Remember back in 2003, when I was running around telling everyone I met, "there's this new show called Arrested Development and it's the greatest thing ever." (Truth be told, almost 8 years after watching it for the first time, I still talk about it relentlessly.) I submit for your approval a show from BBC1 called, "Outnumbered." I will champion as loudly and obnoxiously for this show as I did for Arrested, because it is hilarious and so well written and acted.
I have grown pretty tired of the classic sitcom formula of "setup setup [sarcastic jab]/punchline" which is utilized by so many comedy shows. I love shows like Arrested, Modern Family, and now Outnumbered because they are restructuring the sitcom. But the latter is different from both of the former because it is written so subtly. Modern and Arrested are very obviously (and skillfully) written. Anytime I can say the phrase "hijinks ensue" I feel like it is pretty contrived - I'm talking to you Mitch and Claire stuck in your old backyard treehouse. If I were a writer on either of these shows, I would show off too. (I really am not trying to take anything away from either of these exceptional television shows. I love them.) But Outnumbered has such a realistic portrayal of children, and such an obvious understanding of speech patterns that the dialog is expertly written. I think it is the greatest thing I've seen in quite some time. The writing and the acting combine to make it amazingly realistic.
The premise is two parents, Pete and Sue, hardworking and good people doing the best they can, have three precocious albeit unruly children: Jake, Ben and Karen. I could never choose favorites between Ben and Karen, because they are both amazingly funny, and the best child actors I have ever seen. (If Jodie Foster had been younger in Taxi Driver, then maybe we could talk about her. But Olsen Twins, Jonathan from Who's the Boss, or that Raven Symone someone, puh-lease.) But here are two clips with Karen, a few episodes apart, as she discusses her religion.
And here's a scene when Pete and Sue decide to have a Sunday free of television and full of family bonding time.
It's not available on region 1 dvd, so don't think it is the Outnumbered that is on Netflix, but it is worth scouting out if you can. My PBS station is airing it right now, and if you want to come over to my house to watch some episodes off of the DVR, please feel free. But the sad news is, Fox is planning on adapting it on this side of the pond, and we all know how well that works out. (Office, you jumped the shark years ago, please, let it die. You're past the days when Richie was the only cast member missing, now it's like the super terrible spin off Joanie Loves Chachi.Seriously, how did you think that show would work?)
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, January 4, 2010
Mine's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.
Before I get too deep into this post, I would like to say, I do more than just do pub trivia nights with my friends. (We also enjoy karaoke and 80s dancing. tee hee hee)
Tonight, Chelsie, Becky and I went to the crazy little bar, Ella St. Social Club and played us some Mad Men trivia! Going in, we were not that optimistic - we were aiming for not last place - and I think this is the way to play trivia. As we were waiting for the festivities to start, a couple walked up to us and asked if they could join our team, since the male half of the couple doesn't watch the show. We agreed, because what is trivia if it isn't an inclusive activity? To say that I regretted having them on my team would not be an accurate statement, even though I witnessed them talking about me with judgment multiple times. The girl is a grad student in upstate New York. Here's the funny part, she is getting her doctorate in medieval studies. When I asked her if she frequented Renaissance fairs, she was incensed. (It seemed like a logical progression. And I'm pretty sure she does participate in the medieval romps.) And her non-Mad Men watching companion shared no personal details. We decided as a group to be called the "Relaxicizers." What we did not know was that the team directly next to us decided that that would be their name as well. We found this out when the trivia jock came by to ask names. Why they didn't tell us that they had already chosen that name when they heard us decide on it is beyond me - maybe they stole it from us...we quickly decided to be "Peggy Olson's Bastard Children," a name that solicited chuckles each time it was said out loud.
Suffice it, Peggy Olson's Bastard Children won the Mad Men trivia night! We ended up giving the gift certificate to the bar to the couple who joined our team, even though they were hating on me. And I took home the trophy!! What, what!
I love plastic trophies that validate my knowledge of a tv show that I really enjoy, but have seen the first two seasons about twice each episode and the third season once.
As an aside, this trivia night was at the same club as the AD one that went SO horribly, Kyle was not our trivia jock, it was a cute girl called Margaret who played hardball! She asked tough questions, and knew her stuff. Gold star, Margaret.
