...and Friends is STILL by far the most overrated excuse for a situation comedy in the history of television.
I just wonder when its legions of fans will finally admit to themselves that they -watch- Friends (and are so deeply intrigued by related minutiae) because when you peel away the surface of the extraordinarly "cute" characters and the hackneyed plots and all of its politically-correct pandering, it's basically the same atavistic thrill that one gets while watching a TRAIN WRECK???
Blah, blah, blah. So what shows do you watch? Why don't you write a bunch of reasons why you like them first before asking us to justify it?
Better yet, why don't you explain your desire to visit a newsgroup about a tv show you personally don't enjoy? Do you have some kind of need to criticize things you don't like or understand?
[email] (Phyll) wrote:
(esotericGRRRL?????? That whole Riot Grrls crap is SO 1993...)
That 70's Show. Malcolm In The Middle.
Because...
a.) Writing is much superior to friends b.) Acting is much superior to friends c.) They're genuinely funny shows, much more so than the fake "oh, tee-hee!" crap that passes as humor on Friends
Just to piss off snarky Friends loyalists who truly believe that Jennifer Aniston's shit does not and can not stink.
Personally, I tend to criticize things I either utterly adore or fully grok--it's only an anomaly when I get in a surly mode and dare take on something that I think sucks (i.e., Friends).
In article ,
In the name of God, why?
If your response is anything other than, "to look at that Donna chick's tits," I'm going to hunt you down and kill you painfully.
-Legion
There Be No Shelter Here for [email]:
Who's this "Legion" dummy anyway? Does *anybody* know?
e-lectric
[email] wrote:
Because it's funny. As opposed to Friends, the viewing of which just pisses me off.
I mean, every time I even see more than one nanosecond's worth of Friends, the blood starts racing to my forehead--it's just so TOTALLY wrong on EVERY level.
Jackie's got nice ones too.
On Tue, 20 Feb 2001 23:00:09 -0500 (EST), [email] (By Archie Leach) wrote:
[...]
Spit out the hook..
There Be No Shelter Here for John Kimball:
*gasp* He *sigged* it?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!1111!!!!!!!!
e-lected
I watched "That 70's show" once - only mind u cos it was shite.
"By Archie Leach" wrote in message news:[email]...
EgaMeMNon wrote:
<SlurpySaegerBait>
Anyone who thinks That 70's show is "shite" must obviously be on drugs.
</SlurpySaegerBait>
There Be No Shelter Here for By Archie Leach:
I don't watch TV.
e-bee
Bombastard Bushkin wrote:
Rasslin' fan.
By Archie Leach wrote:
Unfortunately no. I tried to watch it, several times, and each and every single time I switched the channel within 5 minutes. That was twice as long as that drivel Malcolm in the Middle. Utterly mind-numbingly dull.
Having been that age during the 70's, That 70's show is in no way even remotely realistic. It's people acting very 90's, but looking very 70's.
Give me a break. It's trash just like you say Friends is. . .
Actually stu, it has nothing to do with Riot "grrrls", it was a substitute for girl, but whatever.
You don't like Friends..fine. That's your right. I don't think your rants are going to change anyone's mind, just as no matter what we say, it's probably not going to change your mind. So let's save the trouble of starting a flame war over nothing and agree to disagree, ok?
By Archie Leach wrote:
[...]
Let's play context games!
[...]
"J.S. Powell" wrote:
Which features the most delectable asses?
That's a reasonable comment...
The problem with 'Friends', as with with most Merkin sitcoms is that it's written by *sitcom writers*. These people all (or almost all) work with the same templates, follow the same established patterns of sitcom dialogue as their predecessors; the only difference between shows being the names of the characters. It's almost as if there was a UCLA for sitcom writers where they all learn their "craft".
To get a full appreciation of the predictability of sitcom dialogue/behaviour though, you must watch 'Becker'. It's almost as if some network exec had decided to come up with the proverbial "New sitcom, loosely based on all the old sitcoms". 'Becker' even goes so far as to recycle old dialogue from 'Cheers'. Utterly shameless.
Can I also say (of course I can) that the theme music to 'Friends' is the most nauseating bucket of sub-Monkees puke I have ever heard. It was probably written by the same people who write the dialogue...
On Tue, 20 Feb 2001 18:33:46 +1100, Kerro wrote:
The opening sequence/theme of Hawaii 5-0 is/was/shall always be the pinnacle of all television shows, and if anyone thinks differently, I don't want to hear about it.
Kerro wrote:
To have talent is to be utterly unqualified to make it as a writer for an American sitcom (unless the sitcom happens to be That 70's Show). That ephemeral "whatever it takes" to secure a writing gig on a Yanqui sitcom consists of about 99% ego-flexing/will-power/soul-selling/deal-making, and about 1% real talent.
I mean, when you have to pander to uber-egophiles such as Marta Kaufman or Lorne Michaels (not to mention the HUNDREDS of talentless, humorless wannabe hacks who work for the Lorne Michaels and Marta Kaufmans of show-biz), how in the world are you supposed to create something genuinely funny?
