River: They weren't cows inside. They were waiting to be, but they forgot. Now they see the sky and they remember what they are. Mal: Is it bad that what she said made perfect sense to me?

'Safe'


Experimental TV: Comedy  

This thread is part of an experiment to determine Buffistas' interest in television discussion. It will close on June 1st, 2007, after which there will be a brief skirmish to sort out what we want to do next. This thread is for discussion of all comedy, regardless of airing station. [NAFDA]


erikaj - Apr 20, 2007 1:04:13 pm PDT #95 of 447
Always Anti-fascist!

Yeah, somehow it meant a lot to me that Jim Halpert couldn't let another human being, no matter how embarrassing, just hang there, feeling awful.(and he didn't even know how awfully improv went, which we all did.) Lucky thing I'm not a vidder or there'd be a "Whatta Man" Jim video.(There probably still is, but I don't have the credit/blame for it; it's not a chicating joint, as it were.)


Kate P. - Apr 20, 2007 5:32:42 pm PDT #96 of 447
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love

Yes! That karaoke bit is possibly my favorite Jim moment ever. Totally agree that the US series is full of heart.

And I'm all psyched to give the UK series another try now. I picked up the whole run from my awesome local rental place today (they almost never have all the discs in! it was kismet!) and will report back when I have finished it.


sj - Apr 20, 2007 5:43:20 pm PDT #97 of 447
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."

30 Rock just lost me thanks to the Alec Baldwin voicemail rant at his daughter. I'm never going to be able to watch one of his goofy moments on this show or SNL and smile again.

I just heard the whole thing on CNN, and I don't think I can watch anything with Baldwin in it again.


-t - Apr 20, 2007 5:45:34 pm PDT #98 of 447
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

I will have to give th UK Office anotehr try. Whatever episode I tried to watch, Gervais's character was too much like a boss I've had for me to enjoy it at all. With a little more distance and the knowledge that there is a big old 'ship, maybe I'll be able to soon.


Frankenbuddha - Apr 20, 2007 5:52:02 pm PDT #99 of 447
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

HMOG, did no one see the COLBERT REPORT with Sean Penn and the metaphor-off?

Not only was it a massive show of Sean being an "it getter", but it was a pretty nice "fuck you sideways with a chainsaw" to the South Park guys (implicitly - given how they brag about their derision of anybody in Hollywood who expresses any political viewpoints and how they are so humorless). I seriously hope the promised hyperbole-off with George Clooney happens, because I think George and Stephen interacting would be a thing of beauty.


Jessica - Apr 20, 2007 5:54:16 pm PDT #100 of 447
If I want to become a cloud of bats, does each bat need a separate vaccination?

HMOG, did no one see the COLBERT REPORT with Sean Penn and the metaphor-off?

I've been putting it off because I've never seen anything to indicate Sean Penn has a sense of humour. I take it it wasn't as painful to watch as I'd anticipated?


Frankenbuddha - Apr 20, 2007 6:01:33 pm PDT #101 of 447
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

I've been putting it off because I've never seen anything to indicate Sean Penn has a sense of humour. I take it it wasn't as painful to watch as I'd anticipated?

Well, it's not Spicolli funny, but it was pretty damn funny. I was kinda dreading it myself, and, yes, apparently Sean does have a sense of humor.


Hayden - Apr 20, 2007 8:17:33 pm PDT #102 of 447
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."

As my tagline testifies, I loved the shit out of it.


Theodosia - Apr 21, 2007 2:30:38 am PDT #103 of 447
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"

It was the funniest I've ever seen Penn, FWIW. I think it helped that he was basically playing a character named Sean Penn, the way that Colbert plays a character named Stephen Colbert.


IAmNotReallyASpring - Apr 21, 2007 2:48:34 am PDT #104 of 447
I think Freddy Quimby should walk out of here a free hotel

But even when I'm really enjoying an episode, I can't get the feeling out of my head that they're all being way too nice.

I enjoy the American Office a lot, a lot but the thing that has made me rewatch the English Office to death is how keen it is to group dynamics when, within them, things get ugly. That's partly what gives the English series the edge for me because, aside from having concerns the US doesn't have, the sweetness of Pam's voicemails for Jim were never going to be couched in a moment like Tim getting his shoe thrown over a pub.

Also, minority opinion: I didn't like the Christmas Special. It seemed so contrary to the spirit of the series.