P.S. I think you should come trivia-ing with me. Sometimes we win money!
Tonight, Chelsie, Becky and I went to the crazy little bar, Ella St. Social Club and played us some Mad Men trivia! Going in, we were not that optimistic - we were aiming for not last place - and I think this is the way to play trivia. As we were waiting for the festivities to start, a couple walked up to us and asked if they could join our team, since the male half of the couple doesn't watch the show. We agreed, because what is trivia if it isn't an inclusive activity? To say that I regretted having them on my team would not be an accurate statement, even though I witnessed them talking about me with judgment multiple times. The girl is a grad student in upstate New York. Here's the funny part, she is getting her doctorate in medieval studies. When I asked her if she frequented Renaissance fairs, she was incensed. (It seemed like a logical progression. And I'm pretty sure she does participate in the medieval romps.) And her non-Mad Men watching companion shared no personal details. We decided as a group to be called the "Relaxicizers." What we did not know was that the team directly next to us decided that that would be their name as well. We found this out when the trivia jock came by to ask names. Why they didn't tell us that they had already chosen that name when they heard us decide on it is beyond me - maybe they stole it from us...we quickly decided to be "Peggy Olson's Bastard Children," a name that solicited chuckles each time it was said out loud.
Suffice it, Peggy Olson's Bastard Children won the Mad Men trivia night! We ended up giving the gift certificate to the bar to the couple who joined our team, even though they were hating on me. And I took home the trophy!! What, what!
I love plastic trophies that validate my knowledge of a tv show that I really enjoy, but have seen the first two seasons about twice each episode and the third season once.
As an aside, this trivia night was at the same club as the AD one that went SO horribly, Kyle was not our trivia jock, it was a cute girl called Margaret who played hardball! She asked tough questions, and knew her stuff. Gold star, Margaret.
P.S. I think you should come trivia-ing with me. Sometimes we win money!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Open Season:
To the writers of Gossip Girl:
Dan + Vanessa with her awful extensions + Hilary Duff = EW.
To Matthew Weiner:
Good job. Wow. Wow. Good job.
To AMC:
Please order more episodes of Mad Men. 13 is not enough. Thank you.
To my wrist:
I don't know how you got sprained, but I do know that you hurt like nobody's business. I hope you like the stupid brace I'm wearing for you. Let's be friends again soon.
To the pretentious 18 year old featured on Caridgan Empire today:
I really liked this outfit.
To Charlie Kaufman:
I just watched Being John Malkovich again, and you are AWESOME.
To Wade Robson:
Your dance last week was my favorite of this season, and last season.
To the sales girl at Ray's Ragtime.
You're not cool.
To the kid who plays Artie on Glee:
I am SHOCKED that I like your David Bowie cover so much. Good job.
To pears:
I am addicted to you.
To my hair:
I'm sorry that I tease and curl you all the time. Thanks for doing whatever I tell you to do.
To Cory:
Yes, Dead Man's Bones really is my greatest concert yet. You were there, you know why.
To Charlie Kelly:
I'd like to place an order for "Kitten Mittons." I'm smitten!
Dan + Vanessa with her awful extensions + Hilary Duff = EW.
To Matthew Weiner:
Good job. Wow. Wow. Good job.
To AMC:
Please order more episodes of Mad Men. 13 is not enough. Thank you.
To my wrist:
I don't know how you got sprained, but I do know that you hurt like nobody's business. I hope you like the stupid brace I'm wearing for you. Let's be friends again soon.
To the pretentious 18 year old featured on Caridgan Empire today:
I really liked this outfit.
To Charlie Kaufman:
I just watched Being John Malkovich again, and you are AWESOME.
To Wade Robson:
Your dance last week was my favorite of this season, and last season.
To the sales girl at Ray's Ragtime.
You're not cool.
To the kid who plays Artie on Glee:
I am SHOCKED that I like your David Bowie cover so much. Good job.
To pears:
I am addicted to you.
To my hair:
I'm sorry that I tease and curl you all the time. Thanks for doing whatever I tell you to do.
To Cory:
Yes, Dead Man's Bones really is my greatest concert yet. You were there, you know why.
