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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: Andy on November 11, 2007, 09:52:12 PM

Title: How in the hell...
Post by: Andy on November 11, 2007, 09:52:12 PM
Are both Family Guy and American Dad still on the air?  Terrible, terrible stuff.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Jason on November 11, 2007, 09:59:45 PM
I like Family Guy.
American Dad is shite but if anything deserves to die its the Simspons.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Sploops on November 11, 2007, 10:13:29 PM
I love[d] the Simpsons but seriously it needs to be euthanized already.  It had a chance to die with dignity around 1999-2000 but they were too greedy to lose that fat paycheck.  At the very least it should have ended after the movie (which was surprisingly pretty good, I thought.)
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Andy on November 11, 2007, 10:14:38 PM
now that you mention it, I haven't seen a new Simpsons in a long, long time.  I wonder why my DVR hasn't been taping them?

I was hoping that once the movie was out, the writing on the TV show would get back to where it was previously.  

I used to be a fan of Family Guy and honestly I still watch it every week, but once someone pointed out to me that about 75% of the jokes are flashback/reference jokes it just drives me nuts.

I've never gotten in to American Dad.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Forrest on November 11, 2007, 11:06:39 PM
I've never gotten in to American Dad.

Hey, what it lacks in quality it makes up for in its bold originality.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on November 11, 2007, 11:17:52 PM
I've never understood the appeal of either of those shows.  I'm young enough to have a few friends who like Family Guy (for some reason it seems to speak to people born after the Bicentennial) but I've always thought of it as unspeakably boring and lame, bafflingly so, as otherwise intelligent people with good senses of humor have sworn by it.  I've even gone back to check it out again, just to make sure.  I agree that The Simpsons is way past its expiration date, but at least it was good at one time...
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Forrest on November 11, 2007, 11:21:37 PM
  I agree that The Simpsons is way past its expiration date, but at least it was good at one time...

Here here. I'm not gonna throw The Simpsons under the bus cause it was only good for a decade.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Ason on November 11, 2007, 11:46:27 PM
Anybody else notice the Simpsons trying to be more "edgy" lately?
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Phantom Hugger on November 12, 2007, 08:00:01 AM
I used to be a fan of Family Guy and honestly I still watch it every week, but once someone pointed out to me that about 75% of the jokes are flashback/reference jokes it just drives me nuts.

A third ingredient in the FG formula of comedy is the awkward pause/silence that lingers a little too long. Not even funny once.

Maybe we can compile a list of ingredients that combine to make an episode of FG and create a Mad Lib type program that can churn out episodes by the bale.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: dave from knoxville on November 12, 2007, 09:50:05 AM
I love[d] the Simpsons but seriously it needs to be euthanized already.  It had a chance to die with dignity around 1999-2000 but they were too greedy to lose that fat paycheck.  At the very least it should have ended after the movie (which was surprisingly pretty good, I thought.)

Imagine that, people working all their lives to get to the point where their fat paycheck allows them to live the life they only dreamed, and they want to hold on to that lifestyle. HOW DARE THEY!

I get your point, Sploops, but it's not like the people pulling in that fat paycheck are out on the streets every night showing off their privates, falling flat on their faces in clubs, driving through red lights as if the laws did not apply to them. They're also not paving the way for their future riches by throwing young people under the war bus.

Thinking the writing is lazy is one thing; decrying their greed is a whole other thing, innit?

Big hug!
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: dave from knoxville on November 12, 2007, 09:55:35 AM
I am here to openly and unapologetically declare for now and forevermore, if the gravy train ever stops to pick me up, and I am not hurting anybody in the process, I am never getting off. That's just the kind of lazy guy I am!
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Stan on November 12, 2007, 12:55:10 PM
I am here to openly and unapologetically declare for now and forevermore, if the gravy train ever stops to pick me up, and I am not hurting anybody in the process, I am never getting off. That's just the kind of lazy guy I am!

 Save me a seat, Dave.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: John Junk on November 12, 2007, 03:12:17 PM
If the Simpsons had gone out "with dignity", Matt Groening would just end up a creep and a thug like Jerry Seinfeld. 

