2014 - Award Season

[Trust No One]

Well it looks as though the 'same ol' same ol' has been nominated for the 2014 Emmys. Again there's no credit to Simon for his credible work (of the lot his character has seen the most 'growth' and yet this seems to count for pfft) as he does his best to rise above the pap the writers are coming up with. Of course that's my primary beef--the writing is crap and I have no doubt it's causing the actors to phone it in.

I don't think I'd have as much of a problem if the romances were actually written well. Actually, that's a little off. For the sake of the show there would be no problem but for me I wouldn't have watched the show at all if that had been the premise. Its become too formulaic and I shake my head at the Emmy committee for rewarding its blandness, its 'safeness'. Perhaps this is a case where LaLa Land is trying to validate its existence in the face of the new monster known as cable/streaming shows. BBT is still in the running so therefore it's okay. That it has never won says a lot, too. With all of the star power in Parsons, the cult of Mayim and the high ratings it can't crack the threshold into the realm of classic television.

When Lorre's pilot was panned except for the 'two nerds' his solution was to put in two more nerds since that was what was liked. Add a firecracker from Nebraska and the ensuing number of nominations and awards said that they had a hit formula. Now I admit that a show has to develop over time, particularly in this instance because of the length of time BBT has been on the air, but that doesn't mean that change should make what was, unrecognizable.

It's weird what TPTB consider salvageable from the early seasons was Leonard's obsession with Penny. To me, it culminated when he first asked her out and she accepted in 1.17. The audience breathed out a satisfied 'finally!' and off the Lenny went--into a comedic crash and burn. Frankly that's where it should have remained as Leonard and Penny are far more comedic as friends than lovers but that's another topic. As for now, there's a desire to rekindle the 'finally!' moment, this time for Sheldon and Amy with the SIK and the march towards eventual coitus.

But what they don't get is that Leonard and Penny's first 'finally!' moment didn't come at the complete expense of the formula. In contrast, the expansion of the Lenny into the mess it is now has completely derailed the show. As for the Shamy, it seems to be modeled after the 'romantic' formula without the sparks as the writers seemingly couldn't conceive of a 'relationship of the mind' bringing two people together so they changed the characters in order to fit into their cookie-cutter notion of 'romance'.

The writers used to take chances. Now they're playing it safe. Boringly safe.

And yet they are rewarded once again with Emmy nods so it seems as though the majority are satisfied with the level of entertainment.

I, however, am not. This should be a much better product than it is and to celebrate what is with awards is like praising the grace of a deer as you look at its head mounted on your den wall.

Cannot like this enough WPP. Boring and safe does not work for a comedy and most forms of entertainment as well. If I'm taking the time to watch something I want to be challenged and surprised. I do not want to see everything happening from miles away.