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OT: Movies/TV Shows

CH1 said:
yeah...I thought it was a bunch of lame, hacky jokes....but far be it from me to police how others choose to take a break from their shitty days
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I liked it for several years when it was on, very enjoyable. But I got tired of it and ditched like two seasons before it ended, and was left with that impression, that it wasn't very good. But recently, I happened to see like 5-6 episodes, and I've changed my mind. It holds up and is still pretty funny for the most part. Interestingly, where I thought Chandler was the best during its regular run, when I see them now I find Joey to be the funniest (I used to think he was annoying). So, the original thumbs up is reinstated.
 
CH1 said:
no
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So you’re going to sit there and claim there are sitcoms without hacky jokes?
Lies of the highest order. Maybe less of them but they’re there. Every one.

Every single sitcom has them. Even Seinfeld, MASH, Curb, cheers etc
 
I respect and appreciate how well Friends hit the sweet spot of shared risk between the viewer and the characters. The characters appealed to the lowest common denominator in a major way that was rare even for the time. It was mindless, unfunny, atrocious television, but they still managed to hook millions and millions of viewers to tune in every single week. I appreciate that about any form of entertainment. It's almost even more respectable when the product is objectively horrible.
 
Preston said:
I respect and appreciate how well Friends hit the sweet spot of shared risk between the viewer and the characters. The characters appealed to the lowest common denominator in a major way that was rare even for the time. It was mindless, unfunny, atrocious television, but they still managed to hook millions and millions of viewers to tune in every single week. I appreciate that about any form of entertainment. It's almost even more respectable when the product is objectively horrible.
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It’s a good family comedy. Clearly many of you didn’t have kids in the 90s.
 
Preston said:
I respect and appreciate how well Friends hit the sweet spot of shared risk between the viewer and the characters. The characters appealed to the lowest common denominator in a major way that was rare even for the time. It was mindless, unfunny, atrocious television, but they still managed to hook millions and millions of viewers to tune in every single week. I appreciate that about any form of entertainment. It's almost even more respectable when the product is objectively horrible.
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if only this wasn't readily apparent in the 40 second opening

 
Habsy said:
And you’re entitled to being wrong. I’m just amazed at the ease you do it with.
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If I'm wrong because I didn't enjoy Friends as much as Arrested Development, then I don't want to be right.
 
CH1 said:
If I'm wrong because I didn't enjoy Friends as much as Arrested Development, then I don't want to be right.
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Different shows, and obviously AD is superior in every way, but it's also superior to almost every other comedy in every way, so the comparison isn't determinative of anything here.
 
LeafOfFaith said:
Different shows, and obviously AD is superior in every way, but it's also superior to almost every other comedy in every way, so the comparison isn't determinative of anything here.
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Why is it not a fair comparison, both shows are network tv products, and each episode cost me the same amount of time. And tbh, I’d rather spend my time re-watching a vintage AD for the 4th time then discovering an unseen (by me) episode of prime Friends.
 
CH1 said:
you arrested Friends first!!! I just agreed...
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Ya but I used the art of backhanded compliments. I praised it for being an absolutely horrendous television program that somehow attracted a historic amount of viewers.
 
CH1 said:
Why is it not a fair comparison, both shows are network tv products, and each episode cost me the same amount of time. And tbh, I’d rather spend my time re-watching a vintage AD for the 4th time then discovering an unseen (by me) episode of prime Friends.
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You're comparing a very different type of show in AD. Friends is the classic warm and fuzzy, happy endings, innocent lighthearted tame comedy. Its style is just like all the others - laugh track, cookie cutter format, etc. AD is deadpan awkward, super sophisticated yet juvenile, no laugh track, much more adult and dark toned.

If you want to compare Friends to something, you can run it against Seinfeld. If you want to compare AD against something, you need to put it up against Curb. Those shows clearly belong in different categories.

You can compare the categories, and say (and I'll agree) that AD and Curb are far superior, far more creative, exceptionally more original and unique. But the others can be great in their own right, yet a different type of show and not really fitting squarely in a comparison just because they're comedies too.
 
LeafOfFaith said:
If you want to compare Friends to something, you can run it against Seinfeld.
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ok...then...Seinfeld was very different than Friends-- no fucking hugs where characters say "I'm sorry" after they learn a valuable lesson on becoming better versions of themselves
 
Preston said:
Ya but I used the art of backhanded compliments. I praised it for being an absolutely horrendous television program that somehow attracted a historic amount of viewers.
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I felt that you gave all the compliments (which I also agree with) and I had none left to give....
 
CH1 said:
ok...then...Seinfeld was very different than Friends-- no fucking hugs where characters say "I'm sorry" after they learn a valuable lesson on becoming better versions of themselves
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It's the same sort of cookie-cutter type of show. I'm not saying they're identical in their content, but they're of one basic variety.
 
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