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Post by William T. Goat, Esq. on Jun 11, 2023 19:53:46 GMT -5
I Think You Should Leave (Season 3: Episodes 1 - 4) (2023) I continue to appreciate the 60s rhythm and blues interstitials. That is all. I was surprised to find out they were real songs. "Baby baby baby baby bay bay bay"? Somebody really wrote that? |
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Post by Prole Hole on Jun 13, 2023 3:12:38 GMT -5
American Born Chinese is fucking great! Fantastic cast, great premise that manages to stay just the right side of silly, stakes that feel they might actually mean something and just a whole lot of fun all round. It also manages to dodge most of the obvious cliches around most of its subject matters. The whole "EEAAO cast but in a show!" sounds like a gimmick but everyone in this is simply delightful (and it's nice to see Michelle Yeoh get the odd moment of levity as opposed to always having to be serious). The fights are genuinely impressive for a TV show and the whole thing just works. I'm two episodes from the end at the moment so hopefully it won't drop the ball but consider me seriously impressed.
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Post by DangOlJimmyITellYouWhat on Jun 13, 2023 17:00:26 GMT -5
I for some reason didn't go to sleep until six in the fucking a.m., and got up around eleven, so cranky today.
Anyway, I watched the Muppets Electric Mayhem show, and it wasn't amazing, but it was very nice, and exactly the kind of good vibe thing I was looking for. Did in fact soothe my mood quite a lot.
Now I am watching The Muppets Haunted Mansion thing, and sorry, I will never, ever get used to anyone other than Jim Henson voicing Kermit. Some of the subsequent guys have been more or less acceptable, but the one in this is just. not right.
As a side note, I very much don't get the whole "Haunted Mansion!!!11!! is amazing!" thing. It's not a particularly good gothy aesthetic, and it's a fairly boring ride (disclaimer : rode it once well into my 40s, and basically my opinion was "oh kinda kitschy cute"). Yeah yeah I get it's a ~classic ride~ w/e, and sure, they could be trying to Pirates of the Caribbean it, but they don't seem to have a coherent narrative thread to hang it on.* It's just "hey check out this purple/black/arsenic green purse!" which, okay, if you're into that, whatever. But seems like 5-6-ish years ago Disney really started pushing merch to the Hot Topic demographic predicated on nothing more than "hey look it's haUnTeD y'all like haunted, right?" Unless you've ridden it a bunch of times, what's the appeal as a fandom?
I will be watching more Muppets, because I'm still grumbly, and Muppets/Sesame Street are deeply comforting.
*much like Jungle Cruise. y'all ain't slick, we all know you were trying to copy The Mummy, and you did not succeed
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Post by liebkartoffel on Jun 13, 2023 17:14:46 GMT -5
Now I am watching The Muppets Haunted Mansion thing, and sorry, I will never, ever get used to anyone other than Jim Henson voicing Kermit. Some of the subsequent guys have been more or less acceptable, but the one in this is just. not right. I was born in '87, so Steve Whitmire is kind of "my" Kermit and he and Jim Henson sound more or less equally canonical to me, but yeah, there's just something jarringly wrong with the new guy. Like, I could do a better Kermit than this dude. |
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repulsionist
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Post by repulsionist on Jun 14, 2023 18:19:18 GMT -5
Taskmaster (S12:E7-8)
All still working towards the feather in cap of a win. Each lovely in their own way. I've warmed to Victoria Coren Mitchell.
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Post by Desert Dweller on Jun 14, 2023 23:55:31 GMT -5
As a side note, I very much don't get the whole "Haunted Mansion!!!11!! is amazing!" thing. It's not a particularly good gothy aesthetic, and it's a fairly boring ride (disclaimer : rode it once well into my 40s, and basically my opinion was "oh kinda kitschy cute"). Yeah yeah I get it's a ~classic ride~ w/e, and sure, they could be trying to Pirates of the Caribbean it, but they don't seem to have a coherent narrative thread to hang it on.* It's just "hey check out this purple/black/arsenic green purse!" which, okay, if you're into that, whatever. But seems like 5-6-ish years ago Disney really started pushing merch to the Hot Topic demographic predicated on nothing more than "hey look it's haUnTeD y'all like haunted, right?" Unless you've ridden it a bunch of times, what's the appeal as a fandom?