To Charlie Kelly:
I'd like to place an order for "Kitten Mittons." I'm smitten!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Notes for Kyle, the Arrested D Trivia Jock:
I know you heard a lot from me last night about your “performance” but I would like to restate some of my concerns about the outcome of last night’s festivities for you now in the light of a new day, and since you’ve probably sobered up by now. (And, I promise to be a gracious loser just as soon as I get this rant out!)
1. When you steal Shanrock’s line about accepting bribes and sexual favors, you aren’t as funny as she is. In fact, when you say it, it's not at all funny, but mostly creepy and pathetic. And if you really want to be offered sexual favors, perhaps you shouldn’t be such a HORRIBLE trivia jock.
2. When you ask trivia questions, you should know the answers to them.
a. When you say “Which character was portrayed by two actresses” know that the answer is Ann, and not Marta (who was portrayed by 3 women.) And when the team, “Dr. Funke’s 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution” and my team, “Neuterfest” (as an afterthought, we wanted to change our name to Girls With Low Self-Esteem…next time Adrianna, next time!) bring this up, don’t throw out the question because you’re a dummy even after you look it up on your iphone.
b. When you say fill in the 9 blanks below, and have 10 words missing out of the opening credits narration, stop drinking and focus on your counting!
c. When the answer is “…you old horny slut,” don’t drunkenly announce it as “…you horny old slut” multiple times, even after you told us we needed to be exact in the phrasing.
3. The fact that so many of us had really close scores is a sign that your questions were way too easy. (The people who left midway through the game were not true fans -- they were there for giggles, not for the competition.) It is not a sign that the last round should be something truly and completely unrelated to Arrested D, like filling in missing lyrics to Europe’s Final Countdown. You might just as well asked us about the band Arrested Development, or one of the songs by Motherboy. If you want to do Arrested Development trivia, perhaps you should have asked us the lyrics to “Teamocil,” “Big Yellow Joint,” “All You Need are Smiles,” “Get Along Little Sheep,” “Hot Cops” or even “Afternoon Delight,” whose lyrics were ACTUALLY USED IN AN EPISODE.
4. Julia Louis-Dreyfus' name is not Julia Louise Dreyfus.
5. Don’t take 3 minutes between each question. You copied Shanrock’s line, please also copy her timing, charisma and natural grace as a trivia jock.
6. Put down your drink, and focus on the task at hand.
7. Oh, and lose the hat with that shirt. They are competing patterns.
(So, we did not win. We tied with two other teams for third place. We missed one question that was arrested related, -the answer was underwear-- and that was the same question the winners Dr. Funke’s 100% Natural Good Time Family Band Solution missed too-- all of the other points we missed, and I suspect the people who tied with us, and came in second, missed the lyrics to the Final Countdown. [angry face]. I am so angry with Kyle’s questions, there is no way I’m going to skip my hip hop class again for the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia one he’s concocting.)
1. When you steal Shanrock’s line about accepting bribes and sexual favors, you aren’t as funny as she is. In fact, when you say it, it's not at all funny, but mostly creepy and pathetic. And if you really want to be offered sexual favors, perhaps you shouldn’t be such a HORRIBLE trivia jock.
2. When you ask trivia questions, you should know the answers to them.
a. When you say “Which character was portrayed by two actresses” know that the answer is Ann, and not Marta (who was portrayed by 3 women.) And when the team, “Dr. Funke’s 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution” and my team, “Neuterfest” (as an afterthought, we wanted to change our name to Girls With Low Self-Esteem…next time Adrianna, next time!) bring this up, don’t throw out the question because you’re a dummy even after you look it up on your iphone.
b. When you say fill in the 9 blanks below, and have 10 words missing out of the opening credits narration, stop drinking and focus on your counting!
c. When the answer is “…you old horny slut,” don’t drunkenly announce it as “…you horny old slut” multiple times, even after you told us we needed to be exact in the phrasing.
3. The fact that so many of us had really close scores is a sign that your questions were way too easy. (The people who left midway through the game were not true fans -- they were there for giggles, not for the competition.) It is not a sign that the last round should be something truly and completely unrelated to Arrested D, like filling in missing lyrics to Europe’s Final Countdown. You might just as well asked us about the band Arrested Development, or one of the songs by Motherboy. If you want to do Arrested Development trivia, perhaps you should have asked us the lyrics to “Teamocil,” “Big Yellow Joint,” “All You Need are Smiles,” “Get Along Little Sheep,” “Hot Cops” or even “Afternoon Delight,” whose lyrics were ACTUALLY USED IN AN EPISODE.