Family Guy is not funny.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Gilly on November 12, 2007, 04:10:36 PM
Family Guy has it's moments that are hilarious but there's way too much crap in between. It's only a half hour out of my week, so I watch it. American Dad is terrible but I'm sure Fox has no desire to get egg in their face again.

The Simpsons wasn't terrible last year. I think a lot of people turned away from it because of the really bad years but I thought there were some pretty good episodes last year. For a couple years they were getting really political and forgetting about creating good plots and storylines. Last year, they kind of got back to just putting a good story out there. This year has been kind of a disappointment though and last nights show was one of the worst ever.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Jason on November 13, 2007, 12:17:56 AM
I'm sure we've had this argument at least once before.
King of the Hill always gets overlooked but is consistently brilliant.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: John Junk on November 13, 2007, 12:11:09 PM
I'm sure we've had this argument at least once before.
King of the Hill always gets overlooked but is consistently brilliant.

I'll agree with that.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Gilly on November 13, 2007, 02:44:17 PM
Me too. It's nothing like Simpsons, Family Guy or South Park so it's never in the same conversation. It's a great show that still is going strong.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on November 14, 2007, 04:26:44 PM
I'm sure we've had this argument at least once before.
King of the Hill always gets overlooked but is consistently brilliant.

I'll agree with that.

Me too.  Has anyone seen Idiocracy?  I loved it.

South Park is another one I always love, even though Trey Parker and Matt Stone are in my hate pit.  Every time I'm in a hotel or some other place with cable I always settle on it because even though it is (or was, pre-strike) TV's new golden age, nothing good is ever on, and I'm always surprsied by how good it is.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Phantom Hugger on November 14, 2007, 05:25:41 PM

[/quote]
Has anyone seen Idiocracy?  I loved it.
[/quote]

When I first saw that movie i liked it but thought it was a bit of a one joke pony, until little things started reminding me of it in everyday life (store greeters, "particular individual", 36oz. sippy cups for adults, etc.). I re-watched it and it was doubly awesome.

Later I was attending an outdoor concert thingy in a park and instead of waiting for the the porta-lets, I went into a Hooters to use the toilet.

Walking into a Hooters is like walking into that movie. eeyuk.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on November 14, 2007, 05:31:01 PM
Can we take over some aspect of a Hooters?  Do they have chat rooms?  Can we hijack a Hooters Air plane and defect to Newbridge?  Can I even joke about that without bringing the Department of Homeland Security down on us?
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: dave from knoxville on November 14, 2007, 09:34:00 PM
Haven't you ever heard the expression "As American as mom, fireworks, and Hooter pie!"?
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: John Junk on November 15, 2007, 10:53:00 AM
No, but that sounds hot.

I hate hate hate South Park, but 90% of that hate is philosophical, because it will occasionally make me laugh in spite of myself.  There's a guy I know that works for South Park and I kinda hate him too.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Gilly on November 16, 2007, 07:50:10 AM
Idiocracy sucks. I don't know how many people ask me if I've seen Idiocracy and when I say yes, tell me "oh, we're totally going to be like that one day." No, we're not. It would be a decent movie if it wasn't an outlet for elitists who have no faith in the human race.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: dave from knoxville on November 16, 2007, 09:44:08 AM
Idiocracy sucks. I don't know how many people ask me if I've seen Idiocracy and when I say yes, tell me "oh, we're totally going to be like that one day." No, we're not. It would be a decent movie if it wasn't an outlet for elitists who have no faith in the human race.

I am an elitist who has no faith in the human race (remember, I have taught college for 25 years.) But Idiocracy sucked when it was shown in this house. Maybe it's funnier elsewhere.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Sarah on November 16, 2007, 10:12:42 AM
It was good in theory; failed in the execution, I thought.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: erika on November 16, 2007, 10:47:14 AM

I am an elitist who has no faith in the human race

I don't believe you!
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Andy on November 16, 2007, 12:35:33 PM
to me, Idiocracy is the perfect example of "It is what it is"  It was a silly movie that was also making a statement about society.  I think people lose site of that when talking about this movie.  At it's core the movie was more silly movie than social commentary.

Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Gilly on November 16, 2007, 12:41:46 PM
Exactly.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Sarah on November 16, 2007, 12:59:01 PM
It was a silly movie that was also making a statement about society

Yes, and I think it failed on both counts, although it had its moments.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on November 16, 2007, 02:04:26 PM
It was a silly movie that was also making a statement about society

Yes, and I think it failed on both counts, although it had its moments.

Such as the "Carl, Jr.: Fuck You, I'm Eating!" tagline.  Come on, you have to admit that was pretty funny.

I don't buy the premise - idiots overbreeding the earth into disaster is a little close to eugenics for my taste - but it's a pretty original addition to the pantheon of dystopian sci-fi movies.  And, while the targets were easy, the taking on of crappy consumer culture was satisfying in the way that South Park is often satisfying.  It ain't George Saunders (who does a much better, smarter, and more compassionate job of taking on what Mike Judge was attempting to), but does it purport to be?
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Jason on November 16, 2007, 02:29:52 PM
idiots overbreeding the earth into disaster is a little close to eugenics for my taste -

Surely this is the furthest thing from eugenics.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: buffcoat on November 16, 2007, 03:38:54 PM
idiots overbreeding the earth into disaster is a little close to eugenics for my taste -

Surely this is the furthest thing from eugenics.

Yeah, more an argument FOR eugenics.  Not that I'm advocating, but.

OW!  My balls!
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on November 16, 2007, 03:52:56 PM
idiots overbreeding the earth into disaster is a little close to eugenics for my taste -

Surely this is the furthest thing from eugenics.

Yeah, more an argument FOR eugenics.  Not that I'm advocating, but.

OW!  My balls!

Sorry, let me be clearer: the premise of the movie is a little too close to an argument FOR eugenics for my taste.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Josh on November 16, 2007, 03:55:23 PM
I saw Stanhope last Friday; he made a pretty convincing case for incentive-based eugenics.



So did a pretty large segment of the audience. FOLKS!
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: paul on November 16, 2007, 06:45:57 PM
all i gotta say is, futurama better still be awesome when it comes back.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Jason on November 16, 2007, 07:18:06 PM
For the record I am for eugenics.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: dave from knoxville on November 16, 2007, 09:57:07 PM
See if you can guess my middle name
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: John Junk on November 16, 2007, 10:46:09 PM
I was actually wondering if Fox's decision to not really promote Idiocracy, and thereby "suppress" it even though it produced it, was actually an ingenious switcheroo viral marketing strategy to make a mediocre movie get enough street buzz that it becomes some kind of DVD sleeper cult classic.  In other words, I was wondering if they figured the movie would tank hard if they gave it wider distro, and they actually STARTED some of the enraged Fox-is-against-this-movie stuff that was on the net so that they could sell more DVD's.  Just a theory.  Either way, all that buzz served to make a just-okay comedy sound like Citizen Kane up 'til the moment you actually watched it.  I like the whole giving-plants-electrolytes thing, though.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Emily on November 17, 2007, 11:45:38 AM
See if you can guess my middle name

from!
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: Andy on November 17, 2007, 12:22:46 PM
I was actually wondering if Fox's decision to not really promote Idiocracy, and thereby "suppress" it even though it produced it, was actually an ingenious switcheroo viral marketing strategy to make a mediocre movie get enough street buzz that it becomes some kind of DVD sleeper cult classic.  In other words, I was wondering if they figured the movie would tank hard if they gave it wider distro, and they actually STARTED some of the enraged Fox-is-against-this-movie stuff that was on the net so that they could sell more DVD's.  Just a theory.  Either way, all that buzz served to make a just-okay comedy sound like Citizen Kane up 'til the moment you actually watched it.  I like the whole giving-plants-electrolytes thing, though.
I have wondered the same thing.
Title: Re: How in the hell...
Post by: erika on November 17, 2007, 01:33:15 PM
It's what plants crave!