So last night I sat down for some laughs with the CBS Monday night sitcom lineup. It's a weekly thing I do with my spouse, a chance to get away from the computer screen and just relax for a while. Normally, I relish this time because -- for the most part -- I love 75% of the shows from eight o'clock till CSI: Miami. (I usually empty the dishwasher during Accidentally on Purpose, sort of half-watching it because, as I've said before, it's just not working for me.)Well, it seemed like last night's CBS comedies went off the rails. They strained to be funny, in all the wrong ways. Here are my thoughts, show by show -- including Accidentally (which I did watch):
How I Met Your Mother
When you have to resort to prosthetics for gags, you're in trouble. The last time -- and maybe the only time -- a fat suit was really funny was the Geller Thanksgiving flashback with fat Monica on Friends. I couldn't laugh at Barney in the fat suit because it was so obviously a costume. It looked bad and the humor was gross and over the top. I love HIMYM, but this was a poor episode. Also, a personal pet peeve of mine is the acceptance of porn as an everyday thing. I know I sound like an old fart, but eight o'clock shows should not be nonchalantly suggesting a suitcase of porn is nothing to raise an eyebrow over. Oh, sure, it's Barney. I get the joke, but there's something inappropriate about porn gags in primetime -- at least to me.
Accidentally on Purpose
Okay, triple offensive fouls here. The icky idea of Michael Rappaport's character having the hots for Billie because she's preggers and it's a sexual fetish for him. Then Abby flirting with adultery to get her husband to agree to start a family now. And, of course, Harris the baker. And by baked we're talking stoned. This show is desperately trying to make the Davis character their go-to guy for a laugh. It's not working. I want him to move away.
Two and a Half Men
Within hours of setting a date for his wedding to Chelsea, Charlie wakes up in the same bed with Alan and a girl from a bar. Debauchery, thy name is Harper. I accept the vulgarity of Two and a Half Men, but I expect it to be filled with laughs. This was a stretch, trying to find the humor in a drunken escapade that Charlie could only partially recall.
The Big Bang Theory
I have come to adore this show. It's just adorable... usually. Last night, the full-on fighting -- Leonard and Penny, Raj and Howard, Howard and his mother, Raj and his parents -- not only turned off Sheldon, it turned me off, too. My ears were bleeding. Again, the funny just wasn't there.
So, was it just a quirk of programming that the typically jolly two hours (for me, 90 minutes) of sitcom hilarity was rife with crass story lines and dumb jokes? What was your assessment?
[Check out clips and episodes for these shows at SlashControl.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-10-2009 @ 1:53PM
joe brooks said...
I'm beginning to think this author hates television. This is her second post this week slamming some of the top-rating programming on the tube.
Perhaps its time for AOL to start BookSquad?
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11-10-2009 @ 1:57PM
Jimmy_MO said...
I like the idea of BookSquad. Somebody start that for me.
11-10-2009 @ 2:18PM
Joshua said...
I agree, I definitely do not care for this persons comments. Though she's entitled to her opinions, they don't seem to represent the majority of the people reading TV Squad.
11-10-2009 @ 2:12PM
CR said...
The fat suit wasn't just a prosthetic gag, it was used to augment Ted's perception - as he was telling the story. I found that clever.
And speaking of Friends, remember the show where Joey and Chandler got free porn due to a cable tv glitch and didn't want to turn off the TV? That was at 8:00 on a Thursday, and it was priceless. So yeah, maybe it IS just you're getting older?
Accidentally on Purpose, agreed on the adultery. The fetish was not necessarily vulgar, rather just a horrible attempt to create a storyline. Pot is practically legal, so you'll just have to get used to that being in a show as much as wine was with Friends.
I skip 3 1/2 men.
Waaayyy too much fighting on BBT, but I found all of the fights funny except for Leonard and Penny's. There's just pointed out how they don't belong together...at ....all. The show was better with him pining, and her having awkwardly awesome conversations with Sheldon.
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11-10-2009 @ 2:13PM
klobetime said...
I'm imagining the reviewer as that grumpy guy in the rocker on his porch that shakes his fist at the neighborhood kids and their new-fangled skateboards contraptions. In his day TV had three channels and they haven't improved on it since!
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11-10-2009 @ 2:20PM
unc69dmo said...
Any retard willing to watch sitcoms with LAME and Annoying Laugh Tracks (LT)...deserves what they get....
LT insult my intelligence !!!!!!!!!!
Hate em ...will never watch any sitcom with laugh tracks.......
Californication....Entourage...Weeds...Curb Y E...Hung...are the only REAL funny and clever sitcoms anyway....
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11-10-2009 @ 2:21PM
Cristy Huppach said...
"Also, a personal pet peeve of mine is the acceptance of porn as an everyday thing. I know I sound like an old fart, but eight o'clock shows should not be nonchalantly suggesting a suitcase of porn is nothing to raise an eyebrow over."
Really??? Stick to the soaps, Allison. You are too sensitive for primetime comedy.
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11-10-2009 @ 2:22PM
Ryan said...
I agree on the too much fighting on BBT. My head started to ache at all of the screaming.