4. Julia Louis-Dreyfus' name is not Julia Louise Dreyfus.
5. Don’t take 3 minutes between each question. You copied Shanrock’s line, please also copy her timing, charisma and natural grace as a trivia jock.
6. Put down your drink, and focus on the task at hand.
7. Oh, and lose the hat with that shirt. They are competing patterns.
(So, we did not win. We tied with two other teams for third place. We missed one question that was arrested related, -the answer was underwear-- and that was the same question the winners Dr. Funke’s 100% Natural Good Time Family Band Solution missed too-- all of the other points we missed, and I suspect the people who tied with us, and came in second, missed the lyrics to the Final Countdown. [angry face]. I am so angry with Kyle’s questions, there is no way I’m going to skip my hip hop class again for the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia one he’s concocting.)
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Because when don't I blog about television?
I was hanging out with my delightful cousin Julia today and we got to talking about television and she said something like, "you should write a funny tv show." Julia, who is infinitely hip, excessively nice and a kick-ass esthetician to boot, is not the first person to tell me this. But here's the truth, writing for television is a format that intimidates the heck out of me. I am completely uncertain as to how someone can create characters that people want to watch and let into their homes every week. Especially when all of my favorite shows get canceled. But it is something I'm knocking around when I'm not working on this super amazing screenplay I'm presently getting ready to pimp out after cranking out 20 pages one day last week! (Do you want to inspired to write a screenplay, or just watch a super terrific movie? Watch Brick. Holy cow, it is amazing. That Rian Johnson is absolutely terrific - The Brothers Bloom, and Brick...jeepers. I love that he's making movies! I now have a total girl crush on Nora Zehetner, and an even bigger movie star crush on JGL -- how am I still the only person who calls Joseph Gordon-Levitt "JGL"? How about a still from the movie to inspire you to add it to your queue? It is UH-MAZE-ZING!
Remember when I never closed my parenthetical? Well, here...)
So, until I can come up with something that I can pitch, I'll just watch Mad Men and Glee** whilst pretend that my high school existence was one more like those kids, and less like the reality of the bitchy diva with a little bit of talent and very few friends.
**A P.S. for Jooj: Tonight's episode featured the kids doing a very special version of "Push It". I thought of you!
Remember when I never closed my parenthetical? Well, here...)
So, until I can come up with something that I can pitch, I'll just watch Mad Men and Glee** whilst pretend that my high school existence was one more like those kids, and less like the reality of the bitchy diva with a little bit of talent and very few friends.
**A P.S. for Jooj: Tonight's episode featured the kids doing a very special version of "Push It". I thought of you!
Friday, July 31, 2009
An open letter to So You Think You Can Dance:
Thank you for bringing back Will, Twitch and Joshua last night! I would like to encourage you to do it as frequently as you desire, in fact, go against your better judgment and bring them back for the remainder of this season, because now that Janette an Ade are gone, I kind of don't care who wins. Thanks!
As an aside, I saw this description of last season's gang, "Thursday night's "So You Think You Can Dance" brought back last season's dancers to perform the four Emmy-nominated routines. What a treat to see last year's faves return! Will now has dreads, Joshua shaved his head, Katee is smokin' hot and Jessica was better than I remembered."
I have to say, that is EXACTLY what I noticed last night as well, although while that blogger said "Will has dreads" I thought, "Wow, Will looks GREAT!" and when he said, "Joshua shaved his head" I thought, "Wow, Joshua looks GREAT!" and when Twitch was on the show I thought, "HOLY HELL, TWITCH IS SO HOT!"
As an aside, I saw this description of last season's gang, "Thursday night's "So You Think You Can Dance" brought back last season's dancers to perform the four Emmy-nominated routines. What a treat to see last year's faves return! Will now has dreads, Joshua shaved his head, Katee is smokin' hot and Jessica was better than I remembered."
