.

    ReplyDelete