I have to disagree on HIMYM. It was supposed to be Ted's perspective and I thought it was handled in a clever way. And porn... seriously? Again maybe if we were watching 7th Heaven and Ruthie was rummaging through porn. But this was totally in character for the show and for Barney et. al.
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11-10-2009 @ 2:24PM
Vince said...
I am in full agreement with the reviewer. I have grown to enjoy Monday night comedy on CBS (except Accidently on Purpose - just not funny, get rid of it), however, each of the shows fell flat for me last night. I wasn't offended, just not entertained and lacked for laughs. Simply a coincidence? I hope so.
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11-10-2009 @ 2:26PM
SpaceVenus said...
My personal pet peeve is when pregnancy is referred to as "preggers". Should I compose a post about that?
Not every single episode can be absolutely terrific, but even an OK one of HIMYM or TBBT is much funnier and smarter than most dreck on TV. (Does the word dreck offend you? Sorry.)
I agree with one of the posts that prosthetics were used to drive home a point about how much people like Barney and Robin change when they're in a committed relationship, not for a cheap gag.
Oh, and I couldn't care less when you empty or dishwasher.
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11-10-2009 @ 2:51PM
GT said...
I almost completely agree. All the shows added up seemed to be off from the usual funny and engaging selves.
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11-10-2009 @ 3:05PM
Jimmy said...
I thought Two and Half Men and Big Bang Theory were off last night, but I can't be sure. I was half-working and half-watching.
Let's hope Chuck Lorre doesn't read this site, or we might end up on one of his vanity cards!
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11-10-2009 @ 3:06PM
MJL said...
Allison,
Did you honestly believe that Barney had really gotten that fat, or that Robin had suddenly become that decrepit? It wasn't just a fat-suit gag like Monica on Friends, it was visual exaggeration, to show how much the relationship had worn them down.
I agree that last night's episode wasn't the funniest of the season, but over the course of 22 or 23 episodes, there are bound to be some duds. Once again, get over yourself Allison.
(And the last scene where Barney re-enters the bar as a single man made up for everything.)
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11-10-2009 @ 3:11PM
Nancy W said...
I totally agree with the author. I love all the shows (and even like Accidently on Purpose, the episode with the "self-tanner" was actually pretty funny.)
Last night, none of them made me laugh...or even giggle.
Like "Vince", I wasn't offended, it was all a bit "meh. "
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11-10-2009 @ 3:20PM
lifeofrubin@gmail.com said...
I loved last nights shows (except accidentally on purpose, Jenna Elfman just is NOT funny to me, I'm sorry)
But as soon as I thought to myself, this seems like a harsh post I checked the author and I was NOT shocked to see Allisons name again.
I think this author enjoys sounding elite and like some snobby tv critic.
Seriously, LIGHTEN UP they were awesome last night!! (especially TBBT)
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11-10-2009 @ 7:49PM
Donna said...
Jenna Elfman only worked for me when she was opposite Thomas Gibson.
And last night, the only show I tried to watch was Big Bang, but I lost interest 15 minutes in. I think I've only made it all the way to the end of Big Bang about twice this season. I just don't think it is working for me this year.
11-15-2009 @ 4:47PM
John Hewitt said...
I have to ask, how much did you people pay to read this blog? Because your sense of entitlement is overwhelming.
As for the shows...
On HIMYM, The fat suit was ok, but I was annoyed that they are breaking up this soon. It seems like we wasted half a season on this "relationship". As for porn jokes, they're always welcome in my house no matter what the time.
When I saw Michael Rappaport on AOP, my first thought was "If they make him a regular, they just might save the show." Sadly, it looks like he won't be back.
2.5 was just plain creepy. Funny creepy, but still creepy.
BBT, I have to agree. It wasn't funny. Only high point was seeing how much Penny cared about Sheldon's feelings. She may be the only true friend he has.
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11-10-2009 @ 3:39PM
Dave said...
Completely not shocked to see Allison wrote this one. Who was the genius that said "Hey I know, let's get someone that really hates TV to write for our all-about-TV blog!" because I want to smack them.
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11-10-2009 @ 4:10PM
wulfn1 said...
Ok, so everyone can't like everything , and while this wasn't the most upbeat of articles, it also wasn't the only one about those shows.
Each show got it's very own article , typed by a completely different blogger. While it's nice to see opinions that mirror your own, it's not realistic to expect all opinions to do so.
It's usually healthy to see most sides of the opinion spectrum and make your own decisions based on what you opine.
This blogger has made her opinion known. She gets paid to do so, she doesn't get paid to write sunshine, butterflies and rainbows. If you disagree with her, fine, get over it, state it simply and without resorting to childish taunts , then move the hell on.
Oh and for the record, the other bloggers who have written regarding these shows have pretty much said similar things (minus the personal distaste for porn , fetish themes and adultery).
Also for the record, she also mentioned that the Monday night lineup was usually a highlight for her, so she is not a "hater" of these particular shows. READ the whole article prior to making your assumptions.
BTW , I don't do dishes... that's my spouse's job. (oh my,.. did I offend you by including something personal within my comments? too bad )
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11-10-2009 @ 4:11PM
MJL said...
Sweet Blahg.