Not as shameless as the zombies who worship _Friends_. At least there's no massive grassroots acclaim for Becker, as opposed to Friends. Friends jockers are about the most annoyingly, blindly-loyal mind-slaves in the history of on-air television broadcasts.
You just can't even TALK to Friends fans. Any attack on their sacred cow _Friends_ is (with much Kaufman/Crane politically correct "programming" and button-pushing and such) seen as utter blasphemy.
I mean, if you spend enough time with Friends-heads you'll get the impression that they see _Friends_ as being responsible (either presently or retroactively) for all of the greatest social advances (i.e. Habeas Corpus, women's suffrage, gay lib, et al.) in human history.
It's nauseating. Really.
Oops. Now you're Politically Incorrect also.
Don't you get it, you vicious misogynist racist scum? Friends IS the current state-of-the-art definition of American Political Correctness.
To attack Friends is to be an Enemy to The Cause.
What that "cause" is....well, send a letter to Oprah Winfrey or Rosie O'Donnell. They'll be more than happy to fill you in.
Archie Leach mhm25x6
"By Archie Leach" wrote in message news:[email]...
I've always wanted to be a sitcom writer to.
I'm unqualified and Im perepared to do whatever it takes1
Well, I don't know about any of that uber goober stuff, but I could easily pander (whatever that means) to Lorne Michaels, he was great as Ben Cartwright in "Bonanza" but his BEST EVER role was as Captain Adama in "Battle Star Galactica". He was also in an episode of Happy Days but was uncredited, can you guess which episode?
I Liek Friends alot to, who is your favorite? Mine is Chandler Bing, Rachel, Pheobe, Monica, Ross or Joe Manfre, I don't think I will ever beable to decide between them.
D00d, did you see the episode where Pheobe couldn't stop blaspheming? Did I Laugh? I thought I would go to China. Or the episode where Joey had a pet duck in his apartment? so many good tiems, thnaks for bringing back all the memories
I don't think lib is gay, maybe ross, but definately not lib.
"Enemy of the Cause" wasn't that a Will Smith and Gene Hackman movie?
Whatever, I'm just glad to meet another fan of my favorite show on the internet, and remember FRIENDS [address]! Maybe one day we will write the best ever episode of friends if we keep pandering1
Your Pal, Maso
I would estimate it as being more like 2.4% talent. Much controversy over these figures...
Lorne Michaels.... wasn't he in 'Bonanza'? Well, anyway... there are writers
who still manage to come up with something funny; look at:
'Taxi'
'Cheers'
'Fawlty Towers'
'Yes Minister'
'The Simpsons'
'King of the Hill'
'Mike Moore - The Ugly Truth' (The man deserves the Nobel Prize)
'Frontline' (About the only decent Aussie sitcom ever - and quite possibly
the sharpest and funniest sitcom in history. But you probably
won't ever get to see it.)
'Drop the Dead Donkey' (A couple of dozen episodes anyway)Oh Yeah? When 'Hill Street Blues' first came on the air in Orstralia, the 10 Network screwed up the promotion/programming very badly and then, with the ratings plummeting, tried to scrap it. A couple of hundred people (fanatical TvGoers like Stain) actually held a demonstration in Downtown Melbourne, complete with placards, chants etc. The network sat up and took notice and the show became a huge hit. Whilst I think 'HSB' wasn't a bad show, I would describe those fans as the most "blindly-loyal"....
Mind you, as someone has pointed out, Phoebe, Chandler, Ross, Rachel and...oh, that skinny Anal one - are the only friends they have. Wouldn't you stick up for *your* friends if the were under attack?
I wonder if any of them play like 'Friends' Role Playing Games? Maybe they have 'Friends Nights' (on IRC, of course) where they all act out the part of their fave character. Can you just imagine five or six mewling Ross's...?
Nauseating. I'm nauseated...
Yeah. Somebody can sue me...
Yeah; but that music - if you programmed a computer to come up with the most trite, sugary-syrupy "melody", it would probably struggle to come up with anything like the 'Friends Theme'. Makes 'Yummy, Yummy, Yummy' seem like a dark Drum & Bass workout by comparison. Ugghhhh...
Don't be silly. *I'm* not a Merkin...
And let us not forget "Beavis and Butt-head."
I have to admit that I would cheerfully stick up Courteney Cox any day of the week.
How about a Friends video game, to go with the Journey video game that actually got marketed in the late 1970s?
Not me.
Of course not. Rosie doesn't use a Merkin and Oprah already has a Merkin named Stedman Graham.
Raoul Xemblinosky wrote:
Lorne Michaels is an idiot for not giving Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie a show.
Yep, most are absolutely awful except for That 70's Show. Frasier can also be quite excellent (I speak of current sitcoms). Simpsons and King of the Hill also rule.
Duh. I'd give it 1.9% tops. What the hell are YOU smoking?
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant show from Oz. And let's not forget Larry Sanders. In a similar vein, check out "Made in Canada" and "The Newsroom" (not sure if either show has been syndicated outside of Canada yet).
