I know that I'm not on top of the whole popular culture thing [What? Just because I'm reading a book from the 1950s when I go to bed {It's The Sign of the Twisted Candle tonight! Bess and George are mad at Nancy! There's an orphan! And MORE NED NICKERSON!} and I'm also reading a book from the early 1910s while I'm waiting around to see my doctor / working out [Seriously, The Magnificent Ambersons. Check it.].
Where the hell was I?
Oh, yeah, not really on top of stuff that most people like. I've never watched American Idol or Survivor or that show with Charlie Sheen but I have tried to watch How I Met Your Mother and seriously? What the hell? That show is not great. It is constantly touted as genius and funny and brilliant. It is not smart. It is a dumb sitcom. And while I am a fan of the sitcom [because I cannot tolerate more malaise in my life by watching sad, depressing tv], I am not a fan of the dumb. Here's why that show sucks:
1. There's a laugh track. I cannot abide this. It's all kinds of fucking wrong. IT IS THE CACKLING OF THE DAMNED.
2. The premise is ok, but there's nothing interesting going on. Yeah, I get it, we're finding out how this guy met his wife, which should be interesting, but is deadly dull. It's like a meet cute that is actually a meet snore. Like listening to the story of how your in-laws met. No one cares.
3. Everyone seems incredibly bland. They should liven up the characters by adding some sort of soap opera-y intrigue. Ice machine! Dead but then alive evil twin! Demonic possession! These are the most dull white people in the history of NY on tv. Mary Tyler Moore had more sass.
Have you seen this show? Am I wrong? Why isn't Arrested Development still on?
I've caught a few episodes here and there but never watched a single one in entirety, and my life is no worst off. I'd rather spend my time lamenting the fact that Arrested Development was cancelled! People just have no affinity for intelligent comedy, do they? Instead they love formulae sitcoms with laugh tracks (reading
ReplyDelete'cackling of the damned' made me cackle).
I've been in bed rewatching The Office and 30 Rock for the last week, so don't ask me. The young people; they all bore me fucking senseless. Oh yes, I am THAT old lady.
ReplyDeleteSarah xxx
I caught one episode but got angry at it's lame humour and switched the channel. I also love sitcoms, but they have to be smart - and actually funny. Modern Family is my latest favorite.
ReplyDeleteI did like that show the first couple seasons, then it got dull. My favourite is The Big Bang Theory. I've heard good things about Modern Family but just don't have time to watch much tv. If it ever comes on Netflix then I might check it out.
ReplyDeleteI like the show. But I hate laugh tracks. Don't tell me when to laugh! You aren't the boss of me!!
ReplyDeleteAMEN on the laugh track. haaaaaaaaaaate those.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I need to read The Magnificent Ambersons. That's now on my list.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I SO SO SO agree!!! Why ISN'T Arrested Development still on? No, instead we're left with dumbed-down nonsense because that's all most of the TV watching souls in this country can handle. Ugh. Travesty.
I actually do enjoy the show BUT as with all shows, it's past it's prime. It was great the first and second season but then the characters turned into huge cliches (just like with FRIENDS) and now it's obnoxious. Also do you REALLY need 8 seasons to talk about how you met their mom? I couldn't care less now...
ReplyDeleteYes, please bring back Arrested Development or shows like it. I do enjoy 'Raising Hope' and I loved 'Running Wilde'.
We should do as they do in Europe - know that the show will only be a couple of seasons long. Get in, tell the story well and end on a high note. None of this 10+ years on the air shit (Seinfeld, Cheers, Frasier, the list goes on and on).
But what do I know? I only watch a ridiculous amount of TV.
okay, I haven't seen it, nor heard of it, because I'm usually in bed with a book instead, but your description? Hilarious. The cackling of the damned! I also liked the remark about it being like the story of how your inlaws met. Who cares indeed!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBwhahahaha!! "Cackling of the damned". That, my friend, is some funny shit.
ReplyDeleteI watched one episode of that show. [by accident] Horrible.