*much like Jungle Cruise. y'all ain't slick, we all know you were trying to copy The Mummy, and you did not succeed
First, what is this reference to Jungle Cruise and The Mummy? Am I missing something there? The Jungle Cruise is an original Disneyland ride, so it is nearly 70 years old. (If that was a joke, I'm sorry for not getting it.) I know there was a redesign done right after the 50th anniversary, so maybe it was changed? The Disneyland Jungle Cruise ride was always so much fun if you got a boat captain who was really funny. Several years ago Disneyland cracked down a bit on the kinds of jokes they could tell, but if you hit the ride late at night you can still often find some pretty funny boat captains.
Edited to add: It occurs to me that you were talking about the "Jungle Cruise" movie? And that was fashioned after "The Mummy"? Sometimes I forget that Disney made a bunch of terrible movies out of their famous Disneyland rides.
Next, does Haunted Mansion have a fandom? And I mean outside of obsessive Disneyland fanatics? I know people who'd buy merch for it who are Disneyland addicts. My old roommate is one of them. But it was never really supposed to be goth. It was supposed to be funny.
Must put a caveat in here that I am speaking about Disneyland not Disney World, and I've heard many of the rides are different at each park. I've never been to Disney World, but I've been to Disneyland many, many, many times. I understood that Haunted Mansion - the interior - was basically the same, though. But Disney World's is supposed to be a bit longer. I've heard Disney World doesn't have the stretch room elevator to start the ride, though, and that is a bummer, because it is a genuinely funny part of that ride.
Anyway, I was just intrigued at this idea that there is some sort of fandom for a really old Disneyland ride. And they push this with some kind of goth aesthetic? From a company that owns Nightmare Before Christmas? Maybe it is the same wave of nostalgia that is sweeping over the rest of pop culture?
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Post by DangOlJimmyITellYouWhat on Jun 15, 2023 11:16:01 GMT -5
Now I am watching The Muppets Haunted Mansion thing, and sorry, I will never, ever get used to anyone other than Jim Henson voicing Kermit. Some of the subsequent guys have been more or less acceptable, but the one in this is just. not right. I was born in '87, so Steve Whitmire is kind of "my" Kermit and he and Jim Henson sound more or less equally canonical to me, but yeah, there's just something jarringly wrong with the new guy. Like, I could do a better Kermit than this dude. I did go look up Steve Whitmire to pin down which Kermit is his, and he's pretty good. |
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Post by DangOlJimmyITellYouWhat on Jun 15, 2023 11:26:00 GMT -5
First, what is this reference to Jungle Cruise and The Mummy? Am I missing something there? The Jungle Cruise is an original Disneyland ride, so it is nearly 70 years old. (If that was a joke, I'm sorry for not getting it.) I know there was a redesign done right after the 50th anniversary, so maybe it was changed? The Disneyland Jungle Cruise ride was always so much fun if you got a boat captain who was really funny. Several years ago Disneyland cracked down a bit on the kinds of jokes they could tell, but if you hit the ride late at night you can still often find some pretty funny boat captains.
Edited to add: It occurs to me that you were talking about the "Jungle Cruise" movie? And that was fashioned after "The Mummy"? Sometimes I forget that Disney made a bunch of terrible movies out of their famous Disneyland rides.
Next, does Haunted Mansion have a fandom? And I mean outside of obsessive Disneyland fanatics? I know people who'd buy merch for it who are Disneyland addicts. My old roommate is one of them. But it was never really supposed to be goth. It was supposed to be funny.
