tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post3933986225892159252..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Most improved sitcom: PARKS & RECREATIONBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81504844577304951052010-12-09T17:53:38.107-08:002010-12-09T17:53:38.107-08:00nice sitenice siteyolihttp://www.vocab.homestead.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47546475611834266922010-11-30T09:54:25.489-08:002010-11-30T09:54:25.489-08:00Finally got a chance to watch "Hot In Clevela...Finally got a chance to watch "Hot In Cleveland" (yeah, I know I'm late to the party), and <i>loved</i> it. Okay, it's not quite a brilliant series, but it's very well done with a lot of old sitcom pros (including the oldest of all, the wonderful Betty White). Jane Leeves looks a lot sexier (and leggier) than she ever was on "Frasier," and her character must be wearing super-high heels because she's taller than Wendie Malick, who's hardly petite (but still does the egotistical, stuck-up thing to perfection). And Valerie Bertinelli is pretty solid, too. <br /><br />Kudos to TV Land for a fun series (with an array of great guest stars from Wayne Knight to Carl Reiner). I look forward to the new season in January and hope its sister show, "Retired At 35," is similarly good.<br /><br />wv: "ourec" -- shorthand for what many football players in Norman elect as a major.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6543881340529162972010-11-30T06:17:36.212-08:002010-11-30T06:17:36.212-08:00I'm an agnostic on FRASIER, but a few moments ...I'm an agnostic on FRASIER, but a few moments always stick in my mind:<br /><br />John Mahoney justifying the presence of his decaying La-Z-Boy in his son's living room: "It's eclectic."<br /><br />The whole Lupe Velez story (which was true, BTW)<br /><br />Niles' amazed exclamation "You saw my Maris naked?!" He clearly never had.Matt Pattonhttp://mpatton1962.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43559197897655830682010-11-29T18:10:09.858-08:002010-11-29T18:10:09.858-08:00I thought Cheers was at its best during seasons 4 ...I thought Cheers was at its best during seasons 4 and 5. Everything was just firing on all cylinders. Season 6 is quite good, too - though not quite as good as the previous two due to Shelley Long's absence.<br /><br />I liked the first five or six years of Frasier, but it went on <i>way</i> too long. They somewhat redeemed themselves during the last season, though, when Joe Keenan and Chris Lloyd returned to run the show.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22657339213726591152010-11-28T20:08:32.937-08:002010-11-28T20:08:32.937-08:00The Big Bang Theory has moved onto Sheldon because...The Big Bang Theory has moved onto Sheldon because the Penny/Leonard Dynamic proved to be limiting. I'm not sure if it was the fact that they were in a relationship together at the time, but go back and watch the first season. There is no "winning over" she is interested almost immediately. It's all subtextual, but it is all there too. I mean there aren't too many ways that can go, so you move on to other characters. <br /><br />That said, my spec BBT is sheldon centric, so i am part of the problem.lucifervandrosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11222482184840116176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82124084240755915022010-11-27T23:35:45.790-08:002010-11-27T23:35:45.790-08:00Community is having problems equalling the unheard...Community is having problems equalling the unheard-of brilliance of episode 25 (I think) from the first season. So they're going more into genre parody than before and the results are not as strong as in that one case. There's also the danger of them losing the characters a little along the way.<br /><br />That being said, the conspiracy episode had a fantastic climactic scene, and one of the most enjoyable meta lines ever in a sitcom: 'Jeff Winger NEVER learns!'mrswinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16121973088315971132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17547224260094132172010-11-27T23:33:06.455-08:002010-11-27T23:33:06.455-08:00Frasier was consistently outstanding for the first...Frasier was consistently outstanding for the first six seasons. Then fatigue set in and the show really went downhill with the introduction of the Moon family. They were so obnoxious (and the Cranes were so powerless to counter them) it made every episode in which they appeared painful to watch.<br /><br />There WAS a lot of experimenting in the later seasons, though (the sliding doors episode, the one where they revisited scenes from earlier episodes commenting on how they behaved/what they thought then, etc.). But this exploring the boundaries of the traditional sitcom often didn't really result in a lot of big laughs. <br /><br />word verification: rerra. What Yogi Berra kicked you in when he got mad at you.mrswinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16121973088315971132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59671831302544182632010-11-27T18:34:40.114-08:002010-11-27T18:34:40.114-08:00I loved Frasier from beginning to end - what I did...I loved Frasier from beginning to end - what I didn't like at the end was that often Niles and Frasier woudn't be in the same scenes - while I liked Niles either way, Frasier's character