It's Only People Pretending: New TV thread

[peacocks]

where the f did parks and recs go to? community took it's spot, it seems.

[El_Josharino]

Oh, definitely

By the way, I liked Girls okay. Nothing special but pretty inoffensive all around

Yeah, basically how I felt about it. I was kind of like, "okay, there's some stuff going on but I don't really care about any of it. Welp, seeya later."

[elpollodiablo]

Okay Community was pretty great this week.

[jebreject]

Oh, definitely

By the way, I liked Girls okay. Nothing special but pretty inoffensive all around

Yeah, basically how I felt about it. I was kind of like, "okay, there's some stuff going on but I don't really care about any of it. Welp, seeya later."

Well, I liked it a little better than that! But yeah, not going to spend any more time talking about it.

[Thermofusion]

I got up early and made some eggs benedict and watched the first five episodes of New Girl. Zooey Deschanel is the human embodiment of nails on a chalkboard. Intolerable.

[elpollodiablo]

And yet... five episodes!

[Thermofusion]

I was advised to stick with it past the first couple of episodes. I like the Schmidt guy and the ex-Latvian-basketballer. The male lead is annoying. Zooey Deschanel is a horror.

[dieblucasdie]

I never hated it at that level, but the show really turned the corner for me whenever it was when they wrapped up that Justin Long arc (7 or 8?). A combination of things happened: they started infantilizing Deschanel less (and, notably, started having other characters call her out), they stopped over-relying on Schmidt, and they gave Nick funny things to do instead of having him just be the grumpy guy all the time.

But yeah, if you have that reaction to Deschanel, you're probably never gonna like it.

[Thermofusion]

A combination of things happened: they started infantilizing Deschanel less (and, notably, started having other characters call her out), they stopped over-relying on Schmidt, and they gave Nick funny things to do instead of having him just be the grumpy guy all the time.

Making Jess less of an ADHD-afflicted child and Nick less of a sad sack would absolutely be the main two things I'd fix about that show based on the episodes I watched!

[dieblucasdie]

Yeah, I don't wanna oversell it: they didn't necessarily "fix" those things--they're ongoing problems--more like turned them down in the mix or something. Nick's still a sad sack, but his sad-sackness has been played for humor in a more lovable way, the same way Schmidt's douchiness has been. Jess is still MPDG times a billion, it's just that not everyone thinks it's cute all the time, and she sometimes grates on the characters in believable ways.

[Thermofusion]

Gotcha. The adjustments you mentioned all sound fine, but the MPDG thing will always be non-negotiable, so I'll move on to trying out some other new comedies. Heard good things about Up All Night and still haven't checked out Cougar Town.

[elpollodiablo]

Guessing all of our UK friends will snort at this, but have any of you guys watched Peep Show? I'd heard of Mitchell & Webb before but never really knew who they were. Shit is pretty hilarious!

[DCDave]

I cannot watch any episode of Peep Show past the first 12 minutes because it is TOO UNCOMFORTABLE.

[Ignatius]

I dunno what it was, but I watched 3 or 4 episodes and somehow the meanness of it rubbed me the wrong way. I guess it's a bit drier than other comedies that exploit uncharitable people in awkward social situations, which I generally like.

[elpollodiablo]

I like the dryness, and the meanspiritedness. Hearing some Slate SILCs complain about how the new Armando Iannucci HBO thing isn't "warm" enough reminded me of why British TV can be so much better than American. Not everything has to have endearing social cripples gradually falling for one another despite/because of their quirks, I tells ye

[Ignatius]

I fucking LOVED In the Loop, to be sure.

edit: but that one wasn't too dry, I don't think.

[Greg Nog]

I like Peep Show a lot, but it always feels like such an emotional drain on me that I rarely feel in the mood to watch it.  Toni kicks up my prana somethin' fierce though, I tell you what.

[jebreject]

Peep Show is great, though I can sort of relate to what Nog's sayin'. The episode with the dog, holy fuck.

[Little Sixes Little Nines]

... why British TV can be so much better than American. Not everything has to have endearing social cripples gradually falling for one another despite/because of their quirks, I tells ye

this, a thousand times this.

[Babar]

The episode with the dog, holy fuck.

Very good episode that one.

[coldforge]

Girls has Chris Eigeman in it, anyway!

[ellaguru]

Girls has Chris Eigeman in it, anyway!

Sold!

[elpollodiablo]

It's been a quiet decade for him since Maid in Manhattan

[dieblucasdie]

Diiiiiiiggggggggeeeeeeerrrrrrr

[milly balgeary]

These last couple ep of eastbound are hilarious and reach the pinnacle of what this show is