Must put a caveat in here that I am speaking about Disneyland not Disney World, and I've heard many of the rides are different at each park. I've never been to Disney World, but I've been to Disneyland many, many, many times. I understood that Haunted Mansion - the interior - was basically the same, though. But Disney World's is supposed to be a bit longer. I've heard Disney World doesn't have the stretch room elevator to start the ride, though, and that is a bummer, because it is a genuinely funny part of that ride.
Anyway, I was just intrigued at this idea that there is some sort of fandom for a really old Disneyland ride. And they push this with some kind of goth aesthetic? From a company that owns Nightmare Before Christmas? Maybe it is the same wave of nostalgia that is sweeping over the rest of pop culture?
Ha yes, I did mean the Jungle Cruise movie. I do see how it could possibly have been an okay popcorny movie, but the plot and the chemistry just wasn't there.
Yep there is a fandom, and it's definitely not just the obsessives. Unless the obsessives are a much larger group than I've assumed; there's Haunted Mansion merch everywhere, and I'd say it's a run-up to the new movie, except that it's been out there for a number of years, and it's not just stuff like Loungefly (sorta pricey purses/bags).
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repulsionist
TI Forumite
actively disinterested
Posts: 3,680
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Post by repulsionist on Jun 15, 2023 17:27:35 GMT -5
Taskmaster (S15:E8)
Ivo's catchphrase was awesome. Liked Frankie's terrific breakdown over his lost imaginary friend.
I Think You Should Leave (S3:E4)
Timothy Davis-Reed carries the sketch "Shirt Brothers" and provides what is probably the best work of this series. I don't expect to see something so good again in this set of episodes.
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Post by Ben Grimm on Jun 16, 2023 15:09:09 GMT -5
It occurs to me that, after dropping all late night or otherwise political TV following the election in 2016, I've never really been even slightly tempted to pick any of it back up since. I think politics now is something that pretty much is permanently too stressful to make for good comedy to me, or at least something I'm capable of relaxing or winding down with.
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moimoi
AV Clubber
Posts: 5,085 
Member is Online
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Post by moimoi on Jun 18, 2023 12:37:23 GMT -5
I'm finally getting around to Poker Face (it's kind of a summer show, if you ask me) and I absolutely LOVE IT. The fight at the end of episode 5 had me howling. This is the best American-produced show I've seen in years.
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repulsionist
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actively disinterested
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Post by repulsionist on Jun 18, 2023 16:13:56 GMT -5
I Think You Should Leave (S3:E5-6) (2023)
Lorne Michaels has many irons in multiple fires. He is the Grand-père of North American comedy for the last 50 years. Over the years, in some of those forgings, the fire has not been as hot as in the pitch meetings. I recall spitballing comedic skits in my 20s. None of them came to fruition, or bore fruit of any sort beyond laughs amongst friends - so they would never be criticised by unknown assailants from afar. I applaud Tim and his co-creator, former Harvard Lampoon president Zach Kanin, for pushing through writers' room daydreams to material sketches that were worked and re-worked to get best results. That said, this is garbage fire that will probably have a reappraisal in a few years with improved sensibilities. "Shirt Brothers" was the best of this effort.
Documentary Now! (S4:E5-6) (2022)
"My Monkey Grifter" has some fun with Demetriou playing upper-class fop. "Trouver Frisson" crushed its versimilitudes and provided some hearty laughs. Hot fire to forge the metal here, Mr. Michaels.
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Post by Mrs David Tennant on Jun 20, 2023 19:47:54 GMT -5
I am loving Ted Lasso so much. I'm in season 2, and 2 episodes ago I was yelling at Rebecca to say don't do it, don't do it, bad idea*!! And this recent episode I'm just yelling No! No!
*And I say this as a card-carrying member of the cougar club!
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Post by songstarliner on Jun 21, 2023 18:51:27 GMT -5
Has anyone seen the Dead Ringers show? I'm reluctant to watch it because I love the original so much, but maybe I'm missing out. Thoughts?
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Post by The Stuffingtacular She-Hulk on Jun 21, 2023 18:58:51 GMT -5
Season 3 of The Great is incredible so far, and I'm only halfway through. I absolutely loved the dinner party with Voltaire stirring shit just for kicks while the American and British ambassadors had to be restrained from murdering each other.
