As I was watching The Simpsons last night on FOX, I left the room only to return to the pilot of a potential series, "Sit Down, Shut Up". This is the newest venture by producer Mitch Hurwitz following the critically acclaimed "Arrested Development". He apparently got the idea after watching an Australian series of the same name. Because these days, it's best to just rip off foreigners (I cite the Office, which is fairly funny & successful, yet is derived from a British series). Voices of this new show include Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Kenan Thompson, Henry Winkler, etc.
I have never seen Arrested Development; I have no reason to dislike it. It is instead its newest baby brother to which I direct my wrath.
I watched the show mostly all the way through; I was not pleased by the end. I thought the show was twenty minutes solid of recycled gags- many are sexual or dirty in nature, similar to those seen on Family Guy.
The first five minutes of the show is spent introducing the characters; at one particular point in the introductions, they mention the character's catchphrase. I thought to myself that it was a comedic suicide, something bordering on the mentally handicapped. Characters are supposed to evolve in the eyes of the viewers. The first time I saw Quagmire, Bender, or Hank Hill, I was not forced to sit through their "file", nor forced to accept their favorite saying. I came to them as a result of their humorous antics during the show, which is due to good writing- I saw none of this during the show as well.
I also disliked the animators' choice of illustration. At one point, I could see the nipples of a male character. This has got to be the first show that has revolted me this much. There was another section in which the bisexual drama teacher dances for the crowd at a football game after the cheerleaders collapse, at the end of which the teacher bends down, and the asscrack is seen quite fully. I have never seen animation like this before; shows like "The Simpsons", "Family Guy", and "Futurama" do not stoop to such levels. They may show things occasionally, but it does not seem like a focal point of the show.
I am not slamming Mitch Hurwitz himself; I merely think he is trying to force down another half-assed show full of recycled stereotypes, themes, and characters. Every time I have seen a new pilot for a new series, I tend to watch it to see if it is up to snuff compared to shows these days. I was prepared for a show that had been months in the making- well thought out, meticulously pored over, overall the culmination of hours of time spent making it. What I saw instead was a poorly orchestrated show in which the viewer was, quite literally, supposed to bond to the characters being shown to them. I do not remember laughing once; all of the jokes or gags were either childish or ones I have previously seen on other, better shows.
Has everyone at Fox lost their creativity after already cranking out three (at best four) successful cartoon primetime comedies?
I have never seen Arrested Development; I have no reason to dislike it. It is instead its newest baby brother to which I direct my wrath.
I watched the show mostly all the way through; I was not pleased by the end. I thought the show was twenty minutes solid of recycled gags- many are sexual or dirty in nature, similar to those seen on Family Guy.
The first five minutes of the show is spent introducing the characters; at one particular point in the introductions, they mention the character's catchphrase. I thought to myself that it was a comedic suicide, something bordering on the mentally handicapped. Characters are supposed to evolve in the eyes of the viewers. The first time I saw Quagmire, Bender, or Hank Hill, I was not forced to sit through their "file", nor forced to accept their favorite saying. I came to them as a result of their humorous antics during the show, which is due to good writing- I saw none of this during the show as well.
I also disliked the animators' choice of illustration. At one point, I could see the nipples of a male character. This has got to be the first show that has revolted me this much. There was another section in which the bisexual drama teacher dances for the crowd at a football game after the cheerleaders collapse, at the end of which the teacher bends down, and the asscrack is seen quite fully. I have never seen animation like this before; shows like "The Simpsons", "Family Guy", and "Futurama" do not stoop to such levels. They may show things occasionally, but it does not seem like a focal point of the show.
I am not slamming Mitch Hurwitz himself; I merely think he is trying to force down another half-assed show full of recycled stereotypes, themes, and characters. Every time I have seen a new pilot for a new series, I tend to watch it to see if it is up to snuff compared to shows these days. I was prepared for a show that had been months in the making- well thought out, meticulously pored over, overall the culmination of hours of time spent making it. What I saw instead was a poorly orchestrated show in which the viewer was, quite literally, supposed to bond to the characters being shown to them. I do not remember laughing once; all of the jokes or gags were either childish or ones I have previously seen on other, better shows.
Has everyone at Fox lost their creativity after already cranking out three (at best four) successful cartoon primetime comedies?
