Yeh, but if CA were split into six states as proposed by Tim Draper, I wonder if one of those "States Formerly Known as Parts of California" would be #1.
Hey Ken, without wanting to bring up painful memories, I was wondering if you'd read this blog post on MARY? It's a short but interesting analysis from a fan of this blog. It has a link to the author's favourite episodes. In TV history I think the show must be classed as a fascinating failure. I'd be interested to know what you felt worked about it (characters, setup, etc), and what elements you weren't so happy with (ignoring the obvious).
In the episode I just watched, Mary's boss and colleague tease her about how soft she is, and (surprisingly) are successful in bullying her into threatening an unscrupulous businessman.
Personally I found it very usual for the central character, a voice for reason and civility, to be pushed to anger. It felt like maybe we should have seen Mary be bullied at the beginning of the episode, and this was her learning about being assertive, but instead it felt like a sweet person being pushed into being mean.
Certainly very usual for a US sitcom, and certainly very interesting.
Other than that, I loved the more realistic edge to things, even if Mary and Katey Sagal seems too opposite -- Mary too sweet, Sagal too nasty, and nothing in between to bind them. Like if you put Daphne from Frasier opposite Carla from Cheers.
Both Sagal and, especially John Astin, were great.
Anyways, here's the link to the show and the article:
Thanks for the link, JW. I read the post and thought he must be some 60 year old veteran and contemporary of Ken's. Insightful, well written stuff. I bookmarked it. Then I read "About". That was a surprise.
Funny how Ken complains of some show runners ugly remarks about gays, then makes an ugly remark with racial undertones about the people of West Virginia.
Dr. Shrinker said... ""West Virginian" is a race?"
If I said, "blank town has the second highest level of syphilis in the nation. Whoever is #1, Compton or whoever, we're coming for you!" People might raise a brow, now wouldn't they? So, when we think of west virginia, are we thinking of predominantly jewish people? Probably not. Thanks. It was fun thinking for you.
I'm baffled as to who Ken might be slyly making a racist dig at here, Anonymous. I assumed it would be African Americans, based on your example, but only 3% of the West Virginian population identifies themselves as that -- about the same as Washington, Alaska and Minnesota. In fact, 94% of the state's population identifies themselves as "white alone".
Of course, I do know that WV is known for being the most miserable state, for being pretty racist, and for generally being just one of the worst states to live in, period.
Other than that, I don't follow you. Enlighten us!
Actually Jewish IS a race. Just like Irish or English, or any group of people with shared culture, history or ethnicity. You need a better dictionary! ;)
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Pun intended?
ReplyDeleteWoah! Georgia, may be just ahead, but if you count DC, its a runaway.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.freestdcheck.org/syphillis-states/
Washington, DC, baby! We're #1 at something.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.freestdcheck.org/syphillis-states
ReplyDeleteNo syphilis on the Virgin Islands? Yes, makes sense...
Yeh, but if CA were split into six states as proposed by Tim Draper, I wonder if one of those "States Formerly Known as Parts of California" would be #1.
ReplyDeleteHey Ken, without wanting to bring up painful memories, I was wondering if you'd read this blog post on MARY? It's a short but interesting analysis from a fan of this blog. It has a link to the author's favourite episodes. In TV history I think the show must be classed as a fascinating failure. I'd be interested to know what you felt worked about it (characters, setup, etc), and what elements you weren't so happy with (ignoring the obvious).
ReplyDeleteIn the episode I just watched, Mary's boss and colleague tease her about how soft she is, and (surprisingly) are successful in bullying her into threatening an unscrupulous businessman.
Personally I found it very usual for the central character, a voice for reason and civility, to be pushed to anger. It felt like maybe we should have seen Mary be bullied at the beginning of the episode, and this was her learning about being assertive, but instead it felt like a sweet person being pushed into being mean.
Certainly very usual for a US sitcom, and certainly very interesting.
Other than that, I loved the more realistic edge to things, even if Mary and Katey Sagal seems too opposite -- Mary too sweet, Sagal too nasty, and nothing in between to bind them. Like if you put Daphne from Frasier opposite Carla from Cheers.
Both Sagal and, especially John Astin, were great.
Anyways, here's the link to the show and the article:
http://jacksonupperco.com/2014/07/09/moore-tries-again-a-look-at-mary-1985-1986-cbs/
The author speculated that something went awry after thr fourth episode, because he felt some magic was lost after that.
Would love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for the link, JW. I read the post and thought he must be some 60 year old veteran and contemporary of Ken's. Insightful, well written stuff. I bookmarked it. Then I read "About". That was a surprise.
ReplyDeleteFunny how Ken complains of some show runners ugly remarks about gays, then makes an ugly remark with racial undertones about the people of West Virginia.
ReplyDeleteDr. Shrinker said...
ReplyDelete""West Virginian" is a race?"
If I said, "blank town has the second highest level of syphilis in the nation. Whoever is #1, Compton or whoever, we're coming for you!" People might raise a brow, now wouldn't they? So, when we think of west virginia, are we thinking of predominantly jewish people? Probably not.
Thanks. It was fun thinking for you.
I'm baffled as to who Ken might be slyly making a racist dig at here, Anonymous. I assumed it would be African Americans, based on your example, but only 3% of the West Virginian population identifies themselves as that -- about the same as Washington, Alaska and Minnesota. In fact, 94% of the state's population identifies themselves as "white alone".
ReplyDelete[US Census: West Virginia]
Of course, I do know that WV is known for being the most miserable state, for being pretty racist, and for generally being just one of the worst states to live in, period.
Other than that, I don't follow you. Enlighten us!
Actually Jewish IS a race. Just like Irish or English, or any group of people with shared culture, history or ethnicity. You need a better dictionary! ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm doing my part to get us to #1!
ReplyDelete