H.P.K.:
I just looked up the TV guide for tonight to see what "classic album" was to be featured on SBS. Turns out its Def Leppard’s Hysteria. Talk about a broad definition of classic... Looks like its definitely trivia for me.
Anyway, I couldn't help but notice that there was a double episode of Will and Grace on. If there’s a genre that deserves a hell of a lot morepublic dissention than it's currently getting, it's gay sitcom. First of all, there was Ellen. Now I know Bruce Campbell was in this, but in all honesty, the sad fact was that the jokes had run dry by about episode 3. The entire lesbian population of the world must've been watching it religiously to keep that thing running. And face the fact lesbians, it was not funny, lesbian or otherwise. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm annoyed at lesbians or whatever, some of my best friends are lesbians... or wait, was that thespians?... Whatever. But if you take the lesbian out of "sh*t lesbian humour" and you still have "sh*t humour". And that's all Ellen had straight or bent.
Now on to Will and Grace. What would the world really want? A sit-com with a gay character that isn't just some stereotypical gay guy that you see on other sit-coms? Though for the life of me I can't think of one of these... apart from Are You Being Served?... fark that was a funny show....Anyway, the world would probably say no to this. Why? Cause it would more than likely be the same as every other sit-com getting churned out of America these days. I mean if the main character's gay but acts normal, where's the hook? Who's going to give a crap? So what should we do? Put in a token really gay gay guy in there so it's just like Are You Being Served? for the 90’s (and as was afore mentioned, Are You Being Served? was a farken riot!). And somehow this really gay gay guy is getting award nominations and crap for playing the most basic stereotype of the modern era. And still the show ain't funny!! But wait, it's groundbreaking to have a gay male lead who doesn’t act stereotypically gay*. Bra........vo.
Just to show that I’m by no means anti comosexual, I also think the same about "bloke sitcoms". How many times can we have a guy wanting to watch football or go to the casino with his buddies, whilst the wife insists that they spend some quality time together or visit the always zany parents? Home Improvement, King of Queens, Something About Raymond, yada, yada, yada. The only purpose these things serve is to provide stations with a means to generate revenue through advertising power tools and shavers. I wouldn't be surprised if the Schick and Ryobi got together and asked the stations to make one of these things expressedly for them. Doesn’t have to be any good, just so long as the audience is targeted.
end.
Anon:
But as I think I was saying to H.P.K. at trivia, it's a bit harsh lumping Home Improvement (and, to a lesser extent, Raymond) with King of Queens. Apples and oranges!
H.P.K.:
True, but honestly I was struggling to find another sitcom in that ilk. Actually, what am I saying? Not true at all. Both of these use the some old hackneyed plot that's been going around since neanderthals wandered the earth.
Anon:
On the subject of companies getting together and asking stations to make shows, there was recently an article in the SMH on advertisers creating shows (I'm not sure which--I think it included 'Gilmore Girls') which you might find interesting.
H.P.K.:
I read that, and you're right it was interesting. Gilmore Girls is a very strange show. Clever(ish), though completely unrealistic dialogue and delivery, and some genuinely interesting and tricky camera work. Still, it's crap.
NS2K:
* Mannequin**, incidentally, has by far the best use of a stereotyped black como man I've ever seen on film. Truly outstanding. Award winning stuff.
H.P.K.:
**And you are very right there with Mannequin being the best como black stereotype in cinematic history... However, Revenge of the Nerds would have to rate a very close second.