TV Thread - beware, [expletive] can get spoilery

[Popeye_Card]

I gave Archer about 4 episodes a few months back and I enjoyed it, but does it progress from that into something better? I didn't see anything that separated it in a significant way from Family Guy or Robot Chicken. People talk about it like it's genius, but I though it seemed to rely a lot on shock value.

It is a good show and I like it. But like every good comedy, you have to be careful not to oversell what it is. Yep, a lot of the jokes rely on shock value, and sometimes they fall flat. Sometimes they even repeat jokes that weren't all that funny the first 4 times. I try not to think about it and just enjoy.

I've never been a big fan of Robot Chicken. It's better than the more recent seasons of Family Guy in that there's a bit less potty humor, and the obscure references are subtle and quick, rather than calling attention to them.

I try not to vouch for any shows anymore. As soon as I do, the shows seem to turn to crap.

[JackofDiamonds]

I gave Archer about 4 episodes a few months back and I enjoyed it, but does it progress from that into something better? I didn't see anything that separated it in a significant way from Family Guy or Robot Chicken. People talk about it like it's genius, but I though it seemed to rely a lot on shock value.

The second season might be one of the best comedy seasons in television history. The pace and quality of the jokes are magnificent. I'd say it relies more on the delivery of the voice actors and Adam Reed's writing to sell the funny more than shock value. Think of it more as an office comedy then a spy show, the dynamics between the drones (Pam, Cyril, Cheryl/Carol/Crystal, Krieger) and the stars (Archer, Lana, Mallory) are funnier than Archer being an idiot savant spy (which is funny in its own rights).

From the first episode alone:

Sterling Archer: No, no, no! Do not wind her up, that is a big gun and she is baby crazy.
Agent Lana Kane: [shouts] Baby crazy!
Sterling Archer: That's why I dumped her.
Agent Lana Kane: You little, you sack of [expletive], I dumped you because you're dragging around a 35 year old umbilical cord.
Sterling Archer: See! All you talk about it baby [expletive]! Because you're baby crazy!.

Sterling Archer: No, I've seen that movie and - spoiler alert - it ends with a closet full of my suits on fire.
Agent Lana Kane: I wish you'd been wearing one.
Sterling Archer: Who would want to wear an on-fire suit?
Agent Lana Kane: Cos play enthusiasts.

Cheryl: You stood me up again last night.
Sterling Archer: Last? Oh yeah, oh my, what happened was, um, did you see Brian's Song? Same thing pretty much. Happened.
[pause]
Sterling Archer: I helped a guy with cancer. Look, I'm really sorry Carol but I couldn't...
Cheryl: It's Cheryl.
Cheryl: I know, OK, Cheryl.

Also, I am a sucker for obscure details that reward a close watcher, and Archer has that game on lock.

[JackofDiamonds]

Double Post.

[JL21]

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[JackofDiamonds]

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I mean, right?!

[Jocephus]

i dont know anything about archer but happened to see a commercial for it recently and i knew i had heard a voice of one of the characters. turns out its the son from dr. katz. that alone would make me think its a funny show. then i look at the cast and thats pretty good, parnell, judy greer, jessica walter, aisha taylor. not bad at all. that said i probably won't make a huge effort to watch it

popeye made a great point though, not overselling a (comedy) show. the office lost a lot charm ( to me) when pam and jim got married then it just absolutely died when michael left. so, basically seasons 1-3 or 4. parks and recs best years will probably be seasons 2 and 3. when i found out the characters were getting married (just a few weeks ago) i really lost interest and haven't watched any of it.

i'm really ramblin' and don't have to offer. one last thing though, that article vidor posted about NBC's issues...hilarious how the talking dead, a show that recaps the just completed episode of the walking dead, is beating NBC's primetime shows.

[JackofDiamonds]

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[Vidor]

NYT article on just how bad things have gotten to NBC.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/25/busin ... esbusiness

How bad? Well, they are going to finish February sweeps FIFTH, behind the other three broadcast networks and Univision. And the highest-rated show on NBC was...



...wait for it....



Saturday Night Live.

Obviously low ratings are bad for the business side of NBC. But simply at TV watchers, should we really care what their ratings are as long as they don't cancel the shows we like? I don't really care if the masses tune in for American Idol and the Bachelor and that dancing show and CSI and whatever else. The broadcast networks can't toe the edgy lines that the top cable shows can.

NBC has still come out with some of the better shows of the last decade. Outside of that, I'm not sure why I should care that Hawaii Five O is drawing more viewers than Smash (I assume).

I'm not an NBC shareholder or anything, but as a case study in failure I find it fascinating. Fifth. Fifth. Their top show airs at 11:30 on Saturdays.

The upside is that this gives Parks and Recreation a better chance to survive, as nothing else on that network is doing well.

[ghostrunner]

I have to say, I'm also tiring of Parks and Rec due to the Ben/Leslie relationship. The cutesiness is almost cringe-worthy at times.



Here's some good news:

Beginning March 30, Netflix will have some new animated and live-action programming choices for those who find the streaming giant’s selection not nearly exhaustive enough.

Deadline reported that Time Warner has licensed past seasons of Adventure Time, Ben 10, Regular Show, Johnny Bravo, Warner Bros Animation’s Green Lantern, Adult Swim’s Robot Chicken and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Sony Picture Television’s The Boondocks and Warner Bros Television’s Studio 2.0′s Childrens Hospital to Netflix.

Anyone that has kids, or doesn't - we ran through Avatar the Last Airbender a few months back, and I can't recommend it highly enough. One of the best kids shows or cartoons I've ever seen.

[thrill]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjmfGE1R ... ion_151405][/youtube]

New UK Office special coming out.