Whoa! I remember this 6-episode replacement for Codco in the early 90's as being the worst sketch comedy in the history of the universe. About 1,200 people rescinded their Canadian Citizenship shortly thereafter, but then changed their minds when reminded of the brilliant SCTV, Kids in the Hall and Codco.
f-erenc szabo wrote:
I'm smoking 3.5% tops.
Paul Mathers is God. 'Course, most people don't like God.
Canada is funny.
Raoul Xemblinosky wrote:
"Oh, rats, I took Chandler Bing this time around but I ended up getting nailed by the Bolivian LEA for being an ally of the Shining Path, and well darn, Chandler's getting his nuts electrocuted in the torture chamber right now. WHAT A TRAGEDY."
Yeah, I could take the Friends video game for a look-see or two.
hello, you obviously don't read this forum. cause we critisise Friends all the time. it's not blasphemous, we just happen to be fans of a good programme, that makes us laugh, and has problems that we can relate to. a good programme is one that people can laugh with, and relate to. did you not know that?
Seran Perry wrote:
"OMG! Chandler got his hair cut too short!" != legitimate criticism
Like renting a $3000/month loft while making $500/week??
Yeah. We -ALL- can relate to that quandry.
I am fully aware that some people laugh while watching Friends. I am also fully aware that other people laugh while watching the Friday night dog-fights at Old Man McCoy's Barn just outside of Albany, GA.
My mom worships Friends. I try to explain to her why Friends is EVIL. She gives me a blank stare and usually tells me "Well, what about those weird shows that you like, like that Monty Python show? I never liked Monty Python."
Autoflame grade: E
OMG you have no brain :) you love to get us all annoyed, oh what fun. a job for a person with no brain :)
That problem couldn't stand on water, I'm talking abou other problems to relate to
well this is just something us lot here laugh at, you don't have to like it if you don't want to
okay look, just cause we like a show, and you don't like a show, doesn't give you the right to tell us to not like it, and us to make you like it. If you don't like it, don't watch it! and leave us alone! vioce you're opinion, but don't attack us!
I have no idea what you're talking about
On Thu, 22 Feb 2001 00:48:01 -0500 (EST), [email] (By Archie Leach) lifted the Giant Obsidian Doorknocker, and spake the following non-sequitur:
Cultural note for Brits:
U.S. school grades are usually:
A Excellent ( 4 pts. ) B Above average ( 3 pts. ) C Average ( 2 pts. ) D Below Average ( 1 pts. ) F Failed ( 0 pts. )
A perfect student will have a GPA ( grade point average ) of 4.00.
Children under 10 are usually graded:
S satisfactory U unsatisfactory.
Many locations in the U.S. vary from this.
I got a U in recess ( unsupervised play ). I did not play well with others.
Heh.
"Kristopher K. Barrett" wrote:
I failed skipping in kindergarten, and never recovered, academically.
Or else sort of like coins and stamps:
E excellent G good F fair P poor U unsatisfactory.
�R "People late for work only deal with the essentials, cutting away uneccesary tasks like Occam's Razor with no time to shave." --oTTo-- Bahn
By Archie Leach wrote:
You haven't been around much, have you? Perhaps you should atleast read the FAQ before you show your ignorance.
Whoops. Too late. . .
Hmm. This is quite an insight in to your dysfunctional family, then isn't it? You don't, perhaps, also have a half-manufactured pipe-bomb lying on your dresser that she doesn't know about either, now do you?
YEAH! Read the FAQ before you show your ignorance! I always do!
Let's just get the order straight for the new bees: 1. READ THE FAQ 2. SHOW YOUR IGNORANCE
cheers Beable van Polasm PS: Check your facts before posting nonsense to UNSENET! I always do!
Beable van Polasm wrote:
Is 'Friends' still on the air? I couldn't find that in the FAQ. Thanks.
Do you see it on your TV set? Yes? Well, then, obviously IT'S NOT ON THE AIR ANYMORE because it's on your TV set now!
Randy Hinds wrote:
Woah! I can't keep up with this mindless sitcom. Better go read the FAQ!
EXCUSE ME! But you just showed your ignorance BEFORE reading the FAQ! GET IT RIGHT!
cheers Beable van Polasm
All this scratching is making me itch.
I have 9 words for you: Why don't you go and sit on a snake!
Did you swallow a dictionary or something or do you think your Harvard degree would come in handy here? Go bug another group of people, ok? Or how about you stick to watching Jenny Jones...that's a good show for you.
That should ofcourse read: Excessive Brainiac Wannabe Trained By Siskel And Ebert!
=+= Marcel =+=
Joey- "There already IS a Joseph Stalin!" Chandler- "You're kidding!!"
Zoepetier wrote:
You're from the Netherlands, right? I thought the Dutch as a whole were smart enough to be able to discern between the authentic and the fraudulent. Apparently your obsession with _Friends_ is a counterexample to that.
Actually, yes, I -did- think my Harvard degree and the education I received while attaining such WOULD be most useful in making my point heard "laut und klaare".
What kind of comeback is that? Obviously a product of a wit dulled by years of watching the most overrated, fluff-based sitcom ever produced.
Thank you for the compliments.