I have to say, that is EXACTLY what I noticed last night as well, although while that blogger said "Will has dreads" I thought, "Wow, Will looks GREAT!" and when he said, "Joshua shaved his head" I thought, "Wow, Joshua looks GREAT!" and when Twitch was on the show I thought, "HOLY HELL, TWITCH IS SO HOT!"
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Lost in Translation or: Why I could never be a TV critic.
I don't speak Spanish, but this does not stop me from enjoying the occasional telenovelas, or movie they happen to play on Univision. (I once saw the last ten minutes of El Padrecito, and giggled so much I could hardly stand it. There was a priest, obviously, trying to force a drunk mule to do something. Suffice it to say, hilarity ensued. I should see if that is on netflix so I could watch more than the last ten minutes...) Tonight while I was at the gym the two tvs closest to me had The Food Network and Univision going. While Alton Brown is delightful, having to read subtitles in order to understand what was going on seemed like a super lame idea, (especially since he was dressed up as a cowboy) compared to re-reading my new Vogue. But on Univision, a telenovela called Cuidado con el angel was on, this I could give a shot. Now again, I don't speak Spanish, so what I'm about to report could be completely fabricated, but between the images and a few context clues from the closed captioning, this is what I gleaned...
Marichuy grew up in an orphanage, but her parents are still alive. She married Juan Miguel, who thought he was a widower, but now his wife is known to be alive and is in prison (I'm pretty sure that was his wife he was visiting, but I couldn't figure out why she was in there, but in any case, she is alive) and the marriage between Marichuy and Juan Miguel is nullified, despite the fact that she is pregnant with his child. (Oh snap.) But at some point, Marichuy figured out that Juan Miguel was the same man who attacked her when she was living on the streets years ago, making her lose all faith in men, and they had a falling out - probably after she got pregnant.
Juan Miguel is hanging out with yet another girl, but aside from her pretending to walk with a limp for half of their walk down the sidewalk, and seeing him make fun of her eating an ice cream cone, I can't tell you what was going on there.
Marichuy happened to need a house, and coincidentally moved in with her biological parents and a another girl they took in, believing to be their daughter. Now, there's some real convoluted mess here because I think one of them, either Marichuy or the other girl, is thinking they are the reincarnation of her grandmother. Maybe that's where the "con el angel" part of the title comes from?
All the while, there is some guy holed up out in the sticks with an injured leg, and an old guy taking care of him. One of these guys, though I'm not sure which, was called "El Leopardo" who I am pretty sure was in love with Marichuy, but she's still hung up on Juan Miguel.
As an aside, the injured guy and his care taker were the best part of this show. All tense looks between them, and then a climactic shot of the injured guy trying to stand for the first time in a long while. And of course, he falls as soon as the old guy lets go. I don't know what they were saying, but they had a really long conversation with the injured guy on the floor for like three scenes. He looked like a turtle on its back. DELIGHTFUL.
I'm just really concerned for Marichuy. Will she figure out that her parents are her parents? Will she find love? Will she be able to forgive the man she loves for anonymously attacking her years before? Will she take El Leopardo's offer of marriage for the sake of her baby? Inquiring minds want to know (but not enough to seek out this show).
I think language barriers are fun.
----I couldn't find the mule scene, but here is 2 minutes of El Padrecito where you can witness really bad facial hair, and really bad pretend organing.
Marichuy grew up in an orphanage, but her parents are still alive. She married Juan Miguel, who thought he was a widower, but now his wife is known to be alive and is in prison (I'm pretty sure that was his wife he was visiting, but I couldn't figure out why she was in there, but in any case, she is alive) and the marriage between Marichuy and Juan Miguel is nullified, despite the fact that she is pregnant with his child. (Oh snap.) But at some point, Marichuy figured out that Juan Miguel was the same man who attacked her when she was living on the streets years ago, making her lose all faith in men, and they had a falling out - probably after she got pregnant.
Juan Miguel is hanging out with yet another girl, but aside from her pretending to walk with a limp for half of their walk down the sidewalk, and seeing him make fun of her eating an ice cream cone, I can't tell you what was going on there.
Marichuy happened to need a house, and coincidentally moved in with her biological parents and a another girl they took in, believing to be their daughter. Now, there's some real convoluted mess here because I think one of them, either Marichuy or the other girl, is thinking they are the reincarnation of her grandmother. Maybe that's where the "con el angel" part of the title comes from?
