Underestimating Middle-America Since 1950: Television Test Thread

[Reply #440 on:]

Anyone watching True Detective? It's pretty good.

I've heard good things but haven't seen it yet.

Subject change! Apparently they are now making "How I Met Your Dad." Seriously. WHY? It was a shitty franchise to begin with, and most fans have even said the last few seasons have been insufferable. Just let it die already! There is no chance this'll make it past a first season.

[Reply #441 on:]

I've enjoyed How I Met Your Mother consistency, even if these last few seasons have been weaker, they are still good character stories. Plus Greta Gerwig is cast in the lead for "Dad" and I absolutely love her. I'm willing to give it a chance, it could very well be a Parks and Rec situation instead of a That 80s Show situation.

[Reply #442 on:]

Despite its original conception as a Toby spin-off (and the number of ex-Office staff working on it), Parks and Rec is technically NOT a spin-off of The Office. Granted, both shows are feel-good workplace comedies presented in a mockumentary format, but they're set in different universes and became different beasts entirely as they went on. Namely the fact that Parks and Rec didn't turn to shit in its fourth season.

Spin-offs that are held in a similarly high regard to their source material: Angel. Fraser. ... I think that's it? I'm willing to bet Better Off Saul will join this list when it premieres, but we'll have to wait and see. Still, spin-offs are risky by their very nature. And How I Met Your Mother is terrible.

[Reply #443 on:]

Anyone watching True Detective? It's pretty good.

I've heard good things but haven't seen it yet.

It's very good, slow burning kind of show, great atmosphere in it.
The last episode had an amazing continuous shot.

[Reply #444 on:]

Anyone else watching @midnight?

[Reply #445 on:]

Not a big fan of Chris Hardwick at all..I don't think he's even close to funny.

[Reply #446 on:]

I don't think he's funny, but I do like him as a host. His upbeat enthusiasm for all things nerdy does not go unappreciated (when it's the right gig, of course).

[Reply #447 on:]

I would agree with that to an extent. Personally, I thought he brings the wrong things to the table for The Talking Dead, focusing on acting shocked by simple story points and character relationships and not seeming as able to discuss the complex psychological implications of the show (when it's actually getting those right) in anything resembling an intellectual manner. Not sure if that's due to him not being that smart, not personally caring that much about the show, or simply tailoring it to the LCD audience, but in any case it always bothered me.

As for @midnight, the show isn't nerdy at all. He just shows his guests stuff from the internet and has them crack shitty jokes...it's basically a much less funny version of a segment Anthony Jezelnik did with his guests on his (admittedly not-so-good) Comedy Central show.

[Reply #448 on:]

Holy shieeeet True Detective was good, the whole season was great, highly recommend it.

[Reply #449 on:]

Well I like @midnight, the Community cast edition was a particular highlight.   I'm a fan of Nerdist, so, I can take Chris Hardwick.

[Reply #450 on:]

I watched it, and it was somewhat entertaining...but honestly, the levels of smugness were almost unbearable. They all were so up their own asses about how funny their jokes were, and there was almost too much hyper energy going on. Danny Pudi in particular was a bit too goofy for his own good. I respect that they were all having fun, but as a viewer I felt like they started hitting diminishing returns on the lame puns after about five minutes.

I also dislike that a lot of Hardwick's jokes have that trying-to-be-edgy-but-not-too-edgy quality. I'm of the opinion that if a joke is funny, it doesn't matter how offensive it is, and that whole "hey look how almost too far I'm going" attitude just reeks of trying too hard to me, especially when he acts self-aware about how semi-offensive it was afterwards. Chill out Chris, you're no Daniel Tosh. If you were, you'd have writers who could pen entire segments with actual jokes, instead of just getting guests to help you half-heartedly riff on stuff for a half hour.

I'm definitely being harsh...I mean, I can totally see why anyone would enjoy the show. I'm just personally not a fan.

[Reply #451 on:]

We're all over Quizcoms in the UK, so I'm kinda used to the smugginess of it, believe me, @midnight is the lesser of many evils.

Moving on, I'm currently sampling Legit, which has been pretty good also.

[Reply #452 on:]

Where would one watch this @midnight malarky? *strokes chins of people until they tell me*
Appears to be on Comedy Central website but US only, ACTIVATE TUNNELBEAR!