seemed like a pompous assbag without Niles to parry with. I loved the Niles/Daphne relationship and the dad with Wendie Malick - but Frasier didn't have anyone that brought out the funny (to me) there at the end. Great show, great writing. Loved it.kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10315866204746458917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1080764569311512112010-11-27T12:04:42.955-08:002010-11-27T12:04:42.955-08:00It took a few years for Seinfeld to reach the UK. ...It took a few years for Seinfeld to reach the UK. I remember watching the first series in utter disbelief that this was the top comedy in America. <br /><br />Expectations duly lowered, it seemed even funnier when all the elements fell into place.Jaded and Cynicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02634516059161327338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29077621369265010212010-11-27T08:41:07.043-08:002010-11-27T08:41:07.043-08:00I found Frasier seldom had a spark of anything rea...I found Frasier seldom had a spark of anything really new. The same old jokes being rewoven into new episodes. Not a bad show, but I always had the feeling I had seen even the new episodes before.<br /><br />The first season of Community was fun, but I'm finding the second a tad too out there for my liking. Over the top concepts (ie: a KFC "space capsule"; Aryan trampolines opening doors to altered states of reality) that are cute buy not strong enough to hold an episode. Seems like the writers have challenged themselves to see how far they can push the envelope -- but the concept often ends up sinking the content... Hm. Maybe it's an acquired taste.Somersbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03171162269200885559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25049665543222617932010-11-27T07:54:14.231-08:002010-11-27T07:54:14.231-08:00Re. excelellence/peak quallity sitcoms: I would sa...Re. excelellence/peak quallity sitcoms: I would say that about The Larry Sanders Show well before the over-awarded Frasier...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35718919561581827942010-11-27T07:27:35.465-08:002010-11-27T07:27:35.465-08:00Frasier stayed at the party for about two seasons ...<i>Frasier stayed at the party for about two seasons too long. Barnery Miller was exceptional from start to finish.</i><br /><br />What bevo said.olucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047701257768309071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-27510672416370124722010-11-27T01:34:43.302-08:002010-11-27T01:34:43.302-08:00I definitely agree about Parks and Recreation and ...I definitely agree about Parks and Recreation and Community. Both started out kind of terrible and have turned into two of my favorite shows.Erika @ Health and Happiness in LAhttp://healthandhappinessinLA.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75958314791345270092010-11-27T01:16:42.209-08:002010-11-27T01:16:42.209-08:001) Humor is the most subjective of things, but I j...1) Humor is the most subjective of things, but I just don't understand how anyone can find "Parks and Rec" to be anything but irritating. It's like a group of people shouting "Aren't we funny?!" in my face for 22 minutes.<br /><br />2) Best pilot ever? Either "Tenspeed and Brown Shoe" or "Salvage 1." Each so brilliant that the series that followed were never able to live up to the promise.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14383234713692495686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31822274095748614462010-11-27T00:49:42.695-08:002010-11-27T00:49:42.695-08:00Frasier "consistently excellent"? I wou...Frasier "consistently excellent"? I would say consistent, but never excellent. It was well done, but conventional (with bigger words). Winning all those Emmys when better shows were around (Seinfeld, Larry Sanders, The Simpsons, even Friends) showed a lack of imagination on Television Academy's part.<br /><br />Word Verification: believe it or not, "outie."Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72731969855860036332010-11-26T21:03:27.576-08:002010-11-26T21:03:27.576-08:00Re: The Walking Dead zombies...I heard that they ...Re: The Walking Dead zombies...I heard that they have the same 40 extras who always play the zombies, and they just change their make-up enough times that you can't tell. I'm sure a lot of them are just excited to be on that set.Erika C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66536836807651076582010-11-26T21:02:32.096-08:002010-11-26T21:02:32.096-08:00Reverend Jim taking the taxi driver's test alw...Reverend Jim taking the taxi driver's test always cracks me up.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44270482037290658792010-11-26T16:41:14.011-08:002010-11-26T16:41:14.011-08:00Mash Question for a Friday. I recently lost some w...Mash Question for a Friday. I recently lost some weight rather quickly (it was planned). My clothes are baggy and very loose as a result.<br /><br />I started thinking about the MASH episode where Charles is convinced that he is gaining weight because his clothes are tight. Who thought of the story? Was it result of the research efforts that have been discussed previously? How did the last line, which is brilliant, come about?bevonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-838027149949951632010-11-26T16:38:56.051-08:002010-11-26T16:38:56.051-08:00Frasier stayed at the party for about two seasons ...Frasier stayed at the party for about two seasons too long. Barnery Miller was exceptional from start to finish.