All the while, there is some guy holed up out in the sticks with an injured leg, and an old guy taking care of him. One of these guys, though I'm not sure which, was called "El Leopardo" who I am pretty sure was in love with Marichuy, but she's still hung up on Juan Miguel.
As an aside, the injured guy and his care taker were the best part of this show. All tense looks between them, and then a climactic shot of the injured guy trying to stand for the first time in a long while. And of course, he falls as soon as the old guy lets go. I don't know what they were saying, but they had a really long conversation with the injured guy on the floor for like three scenes. He looked like a turtle on its back. DELIGHTFUL.
I'm just really concerned for Marichuy. Will she figure out that her parents are her parents? Will she find love? Will she be able to forgive the man she loves for anonymously attacking her years before? Will she take El Leopardo's offer of marriage for the sake of her baby? Inquiring minds want to know (but not enough to seek out this show).
I think language barriers are fun.
----I couldn't find the mule scene, but here is 2 minutes of El Padrecito where you can witness really bad facial hair, and really bad pretend organing.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
An Open Letter To TV:
Dear TV,
I am writing because I am concerned I will be spending too much time with you this fall season.
Monday: Gossip Girl
Wednesday: Pushing Daisies, Project Runway (and potentially Top Design)
Thursday: My Name is Earl, The Office & 30 Rock (and so I'll probably watch Kath & Kim too, because why watch 90 minutes of TV when you can watch a 2 hour block?)
Friday: Bill Moyer's Journal
I am looking at seven hours of TV a week, and that's not even counting the occasional viewing of Coupling, You Are What you Eat, Cash Cab, or How Clean is Your House.
I think I need to cut some out. Sadly, and thankfully, Project Runway will end soon after Fashion Week. Maybe I'll stop Gossip Girl since I hate the story lines and most of the characters? But what about the delightful times watching with Becky, Shara & Lindsey. Oh TV, I need to get a life - but can I give up 30 Rock or Pushing Daisies? TV, remember when I hated you? Those were better times for me, I think. You've done me wrong before, but also brought me a lot of enjoyment.
I guess I need to work this out for myself, and definitely work on doing something whilst watching the copious amounts of you, but thanks for listening.
Also, can do me a favor and get rid of a few of the CSI's and Law & Orders...they are pretty much lame. Thanks.
Your old friend,
Molly
I am writing because I am concerned I will be spending too much time with you this fall season.
Monday: Gossip Girl
Wednesday: Pushing Daisies, Project Runway (and potentially Top Design)
Thursday: My Name is Earl, The Office & 30 Rock (and so I'll probably watch Kath & Kim too, because why watch 90 minutes of TV when you can watch a 2 hour block?)
Friday: Bill Moyer's Journal
I am looking at seven hours of TV a week, and that's not even counting the occasional viewing of Coupling, You Are What you Eat, Cash Cab, or How Clean is Your House.
I think I need to cut some out. Sadly, and thankfully, Project Runway will end soon after Fashion Week. Maybe I'll stop Gossip Girl since I hate the story lines and most of the characters? But what about the delightful times watching with Becky, Shara & Lindsey. Oh TV, I need to get a life - but can I give up 30 Rock or Pushing Daisies? TV, remember when I hated you? Those were better times for me, I think. You've done me wrong before, but also brought me a lot of enjoyment.
I guess I need to work this out for myself, and definitely work on doing something whilst watching the copious amounts of you, but thanks for listening.
Also, can do me a favor and get rid of a few of the CSI's and Law & Orders...they are pretty much lame. Thanks.
Your old friend,
Molly
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Fred Savage: The Dichotomy of the Human
After spending a semester with Suzanne Lundquist talking about binaries and opposition in literature and life, I've been pretty obsessed with the whole idea of multiplicity and duality within one person. And especially since I read an article in the December Vogue by fellow Mormon (and new hero) Kristin Stewart Ward on being a devout Mormon in New York High Society, and now it's really been on my mind. The idea that someone can exist in two opposing extremes harmoniously is a thrilling prospect; then I remembered Fred Savage.