I don't say things like this often, but I would very much like a prequel series with Jason Isaacs as Peter the Great.
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Post by DangOlJimmyITellYouWhat on Jun 21, 2023 21:06:56 GMT -5
Has anyone seen the Dead Ringers show? I'm reluctant to watch it because I love the original so much, but maybe I'm missing out. Thoughts? LOL I'm reluctant to watch it because the original squicked me out so badly; I'm super confused how they decided to make it a series, with female doctors. Half the creep-out factor of the movie was that they were male OBs. |
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Post by songstarliner on Jun 21, 2023 22:16:13 GMT -5
Has anyone seen the Dead Ringers show? I'm reluctant to watch it because I love the original so much, but maybe I'm missing out. Thoughts? LOL I'm reluctant to watch it because the original squicked me out so badly; I'm super confused how they decided to make it a series, with female doctors. Half the creep-out factor of the movie was that they were male OBs. |
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Post by Pedantic Editor Type on Jun 22, 2023 8:21:49 GMT -5
We watched the first episode of Secret Invasion last night and it was ... okay? Didn't really grab me, I dunno. TWBE was like "meh, I'm kinda burned out on MCU" and I can see why. I may watch more at some point, but probably not with him.
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Post by Ben Grimm on Jun 22, 2023 8:57:12 GMT -5
We watched the first episode of Secret Invasion last night and it was ... okay? Didn't really grab me, I dunno. TWBE was like "meh, I'm kinda burned out on MCU" and I can see why. I may watch more at some point, but probably not with him. It was all set-up and exposition, so I'm kind of reluctant to judge it too harshly on its own. I kind of like the vibe they're going for with this, and hopefully we'll get more meat in the next few episodes. |
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Post by Pedantic Editor Type on Jun 22, 2023 9:03:44 GMT -5
We watched the first episode of Secret Invasion last night and it was ... okay? Didn't really grab me, I dunno. TWBE was like "meh, I'm kinda burned out on MCU" and I can see why. I may watch more at some point, but probably not with him. It was all set-up and exposition, so I'm kind of reluctant to judge it too harshly on its own. I kind of like the vibe they're going for with this, and hopefully we'll get more meat in the next few episodes. Yeah, and I get that - I think there just didn't seem to be anything novel about it to me? I loved Captain Marvel but that had a different feel to it. Like I said, I may watch more later if the buzz is good. |
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Post by MrsLangdonAlger on Jun 22, 2023 9:22:49 GMT -5
Has anyone seen the Dead Ringers show? I'm reluctant to watch it because I love the original so much, but maybe I'm missing out. Thoughts? It's SO, SO GOOD. Unhinged, beautiful to look at, incredibly acted. |
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ABz B👹anaz
Grandfathered In 
This country is (now less of) a shitshow.
Posts: 1,978
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Post by ABz B👹anaz on Jun 22, 2023 9:47:23 GMT -5
Black Mirror S6 - Pretty good season overall. Joan is Awful was fun and a little too close to real. Loch Henry and Beyond the Sea were both creepy as shit. Demon 79 was fun and funny. Mazey Day was pretty okay.
I feel like this season was less connected to the general "technology is bad and/or good" theme of the series itself and more just general suspense/drama/horror tangentially related to it.
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Post by Prole Hole on Jun 22, 2023 10:23:05 GMT -5
Black Mirror S6 - Pretty good season overall. Joan is Awful was fun and a little too close to real. Loch Henry and Beyond the Sea were both creepy as shit. Demon 79 was fun and funny. Mazey Day was pretty okay. I feel like this season was less connected to the general "technology is bad and/or good" theme of the series itself and more just general suspense/drama/horror tangentially related to it. Only seen Joan Is Awful so far, which I liked-not-loved. It was also the perfect example of the problem of being on streaming because if the episode had been on Channel 4 it would have been a tight 45 mins and much better for it. This episode did not have to be an hour long and the general flabbiness drained a lot of the momentum (and twist) from it. Still good but it's always frustrating when you can see how little it would take to make it better. But agreed - fun if light. Selma Hyack is a fucking God though. And the church scene couldn't be more Charlie Brooker if it tried. |
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Post by MrsLangdonAlger on Jun 22, 2023 14:19:58 GMT -5
Jesus. Happy Valley fucked me right over. Doesn't help that Tommy looks almost exactly like my abuser.
