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Apr. 20th, 2017 08:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Well, I tried the first episode of 13 Reasons Why on Netflix last week, then went online and read the synopsis and thought...hell no, not watching that. This is Why.
It's filled with lots of triggers. The story is about a teenage girl who commits suicide after being sexually harrassed, bullied, witnessing a rape, and being raped herself. She attempts to get help or justice for the rape and is pushed aside by the guidance counselor. Desperate, she creates 13 tapes, where she records the 13 reasons why she is committing suicide. Each set of tapes will be sent to the 13 people who were responsible. If all 13 don't get the tapes within a specific period of time, the keeper of the original set will make them public. So it is the responsibility of each person who gets the set of tapes to pass them on.
There are two rape scenes and two suicides. A lot of online bullying and online slut-shaming. It's not for everyone. And particularly not for anyone triggered by this type of content. It has spurred a bit of controversy and become rather popular with the teen set - making me glad I'm fifty years old, don't have any children, am not teaching any kids, don't have to be around teens in any way, and can pretty much avoid the whole thing.
2. Decided to look up Seth McFarland, who'd I was listening to at work on my ipod -- and has an insanely good voice. It's the musical equivalent of a fine wine. He's a crooner in the same fashion as Sinatra, Crosby and Tony Bennett. Apparently he started out at RISD, got a BA in animation, drew like crazy but got the job at Hannah Barbara Cartoons for his writing -- he wrote for Johnny Bravo mostly. (The RISD connection I found interesting -- he's about five years younger than my brother and sis-in-law, who went to RISD and also Ohio and Halifax School of Design. They even taught at RISD breifly. My brother did a summer program there, he didn't get into the undergrad, but did get to teach a semester -- which was hilarious. Neither thinks highly of the school. Both sisinlaw's parents went there -- along with Andy Warhol, John Waters, and Debra Harry. Yes, sis-in-law has 'connections' which do not extend past sis-in-law.) But also Cow and Chicken, Dexter's Labatory, and Cow and Chicken. When he came up with the pilot for Family Guy, he did all the animation and voiced all the male characters. His sister did the female characters.
He's also a huge proponent of gay rights. It's one of his main causes, which I found to be interesting.
And a big time fan of musical theater. He sings like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. Apparently he had the same vocal coach that aided Streisand and Sinatra.
I just don't like his comedy. But, to be fair, I don't like most American comedy... I prefer British comedy or subtle comedy. My favorite television sitcoms were Cheers, Fraizer, News Radio, WKRP in Cinncinati, Barney Miller, Murphy Brown, Night Court, MASH, Mad About You, Coupling (by Stephen Moffat), Fawlty Towers, As Time Goes By, Doc Martin, Monty Python, and Big Bang Theory. Happy Days was okay for the first five years, before Fonzie jumped the shark. Didn't really like any of the other ones though in that group. And not a fan of the documentary comedies. I don't really like satire that much, apparently, or political satire -- possibly because our national news media is an on-going fest of political satire? I mean when your government is more satirical than anything anyone has ever tried to do...you know there's a problem.
McFarland specializes in crass, embarrassment humor that has a sharp satirical edge, and he likes to hit you over the head with it. Not my style of comedy.
3. I don't know what is up with me physically. Yesterday, I got really depressed. And I do mean, really depressed. Didn't care. Kept crying. And wanted everything to just stop. Today, I'm perfectly fine in that regard, don't feel the slightest bit depressed, but IBS was bad (ended up taking an anti-diarrhea pill - two at work), tired, chilled, and now have a sick headache. WTF? (Maybe I should go off chocolate completely? I'm down to 85=90% dark chocolate now. Went off practically everything else. Have decided not to do the NutraBullet smoothies any longer -- apparently my system doesn't like vegetarian smoothies with plant protein powder in the morning.)
It's filled with lots of triggers. The story is about a teenage girl who commits suicide after being sexually harrassed, bullied, witnessing a rape, and being raped herself. She attempts to get help or justice for the rape and is pushed aside by the guidance counselor. Desperate, she creates 13 tapes, where she records the 13 reasons why she is committing suicide. Each set of tapes will be sent to the 13 people who were responsible. If all 13 don't get the tapes within a specific period of time, the keeper of the original set will make them public. So it is the responsibility of each person who gets the set of tapes to pass them on.
There are two rape scenes and two suicides. A lot of online bullying and online slut-shaming. It's not for everyone. And particularly not for anyone triggered by this type of content. It has spurred a bit of controversy and become rather popular with the teen set - making me glad I'm fifty years old, don't have any children, am not teaching any kids, don't have to be around teens in any way, and can pretty much avoid the whole thing.