<br /><br />Cosby Show took about two seasons to find its legs. Night Court needed Markie Post to join the show before it found a good rhythm.<br /><br />While I still enjoy Sienfeld, the first season is really ragged. Arrested Development should have been a British comedy because, like Coupling, it stayed at the party long enough.bevonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38142695798647121702010-11-26T16:13:10.597-08:002010-11-26T16:13:10.597-08:00Apologies to Anthony LaPaglia; what I get for not ...Apologies to Anthony LaPaglia; what I get for not double-checking. <br /><br />And thanks, jbryant, for keeping me honest and making sure the right guy receives credit for a great coming performance.tenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33319094613848080742010-11-26T15:46:04.597-08:002010-11-26T15:46:04.597-08:00My favorite Cheers season is probably five. Yester...My favorite Cheers season is probably five. Yesterday, I watched "Thanksgiving Orphans." Also on season five's DVD is the hilarious farce, "Dinner At Eight-ish." <br /><br />Season one is outstanding. No episode that year reminded me of another sitcom, great originality, so you never knew what the characters were going to do.<br /><br />I always chuckle when I think of the lines from Julia Duffy's favorite poem, Another Christmas Of Agony.<br /><br />"Mischa the dog lies dead in the bog...." Great stuff.Max Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706524941272103444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45069955462898372142010-11-26T13:15:10.386-08:002010-11-26T13:15:10.386-08:00I'm glad you said that about Mash. I feel the ...I'm glad you said that about Mash. I feel the show didn't really find its' bearings until the middle of the second season. The pranks that Hawkeye and Trapper John played before then were a little too bizarre for a show that was supposed to be rooted in reality. For instance, we're always told that the 4077 was constantly short of supplies, so where did Hawkeye and Trapper find all the gold paint to convince Frank Burns he'd struck it rich? (Remember, they had enough left over to paint the jeep gold!)<br /><br />@Mark--There's a lot, but one that immediately comes to mind is Archie Bunker asking Sammy Davis Jr if he'd like some cream in his eye.Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88780840169557591252010-11-26T13:09:58.465-08:002010-11-26T13:09:58.465-08:00I'm a big fan of Everybody Loves Raymond and I...I'm a big fan of Everybody Loves Raymond and I know that critics of the show all pointed to Ray and Debra's constant fighting as a reason for not liking the show. I agree that arguing does feature prominently in most of the episodes and was a source of much of the shows humor, however all the episodes that I believe have annoying, excessive arguing between the two of them are all credited to one writer, Tucker Cawley.<br /><br />If you watch the later seasons Cawley uses the same plot device repeatedly in his scripts where Ray or Robert will say something that one or both of their wives overreact to and this drives the entire plot of the episode. The early episodes that he wrote didn't follow this formula and consequently weren't as funny. <br /><br />My question is have you ever noticed when a staff writer on a show uses the same plot device repeatedly in the scripts he wrote and the show's quality suffered as a result? In this situation is it more the responsibility if the writer who wrote the initial draft to challenge himself and write something unlike what he's used to, or do the other producers just have to have more of an input on the final draft to ensure it doesn't seem too formulaic to longtime viewers of the show?Stevennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85474212342017057832010-11-26T12:58:31.853-08:002010-11-26T12:58:31.853-08:00te: Unless my memory is worse than I thought, Anth...te: Unless my memory is worse than I thought, Anthony LaPaglia played Daphne's brother. Alfred Molina did, however, topline the short-lived BRAM AND ALICE, a sitcom exec-produced by FRASIER alums Joe Keenan and Christopher Lloyd.jbryantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50223349737407796182010-11-26T12:44:03.683-08:002010-11-26T12:44:03.683-08:00Much as I enjoyed Frazier, I have to disagree with...Much as I enjoyed Frazier, I have to disagree with the notion that the series was consistently great from start to finish. <br /><br />Of course, everything has its ups and downs, but Frazier, to me, absolutely hit the skids when the Daphne/Niles romance bloomed, and it never recovered. I am thankful, though, that the show never reached the point when they'd have a baby.<br /><br />I think that, like you said of Cheers, Frazier was best when sticking to the principal characters. With one (somewhat) recurring exception: Alfred Molina as Daphne's brother. <br /><br />Again, I'm thankful that the producers didn't run with it and reshape the show. I don't like the way Family Ties became The Michael J. Fox Show, and Big Bang Theory is becoming The Parsons Show, though I have no problem with either actor or character.tenoreply@blogger.com