[Reply #453 on:]

I'm afraid I have to *ahem* aquire it....

[Reply #454 on:]

I watched it, and it was somewhat entertaining...but honestly, the levels of smugness were almost unbearable. They all were so up their own asses about how funny their jokes were, and there was almost too much hyper energy going on. Danny Pudi in particular was a bit too goofy for his own good. I respect that they were all having fun, but as a viewer I felt like they started hitting diminishing returns on the lame puns after about five minutes.

I also dislike that a lot of Hardwick's jokes have that trying-to-be-edgy-but-not-too-edgy quality. I'm of the opinion that if a joke is funny, it doesn't matter how offensive it is, and that whole "hey look how almost too far I'm going" attitude just reeks of trying too hard to me, especially when he acts self-aware about how semi-offensive it was afterwards. Chill out Chris, you're no Daniel Tosh. If you were, you'd have writers who could pen entire segments with actual jokes, instead of just getting guests to help you half-heartedly riff on stuff for a half hour.

I'm definitely being harsh...I mean, I can totally see why anyone would enjoy the show. I'm just personally not a fan.

So wait you're defending Daniel Tosh, who has the integrity and comedic intellect of a drunk 14 year-old? Or did I misread that.

Sorry for the non-US folks, I've come to really enjoy @Midnight.

[Reply #455 on:]

Everyone loves to take cheap shots at Tosh, but I've yet to hear an actual reasoned criticism of his comedy beyond saying that his only tool is shock value, which simply isn't true. I can understand if people hate his act and delivery, but the fact is the guy can tell a good joke and has a self-aware sense of humor, and his show consists of some pretty clever sketches (even if there are definitely some duds). He's no genius but I don't think he deserves the flack he gets...he and his writing staff clearly put effort into their work. Personally I find his program to be one of the more entertaining half hours on TV these days.

[Reply #456 on:]

I just don't think there's any real wit to his comedy style at all. It's clearly a show going after the lowest-common-denominator audience.

On another note, anyone catch the season 2 finale of Banshee? Holy shit.

[Reply #457 on:]

I just don't think there's any real wit to his comedy style at all. It's clearly a show going after the lowest-common-denominator audience.

Lower than the audience that watches Jersey Shore, American Idol, Duck Dynasty, or Honey Boo-Boo? If you think the people who watch Tosh are the LCD, there must be a whole breed of ignorant redneck whose existence you don't even acknowledge. Seems a little unfair.

I mean...I like to imagine that I have halfway decent taste. So if Tosh is such trash, why do I like it so much? Am I just culturally a total imbecile in that one instance?

I'm really asking...I have no idea. My friends and I all love the show, but everybody on this forum absolutely despises it, even though I share pretty close taste with a lot of you otherwise. What's the deal?

[Reply #458 on:]

I just watched one episode of Tosh. It was commenting videos, which weren't clever or funny and sketches felt they were absurd without being hilarious. Maybe I would need to get more used to that humor, but it just didn't make me laugh.

[Reply #459 on:]

Lower than the audience that watches Jersey Shore, American Idol, Duck Dynasty, or Honey Boo-Boo? If you think the people who watch Tosh are the LCD, there must be a whole breed of ignorant redneck whose existence you don't even acknowledge. Seems a little unfair.

Well, higher than that, obviously, but as far as popular comedy series go, I just don't think it has anything worthwhile to offer. I'd rank it alongside something like Family Guy - it's not without its occasional funny moment, but the bulk of the content is too trashy for me to stomach.

QNF hit it on the head - from what I've seen, it's largely just "hey, look at this YouTube video!" I just don't find it to be a show with anything worthwhile to offer me as a viewer, and would much rather spend my time watching one of the many far better shows available to me.

[Reply #460 on:]

Those are some more understandable reasons. It's certainly trashy, but I guess my sensibilities aren't so easily offended. There's something morbidly fascinating about the clips he shows and his total disregard for good taste. I definitely don't take joy in watching people experience pain, but I often find his takes on the clips to be amusing in a taking-the-piss disestablishment sort of way.

I would agree that a lot of his sketches are overly absurd, although he is at least usually self-aware about it. I think his Web Redemption segments usually hold the most value, since he gets the chance to expose some real stupidity himself instead of just commenting on someone else's content. He's not afraid to ask some hilariously offensive questions in interviews, although he also knows how to treat his subject with just enough respect, depending on exactly who they are and if they deserve it.