2. Decided to look up Seth McFarland, who'd I was listening to at work on my ipod -- and has an insanely good voice. It's the musical equivalent of a fine wine. He's a crooner in the same fashion as Sinatra, Crosby and Tony Bennett. Apparently he started out at RISD, got a BA in animation, drew like crazy but got the job at Hannah Barbara Cartoons for his writing -- he wrote for Johnny Bravo mostly. (The RISD connection I found interesting -- he's about five years younger than my brother and sis-in-law, who went to RISD and also Ohio and Halifax School of Design. They even taught at RISD breifly. My brother did a summer program there, he didn't get into the undergrad, but did get to teach a semester -- which was hilarious. Neither thinks highly of the school. Both sisinlaw's parents went there -- along with Andy Warhol, John Waters, and Debra Harry. Yes, sis-in-law has 'connections' which do not extend past sis-in-law.) But also Cow and Chicken, Dexter's Labatory, and Cow and Chicken. When he came up with the pilot for Family Guy, he did all the animation and voiced all the male characters. His sister did the female characters.
He's also a huge proponent of gay rights. It's one of his main causes, which I found to be interesting.
And a big time fan of musical theater. He sings like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. Apparently he had the same vocal coach that aided Streisand and Sinatra.
I just don't like his comedy. But, to be fair, I don't like most American comedy... I prefer British comedy or subtle comedy. My favorite television sitcoms were Cheers, Fraizer, News Radio, WKRP in Cinncinati, Barney Miller, Murphy Brown, Night Court, MASH, Mad About You, Coupling (by Stephen Moffat), Fawlty Towers, As Time Goes By, Doc Martin, Monty Python, and Big Bang Theory. Happy Days was okay for the first five years, before Fonzie jumped the shark. Didn't really like any of the other ones though in that group. And not a fan of the documentary comedies. I don't really like satire that much, apparently, or political satire -- possibly because our national news media is an on-going fest of political satire? I mean when your government is more satirical than anything anyone has ever tried to do...you know there's a problem.
McFarland specializes in crass, embarrassment humor that has a sharp satirical edge, and he likes to hit you over the head with it. Not my style of comedy.
3. I don't know what is up with me physically. Yesterday, I got really depressed. And I do mean, really depressed. Didn't care. Kept crying. And wanted everything to just stop. Today, I'm perfectly fine in that regard, don't feel the slightest bit depressed, but IBS was bad (ended up taking an anti-diarrhea pill - two at work), tired, chilled, and now have a sick headache. WTF? (Maybe I should go off chocolate completely? I'm down to 85=90% dark chocolate now. Went off practically everything else. Have decided not to do the NutraBullet smoothies any longer -- apparently my system doesn't like vegetarian smoothies with plant protein powder in the morning.)
no subject
Date: 2017-04-21 09:49 pm (UTC)I found it fascinating.
Besides dealing with the whole "FG ripped off the Simpsons" issue in a refreshingly head on manner (seeing the FG and Simpsons versions of James Woods sitting side by side really brings it home), the episode honestly contrasts the shows' core philosophies.
Remarkably, MacFarlane and Co. all but confess that -- compared to the compassion and humanism at the heart of The Simpsons -- Family Guy has no philosophy. The Griffins meet their gods and are found wanting.
It was, perhaps, the closest MacFarlane has ever come to saying something with meaning, admitting to himself that reducing his characters to bit players in an endless stream of non sequiturs and elaborate set pieces is not exactly the way to create Art.
But, you say, Seth MacFarlane isn't interested in Art. He's just throwing shit against the wall and seeing what makes you laugh (or yell). Maybe. But when Stewie Griffin pleads for Bart Simpson to come back, maybe MacFarlane sees a path he should have taken.
no subject
Date: 2017-04-22 01:51 am (UTC)He does have an edge to his comedy and I think he does have something to say, he cracks wise at our society. And is irritated at the insane need to hold onto traditional values at the sake of all else. (I can't fault him for that, for I agree.) Which to be fair was also to some extent true of the Hannah Barbara cartoons -- they also questioned society. We had meddlesome kids solving crimes. We had Cow and Chicken, I am Weasel and Dexter's Laboratory...and Yogi Bear, and the Flintstones and Jetsons, which were satirical parodies of the Honeymooners and how America saw themselves.
And I can't say I love the Simpsons all that much. Who are stupid on purpose. And McFarland in a way is poking at that -- the desire to be dumb on purpose. There's an anger under his humor...that I have troubles with, but can also appreciate. It does get him into trouble. Stewie is an angry guy.
But I can't watch his series. I think he's insanely talented. And god, what a voice. It's the kind of voice that melts chocolate.
*******
All that said and done...I really can't say I ever watched the Family Guy all that much. The only Family Guy episode I remember is...the Star Wars parody and think two other episodes that I vaguely familiar. I have watched the Simpsons, which got old after a while, and I never "loved".
I keep trying to explain to people why I don't like most American sitcoms, it would probably help if I understood why I don't like them.
Had a friend in college who adored "I Love Lucy" -- the only episode of that series that I could watch without cringing was the chocolate factory one. Where they go to the chocolate or candy factory to create candies and can't stop the conveyor belt. Other than that? Also the Christmas tree episode, where they keep trimming it, sort of worked. But other than that? I found it unwatchable.
MASH on the other hand, I watched 50 times, wrote a report on it, and studied in depth for a class -- on how it utilized black humor, and gallows humor.