Let's look at Mr. Savage's recent body of work. (I in no means wish to demean that video game movie, The Princess Bride or The Wonder Years - one of the best things to happen to TV - I simply want to talk about what he has chosen to do as an adult.) And I'll only focus on two for brevity's sake.
1. Oswald: a delightful cartoon for preschoolers where Mr. Savage is the voice of the title character, a blue octopus who wears a bowler that is much too small for his head. His friends are a straight-talking penguin and an impulsive daisy (named cleverly enough Daisy). He has a dog called Wienie who is drawn to resemble a hot dog (and bun) with legs. Each half hour is filled with two stories about being a good friend, being persistent, or learning to share. Mr. Savage frequently sings little ditties (and subsequently answered for me the question Joe Cocker posed each week when I watched The Wonder Years - no I didn't stand up and walk out on Fred Savage,) to reemphasize the theme or explain the situation. Overall, while I am not the target demographic, I can appreciate the simplicity and sweetness that Oswald has to offer.
2. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Mr. Savage has directed 5 episodes of this show, which is one of the most irreverent, and funny things that I have viewed on TV. He also directed, and appeared in, a promo for season 3, called Danny DeVito & The Contract, which is a bit scandy. This show focuses on 5 people who are ignorant, selfish, and sometimes malicious, and they discuss things which shouldn't be funny, like racism, cancer, death, etc., and it is always side-splitting. Suffice it to say, there is no moral message to be gleaned from this show, except for maybe, (and this is a stretch) don't be like them. (WATCH THIS SHOW!)
Two completely opposing venues of entertainment (and while I've never seen Daddy Day Camp, his directorial debut, I bet these are substantially better than said movie) and I bet Mr. Savage has no trouble reconciling the two. Fred Savage, unlike Kevin Arnold, married his real-life Winnie, and I always liked that. But in examining some of his career choices makes me like him even more. So, thanks Fred Savage. I now have even further evidence that I can do any and all sorts of things that I have planned for my life. Now, to actually do it...
A note to Mr. Savage: Please make more things like your episodes of IASIP and fewer movies like Daddy Day Camp, it will give you more street cred. Keep up the good work.
Let's look at Mr. Savage's recent body of work. (I in no means wish to demean that video game movie, The Princess Bride or The Wonder Years - one of the best things to happen to TV - I simply want to talk about what he has chosen to do as an adult.) And I'll only focus on two for brevity's sake.
1. Oswald: a delightful cartoon for preschoolers where Mr. Savage is the voice of the title character, a blue octopus who wears a bowler that is much too small for his head. His friends are a straight-talking penguin and an impulsive daisy (named cleverly enough Daisy). He has a dog called Wienie who is drawn to resemble a hot dog (and bun) with legs. Each half hour is filled with two stories about being a good friend, being persistent, or learning to share. Mr. Savage frequently sings little ditties (and subsequently answered for me the question Joe Cocker posed each week when I watched The Wonder Years - no I didn't stand up and walk out on Fred Savage,) to reemphasize the theme or explain the situation. Overall, while I am not the target demographic, I can appreciate the simplicity and sweetness that Oswald has to offer.
2. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Mr. Savage has directed 5 episodes of this show, which is one of the most irreverent, and funny things that I have viewed on TV. He also directed, and appeared in, a promo for season 3, called Danny DeVito & The Contract, which is a bit scandy. This show focuses on 5 people who are ignorant, selfish, and sometimes malicious, and they discuss things which shouldn't be funny, like racism, cancer, death, etc., and it is always side-splitting. Suffice it to say, there is no moral message to be gleaned from this show, except for maybe, (and this is a stretch) don't be like them. (WATCH THIS SHOW!)
Two completely opposing venues of entertainment (and while I've never seen Daddy Day Camp, his directorial debut, I bet these are substantially better than said movie) and I bet Mr. Savage has no trouble reconciling the two. Fred Savage, unlike Kevin Arnold, married his real-life Winnie, and I always liked that. But in examining some of his career choices makes me like him even more. So, thanks Fred Savage. I now have even further evidence that I can do any and all sorts of things that I have planned for my life. Now, to actually do it...
A note to Mr. Savage: Please make more things like your episodes of IASIP and fewer movies like Daddy Day Camp, it will give you more street cred. Keep up the good work.
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