Running Wilde

[irixith]

I don't come here to see people praising 30 Rock, please.

It's almost as frustrating as people praising Mad Men.

/total thread derail in progress

What's your beef with both shows? (Just curious.)

[Limewater]

I don't come here to see people praising 30 Rock, please.

It's almost as frustrating as people praising Mad Men.

Bah. Just don't read the thread, then. 30 Rock is awesome. I'll admit that I thought the live show last night was a little underwhelming, but that shouldn't be surprising for a gimmick episode.

Also, I would like to say that Oprah Winfrey's guest spot on 30 Rock a couple of seasons back was one of the best uses of a celebrity guest I've seen on a sit com.

I tried to watch Mad Men, and found it to be a little on the slow side. I see the appeal, though.

[jfrost]

Bah. Just don't read the thread, then..

Boy, don't you guys take yourselves seriously?

Anyway, I was half-joking with my arrogant-ass attitude, but I do believe 30 Rock is pretty horrible. All around terrible characters. There are only so many times I can laugh off Tina Fey's food jokes. Every character seems to have only one personality trait which is exploited to death.

Regarding Mad Men, the show has one gimmick: LOOK THIS IS THE SIXTIES PPL SMOKED IN HOSPITALS. One we're worn out of that, all we're left with is a incredibly boring soap opera. I don't see the appeal at all, the meaning of the show is completely lost on me.

(I even thought it could be something cultural, because I'm not American and it's probably easier for you guys to relate. But then, well, if characters don't have appeal and the show relies entirely on its setting, to my mind that's still a flaw.)

That said, I'm looking forward to Mad Men season 11:

[Jrecee]

Bah. Just don't read the thread, then..

Boy, don't you guys take yourselves seriously?

Anyway, I was half-joking with my arrogant-ass attitude, but I do believe 30 Rock is pretty horrible. All around terrible characters. There are only so many times I can laugh off Tina Fey's food jokes. Every character seems to have only one personality trait which is exploited to death.

Regarding Mad Men, the show has one gimmick: LOOK THIS IS THE SIXTIES PPL SMOKED IN HOSPITALS. One we're worn out of that, all we're left with is a incredibly boring soap opera. I don't see the appeal at all, the meaning of the show is completely lost on me.

(I even thought it could be something cultural, because I'm not American and it's probably easier for you guys to relate. But then, well, if characters don't have appeal and the show relies entirely on its setting, to my mind that's still a flaw.)

That said, I'm looking forward to Mad Men season 11:

I agree with your opinions on both shows. 30 rock isn't "laugh out loud funny". It's just. . . "Ha. In a writing sense I can see the creativity and humor in that joke". It makes me feel like that chick that Jerry dated on seinfeld who didn't ever laugh, she just says "That's funny".

[Limewater]

Anyway, I was half-joking with my arrogant-ass attitude, but I do believe 30 Rock is pretty horrible. ... Every character seems to have only one personality trait which is exploited to death.

You're right. You can't have good comedy without deep, complicated, carefully nuanced characters.

[jfrost]

You're right. You can't have good comedy without deep, complicated, carefully nuanced characters.

Yes, that's precisely my point of view.

[Limewater]

You're right. You can't have good comedy without deep, complicated, carefully nuanced characters.

Yes, that's precisely my point of view.

Yes, I exaggerated slightly. My point was I don't think the characters in 30 Rock having too few personality traits is a valid criticism. Look at The Simpsons. None of the characters are particularly deep. In fact, once you look beyond the family itself, most of the supporting characters essentially only have one personality trait.

Homer is arguably the funniest character on the show, and he doesn't exactly have a lot of distinct personality traits. He's dumb, he's lazy, he likes alcohol, he likes food, and he loves his family. He's not any more complex than Liz Lemon, who has food issues, has body image issues, and wants a baby but hasn't earlier due to her feminist-driven success ambitions and her inability to maintain an adult relationship.

You acknowledge a potential cultural barrier to your enjoyment of Mad Men, but don't seem to do the same with 30 Rock. In my experience, humor is actually more culturally dependent than drama. The issues that they joke about on the show are ones facing a lot of successful women in the United States. I'm focusing on the women aspect because I'm focusing on the Liz Lemon character.

The humor in 30 Rock isn't just a freak show. Like most good comedy, the better parts of the show are the parts that reflect upon society.