Slapstick, parody and a certain type of satire don't appear to work for me.
I loved Slaughter House Five, but didn't find it funny. Hitch-Hiker's Guide annoyed me. But I did laugh during Redshirts. And Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice weirdly made me laugh.
Buffy? The funniest bit was the Spike grabbing the rocket launcher from Buffy when she's targeting the Principle with it. I think about that...and giggle uncontrollably. But I found Storyteller, Superstar, and the Zeppo cringeworthy.
Today at work, I was talking to a co-worker about this. He asked if I liked the show about Practical Jokes -- I said I can't stand practical jokes. I can't watch embarrassment humor. I don't like to be embarrassed. It's why most sketch comedy and improve is hard for me to watch -- because it's based on "embarrassment". It may well be linked to my anxiety in regards to social situations, and how I was bullied. I don't know. I just can't watch embarrassment humor. It's why Angel the Series often annoyed me -- because the humor in that was "embarrassment" related, while my brother adored it.
Seth McFarland's brand of humor tends to be parody, embarrassment humor or biting satire. It just doesn't work for me. So I avoid it. I tried to watch TED and couldn't make it through the first five minutes.
Doesn't mean he isn't brilliant, any more than The Office, Parks and Recreation, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, SNL, I Love Lucy, or 30 Rocks wasn't. I just don't like them.
no subject
Date: 2017-04-22 07:49 pm (UTC)For its first eight or so seasons, The Simpsons owned the planet. It was the most popular show in the world, it was the best show in the world, it was the smartest show in the world. The writers' room was packed with talent like George Meyer, John Swartzwelder, Jon Vitti, Greg Daniels and (oh yeah) Conan O'Brien. The cast for the Simpson family was brilliant on its own, but they were backed up by vocal superstars like Hank Azaria, Phil Hartman and Harry Shearer.
Every episode was brimming with laughs, highbrow and lowbrow. But more than that, it packaged those laughs in a format that challenged the audience's assumptions about politics, society, religion, philosophy. And all of that was reflected in a cartoon family that was deeply dysfunctional, but loved each other profoundly, so that all the other stuff was grounded and instantly relatable.
(For the barest hint of what I'm talking about, watch the episode "Bart Sells His Soul.")
Is the show as good in Season 28? No, of course not. It doesn't have the same level of writing talent, and after 600 episodes, it's hard to say something original. But the principal actors are all still there, and if the core relationships are intact, the show can occasionally bring back the old brilliance. It's still Sunday night viewing at our house. (Dylan loves it all, even the new stuff.)
I find Seth MacFarlane to be the definition of a mixed bag. He's a supremely talented voice artist and a terrific singer. (Loved him in Hellboy 2 and recently, in Sing!.) He comes up with great gags and knows how to deliver them. But I find his sense of humor juvenile and undisciplined most of the time. He's like a 13-year old who mocks everything--not because he's making a point, but because he likes irritating people. Family Guy has two great comic characters in Stewie and Brian, but I don't have the affection for the Griffins that I do for the Simpsons because I don't think MacFarlane is all that invested in them as characters; they're vehicles for the next set of gags.
(Now, MacFarlane's OTHER animated series, American Dad!, is a different story. Still not particularly deep, but a lot more focused and enjoyable. But that's another long-winded analysis.)
My favorite comedy series of all time? All the MTM productions--Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, Rhoda, WKRP; British classics like Monty Python, Coupling and Red Dwarf; and animated series like Bob's Burgers, Gravity Falls, and yes, the Simpsons. (I've stopped watching reruns of Seinfeld, Friends, Cheers and MASH. I think I've burned out on them...)
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Date: 2017-04-23 01:31 am (UTC)That said, we are on the same page regarding Seth McFarland's brand of comedy. I don't enjoy. It feels juvenile to me. So I don't watch it. But a lot of people really enjoy it.
McFarland surprised me -- because he's not what he appears at all on the surface. I was judging him by a few episodes here and there of Family Guy.
What I didn't realize is how talented the guy is -- he drew, wrote, and did all the male voices for the first three episodes of Family Guy. And the majority thereafter. That blew me away. And the man can sing. Really sing.
Also, I can appreciate his Hannah-Barbara background, I loved those toons as kid. Were they deep, probably not. But who cares? I got stuff from them.
And remember them with great fondness.
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Date: 2017-04-22 01:49 am (UTC)I share many of those, although I didn't watch News Radio, Barney Miller, Night Court or Doc Martin. I also have a particular dislike for BBT. I also am not a fan of Seth McFarland's comedy. I tried Galavant and found it dull, though not because I dislike musicals.
Have you ever tried Community or Brooklyn 99?
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Date: 2017-04-22 02:01 am (UTC)May be for some of the same reasons you dislike BBT? Something just triggers you or turns you off. I know that's what happened to me with Girls -- I despise that series, can't watch it. It had a few triggers. Don't like VEEP either. It's actually rare that I like a situational comedy.
I honestly think humor is in the eye of the beholder. Art really is a subjective thing. It either works for you, or in some cases it really really doesn't?