In short, it's an extremely hit-or-miss show, but I think when it is funny it's enough to be worth it for me. That's pretty much all I have to say. Resume your regularly scheduled TV test thread conversations.

[Reply #461 on:]

This website allows you to graph the average IMDB scores for any tv series, episode-by-episode.

... Annnd there goes my day.

[Reply #462 on:]

That site hurts my mobile.

[Reply #463 on:]

Watched the first episode of "the 100" on netflix earlier, pretty decent start, it's like Lost meets Children of the Corn

[Reply #464 on:]

David Letterman just announced that he's retiring next year and the floodgates have opened for potential successors

[Reply #465 on:]

So it'll come down to either Louis C.K. or Jerry Seinfeld.

[Reply #466 on:]

http://tvline.com/2014/04/10/stephen-colbert-david-letterman-the-late-show-host/

[Reply #467 on:]

Amazing. I hope he stays fully in-character. Then again, I don't think I've ever seen him out.

[Reply #468 on:]

I highly doubt he'll stay in character. I've seen a few clips of him out of character and he's just as capable of being funny without the shtick.

Also, conservatives are going batshit over this...fantastic!

[Reply #469 on:]

While it would have been radical and dare I say ballsy to hire a lady like Tina Fey or Aisha Tyler, I think everyone (except the conservatives) can agree with Stephen Colbert.

And I read that no he won't be doing his character. Which is exciting. While I'm aware of Letterman's legacy I will confess that I've never liked him but I am very much looking forward to this new era of the Late Show.

[Reply #470 on:]

I highly doubt he'll stay in character.

Seems you are correct about that. Should be interesting either way.

Say, does this mean the #CancelColbert crowd actually got their wish... by kicking him off of Comedy Central and onto CBS? Now that's fantastic.

[Reply #471 on:]

Really great news for Colbert. I haven't seen much of him out of his Colbert Report character, but from what I can tell, he seems to be a really funny and nice guy, definitely a lot more qualified for Letterman's job than the other contenders.

Still, really bummed about The Colbert Report having to end. Shame to see one of the best late night talk shows on TV and a great news character go for top 10 lists and celebrity jokes. Well, at least The Colbert Report will end on a high note instead of just slowly fading in quality.

[Reply #472 on:]

While Colbert is more than capable of the job, I would've honestly preferred if he just stuck to The Colbert Report. Having that level of creative freedom, producing biting, intelligent political satire, and then throwing it all away for the banality of a late night talk show? I'm sure the pay is fantastic, but I'm really worried that the talk show mould (coupled with CBS as a new home) will be too restrained for Colbert to really shine the way he does on The Colbert Report.

[Reply #473 on:]

Does anyone know of any good cartoons on Netflix? I don't have cable, so that and illegal downloading are the only way I can get by (trying to avoid the latter). I'll probably try an episode or two of Archer, see if that's any good, but I want to know if there's much else.

[Reply #474 on:]

Good cartoons? Uhhh, I'd definitely recommend Archer (and, if you like that, check out the creator's previous show, Frisky Dingo), Bob's Burgers, Moral Orel, The Venture Bros and Rick & Morty.

Not sure which of these are on Netflix, though.

[Reply #475 on:]

Archer, Bob's Burgers, and The Venture Bros. (only the first two seasons) are on Netflix. As are Futurama, Family Guy, American Dad, Robot Chicken (again just the first two seasons), and some other decent animated shows.

[Reply #476 on:]

The Venture Bros. (only the first two seasons) are on Netflix.

Poo.

I mean, the first two seasons are great and all (the season 2 finale in particular is incredible), but I feel as though The Venture Bros is a show that continues to get better and better with each season. It particularly hits its stride in season 3, when they really begin to flesh out the show's remarkably dense mythology.

[Reply #477 on:]

For some reason the episodes in season 2 are completely out of order on Netflix as well...

[Reply #478 on:]

For some reason the episodes in season 2 are completely out of order on Netflix as well...

One of the few animated series where the episode order actually matters, too.

[Reply #479 on:]

Is anyone else watching the Fargo TV series on FX? It's only two episodes in so far, and I quite enjoy it. Though I'm not really behind Billy Bob Thorton's character.