Dorcie wrote:
> Sorry I've been away for a while, but things have been crazy.
>
> I just wanted to join in on the BTY conversation.
>
> I have to say I am really struggling with it. I thought the first
> episode was amusing, the second was a bit better, but I cringed all
> the way through the third one.
UGH !!! The goldfish slaughter, IIRC !
> The number one problem, for me, is that the stories are, for the most
> part, not interesting, making the comedy pretty flat. Sure, there are
> occasional moments where someone will say something hilarious (usually
> coming out of nowhere) that make me bust out laughing; usually, it's
> Fred Willard's character. For the most part, though, the jokes are
> not that funny.
I watched virtually no sitcoms for more than two decades until getting
into "Frasier", so don't know all these other shows very well.
I do get the feeling the producers are trying for the ambience and
style of more 'old fa****oned' TV comedies, as opposed to the edgier
style which now seems to have morphed over to the 'dramadies' like
"Desperate Housewives" and this season's "BIG SHOTS" and "Dirty ***y
Money", both of which I'm enjoying
> I also am having a hard time with the cast seeming to not fit the
> writing of the show. I've thought from the very first episode that
> this show was quite a bit like Murphy Brown. It even has the hot,
> young female who's kind of an idiot, and the nerdy boss. I find the
> humor similar to the older show as well. Unfortunately, KG and PH just
> don't fit this type of humor. What I have always loved about these two
> is that they have such a talent for seeming to fully inhibit their
> characters, and they always seem to be thinking, even when they aren't
> saying anything. With these new character, no real thinking seems to
> be necessary and they seem so empty. My favorite scene so far in this
> show was the dinner scene with their daughter. There was so much going
> on in that scene that it was a joy to watch the actors act it out.
> However, even that scene was a bit flat.
And that scene, I thought, was very redolent of "Frasier".
Agree KG and PH are excellent together, but don't seem right for this
type of show. PH reminds me a lot of Patricia Smart.
> To turn this more contem****ary, BTY is a lot like what Will & Grace
> turned into after the first season: A bunch of people standing around
> spouting off one-liners. Unfortunately, I am just not interested in
> that kind of show.
>
> Now, on a more positive note, this show has A LOT of potential. I can
> see a seriousness trying to peek out behind the humor, mainly coming
> from PH. I hope the writers explore this more. Oh, and give the boss
> better writing. Please.
I don't know offhand how the ratings have been, but find it difficult
to imagine the show lasting more than a single season at best.
While there may well be potential to improve I suspect it is outside
what the producers have already settled on.
"Out Of Practice" was vastly better IMO.
BTW... welcome back Dorcie!
Charles
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