Queue on 21/9/2013 at 15:49
Bringing this back on topic (whatever that was)....
Strangely enough, we as a viewing audience now demand more out of dramas and accept less out of comedies in today's television viewing. Sure there are many exceptions, but on the whole comedies are devoid of anything actually "funny" while dramas push harder to be more challenging and deeply layered.
The problem I have with shows like the Big Band Theory is that they are hand-holding entertainment. Instead of letting the content be funny, they utilize facial exaggerations, over-the-top acting, and laugh tracks to tell the audience when to laugh, that this is funny so you should laugh; instead of allowing the audience the chance to think it out and decide if what's being presented is truly funny or not. So many of the network comedies have become a mind-numbing experience for nothing more than cheap laughs and quick entertainment escapism, and this is actually making the audience less able to determine the value of content. The audience, simply put, no longer has to think about it to get the joke. And the biggest irony is that these shows are presented as "intellectual", when in reality they are just fodder for the masses.
And a part of me wonders if this isn't intentional. I mean, what corporation wouldn't want to create an audience of critical-thinking challenged sheep to schlep products to? It's an easier sell if the audience cannot distinguish between what's crap and what's not.
Or, and even more scary, this is truly what people want and enjoy—an empty experience.
ZylonBane on 21/9/2013 at 16:02
Quote Posted by CCCToad
If you mean brilliantly retarded.
Not sure if trolling or stupid. Probably both.
CCCToad on 21/9/2013 at 16:06
Quote Posted by Renzatic
...you know, it's like if you...just...gave a quarter of an inch, these conversations wouldn't happen.
Oh, dethtoll gives a lot more than a quarter of an inch.....of booty.
Quote:
Not sure if trolling or stupid. Probably both.
Egging people on...plus I saw it once and it seemed pretty dumb to me.
CCCToad on 21/9/2013 at 16:08
Quote Posted by Queue
The problem I have with shows like the Big Band Theory is that they are hand-holding entertainment. Instead of letting the content be funny, they utilize facial exaggerations, over-the-top acting, and laugh tracks to tell the audience when to laugh, that this is funny so you should laugh; instead of allowing the audience the chance to think it out and decide if what's being presented is truly funny or not.
Problem there is that if the audience was allowed to decide what's funny, a lot of those shows would be judged as being completely devoid of "funny".
Queue on 21/9/2013 at 16:58
As they should be.
It's like the notion of knowing in your own mind that something is truly lame or awful or ridiculous, yet one forces himself to "like" it either because that person wants to like it (or else they'd feel let down) or because everyone else likes it.
With broad appeal entertainment, deciding merits for yourself independently is completely discouraged--the very reason why it's "broad appeal". But, is that a good thing?
ZylonBane on 21/9/2013 at 18:11
Quote Posted by CCCToad
I saw it once and it seemed pretty dumb to me.
Well, that explains all the Emmy nominations.
Jason Moyer on 21/9/2013 at 18:42
Adventure Time is alright. I like the macaroni character designs, although I wish they'd use less stiff poses. As far as current cartoons go, it doesn't really have a whole lot of competition, but at least it's not some crappy cross-promotion or badly animated sitcom either.
june gloom on 21/9/2013 at 19:57
Quote Posted by NuEffect
You must be able to get some other work. Are there no jobs at all where you live?
Also, you write, right?
You should do a blog or a site. I think if you cranked it up a notch you could do a review blog to rival Old Man Murray or Yahtzee. Just be yourself but a little angrier. I'm not kidding. You'd have to get a wider repertoire of insults but otherwise...
You're not the first person to suggest this. I've been thinking about it, but I'm not sure where to start. Part of my problem is I'm not as creative as I think I am -- I'm much more of a maintenance/editing kind of guy. I like a set routine that's low on mobility. It's why I worked as a copy editor rather than a beat reporter.
Queue on 21/9/2013 at 20:34
I think I'd rather dip my balls in battery acid than become yet another internet blogger.
Hey, dethy, maybe I should send you some editing work. I pay.
june gloom on 21/9/2013 at 21:12
If you're serious and not just fucking with me, PM me (or preferably IM me on something) and let's work something out? I could use the money, but I could especially use the boost to my portfolio.