Oh how I miss Arrested Development. I secretly despise that Mother show, and feel tremendous guilt, but only because I ADORE NPH. Even though he does all kinds of wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe only time I ever watched it was when I was trapped, alone in a hotel in Madrid with morning sickness while my husband attended a law conference. It was the only show in English and I watched it twice a day because there was nothing else on. I was entertained out of sheer desperation and nausea.
ReplyDeleteI love you. And what's more? I love you for your brain. That is all.
ReplyDeleteArrested Development was too good for 'mericans. i have 35 episodes saved on my DVR.
ReplyDeletecurrent day humorous/brilliant "sitcoms":
1) Curb your enthusiasm
2) Sunny in Philadelphia
3) Workaholics
4) Modern Family
5) 30 Rock
6) South Park
also, i watch seinfeld episodes a hundred times over
hmm, no wonder i can't seem to finish editing my memoir. and this is just my "comedy" list of shows.
i really need to get a fucking life.
I hate that show too. I don't understand how it's stayed on the air for so long. Like you, I have also never watched Survivor, but I do admit to being at my parents' house one day when American Idol was on and actually liking it. I didn't like it enough to watch another episode though.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess Doogie wasn't the 'Mo you wanna diddle, huh?
ReplyDeleteArrested Development isn't on because it required you to remember facts between one show & the next. And the public is dumb.
ReplyDeleteI'm ok with How I Met Your Mother - it's not "good," but it's watchable. This may just be my mancrush on Neil Patrick Harris. And Willow - I'd watch anything with Willow.
As far as modern sitcoms - the only ones that I can get into are Community, 30 Rock, and Modern Family (I'd classify the latter as brilliant and the prior 2 have moments of sheer awesomesauce), but Raising Hope has some truly great moments.
I loathe laugh tracks.
"Cackling of the damned" is so awesome, I want to kiss that phrase lovingly.
ReplyDeleteDo you have Netflix streaming? Check out Party Down or Dead Like Me (an older one). Subversive and funny.
I hated 'Friends.' Now I happily see that the once oh-so-cute twenty-somethings are starting to ease into middle age. I may have varicose veins and nose hair, but it's good to know company's coming!
ReplyDeleteI, too, loved "Cackling of the damned."
Perfect.
Confession: I've never seen it!
ReplyDelete{Ducking for cover now}
:)
I've read that often the laugh tracks they use are quite old, like several decades, so it stands to reason that a lot of the people laughing are in fact dead and thus may very well be damned.
ReplyDeleteAre they actually making shows without laugh tracks now? I've hated the laugh track ever since I tuned into TV in the '70s. I'd purposely NOT laugh just to show all those disembodied voices trying to boss me around.
ReplyDeleteNever seen it, and now really don't want to. I find TV today really bad, below par, unless it's reality...scripted reality which takes crap tv to a whole other level. Thanks for the visit today.....
ReplyDeleteI've never been able to get through a whole episode either. I don't get it. But the new "Up all night?" That, I'm looking forward to watching.
ReplyDeleteIt's the Wonder Years for 30+ year olds. Will he kiss Winny? Will we find out who the Mom is?
ReplyDeleteGag me with a fork.
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT. Yessss. I frequently like to break out in that song - you know the one when he liked to do his magic? Yes, you know. Now it is in your head I hope. Freaking awesome. And, no, I've never watched that other show you are talking about in this post. I want Arrested Development. Now.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I lovingly pet my "Arrested Development" DVDs, just so it knows that I care.
ReplyDeleteSo you're saying you don't like my post today on "How my in-laws met?"
ReplyDeleteCrap.
soooo..it seems that we have a divide today, I never watched HIMYM until last season and now I really like it, like I liked Friends. Maybe I just wish I had a popular group of beautiful people as friends like them, or the infertility storyline...or just the ridiculous storylines...I need the "Mundane" these days. I watch a LOT of Law & Order ;)
ReplyDeletePlus it's so silly that I don't have to pay attention. I'm sorry we do not agree on this, seems that I'm a bit low brow for you now. ;) xox
I LOVE you! How I Met Your Mother sucks HUGE BULL Balls!!!!
ReplyDelete