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repulsionist
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Post by repulsionist on Jun 25, 2023 15:43:14 GMT -5
PEZ Outlaw (2022)
Strong, rural Michigan vibes and the story of a man who found a loophole that worked until it, maybe -I'll have to watch the back half, tightened into a garrote.
Stranger Things (S1:E1-2)
So many nostalgic dog whistles that the sonic cacophony creates its own realm.
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Rainbow Rosa
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not gay, just colorful
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Post by Rainbow Rosa on Jun 26, 2023 7:19:27 GMT -5
IMO the theme from Perfect Strangers is the most terrifying piece of music ever recorded. Everything about it - the chrome-plated synth tones, the imbecilic lyrics, the sad little harmonica riff at the end - is horrifying. It is the walk-up music for the rogue AI that turns all sentient matter into paperclips. This is not a bit, every time I am reminded of the theme from Perfect Strangers I feel a level of existential despair that no other recorded audio has ever quite evoked in me.
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Post by MrsLangdonAlger on Jun 26, 2023 8:40:44 GMT -5
Jesus. Happy Valley fucked me right over. Doesn't help that Tommy looks almost exactly like my abuser. Final update: the end was cathartic for me, again because of Tommy's similarity to my abuser. Seriously, y'all, he's so similar that the entire time I've watched I have to correct myself and remember his name is Tommy, not Jamie. Loved the themes of denial and delusion. What an incredible show. |
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Jun 26, 2023 10:19:59 GMT -5
The latest episode of The Grand Tour, "Eurocrash", was a strong one, with plenty of good laughs, some truly ridiculous cars, and some nice interesting or historical locations visited. I have structural complaints with it. James' frequent mechanical issues, while funny, sidelined him for most of the episode (this too becoming a running gag). Whether Top Gear or The Grand Tour, these three are always at their best when they're together. Their unrivaled chemistry and banter makes the shows what they are, so having one of them constantly lagging behind the other and missing out on a lot of the stops is, again, funny, but you miss James in the interplay.
Not a challenging road trip by any means. Jeremy and Richard had no car trouble at all from what I remember.
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Post by Desert Dweller on Jun 26, 2023 22:53:21 GMT -5
Pro tip if you are currently writing a daytime soap opera. Well, first of all, if you're writing a daytime soap opera right now you're a scab, and shame on you. But more importantly:
Do not write a story that directly references one of your soap's best ever years. Because, for instance, if fans go searching YouTube for 1994 episodes of your show, they are going to be blown away by the difference in writing and performing quality.
-Signed, someone who regrettably went searching for a 1994 scene to cross-reference and ended up deeply annoyed that USA soap operas are so much worse now.
Oh, and PS, most definitely do not search out scenes from General Hospital from May 1994, because GH told the most gut-wrenchingly sad story in the history of Daytime that month. In my search over the weekend I accidentally stumbled over an episode from the end of that month, saw the first scene and *immediately* noped out of that because I knew the entire episode would be a bunch of scenes of characters I love crying.
That is my semi-annual post about Daytime soap operas. Remember, soaps really were much better in the past. It isn't nostalgia. You can prove this by watching old clips on YouTube. (Just don't watch May 1994 of GH.)
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Post by Desert Dweller on Jun 27, 2023 17:49:07 GMT -5
Has anyone watched Season 2 of "The Bear"? How intense is this? How strong is the temptation to binge it? Need to know if I should block out an entire weekend day, or if I can (or should?) spread it out over several days.
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