12-14-2014, 01:43 AM
Nutz, thanks for proving to me that I wasn't, well, nuts for hearing that child molestation 'joke'. My brain was totally, 'did he just say what I think he did?' As much as we talk here about the actors standing up for their characters I think this particular joke goes to show that at least JP is willing to do whatever TPTB tell him to do. I mean the guy who appeared on Sesame Street is now making molestation jokes? You're telling me he doesn't have enough clout to say, 'um, guys, I'm uncomfortable saying that'--particularly since we're a prime-time sitcom...and a CHRISTMAS episode for crap's sake! Talk about a new rendition of gathering around the yule log....
The Shamy's get the Meemaw cookies scene and again it feels 'fake' from a structural standpoint. Granted I'm not a theatre buff so please correct me if I'm wrong on this but what I didn't like about the scene was that the characters felt 'placed' like they are in the 'who done it?' revelation scene in a Poirot case. It's the same feeling I had in the Howard's dad's letter reveal. Too cardboard for television which is such a fluid medium. The illusion is shattered as they really are *just* actors on a stage and the way they all waited for Sheldon to give his Grinchless response was completely blah as everyone knew he would say something shmaltzy (and he didn't disappoint). The writers seem to be concerned about placing particular 'moments' "just so" and this has extended to how the scene plays out on tv. It's like they really do think they're doing a smashing job writing-wise and are writing in moments to stand back and take in their 'genius'.
The whole plot of Bernie and Sheldon going to the mall to get a punishment gift for Amy was completely and utterly crack-smoking. I mean even Bernie was looking at Sheldon with a 'wtf are you thinking?' This is from 'one of the greatest minds of his generation'? It makes him look dumb not naive and most definitely not 'cute' (as I'm sure the spin is that this is subconsciously what Sheldon wanted to do for Amy).
Yes there was the bird plot which was an attempt to capture an 'early days' feel as it was sorta 'sciencey' and had the three amigos in action but there was something not quite right about it. The humour between them was again meaner than it used to be as there had to be a butt of the joke and this time it was Howard. And it wasn't just a 'Mars rover' insert but they kept hammering Howard's screw ups again and again until it became unfunny. It was bullying plain and simple.
I've read that the ratings for this episode were low. It looks like TPTB's estimation of their audience is off. So then it comes to this: after reworking the show their peers don't reward it and the audience appeal is waning. They've killed the golden goose and got a big ol' nothing to show for it.
The Shamy's get the Meemaw cookies scene and again it feels 'fake' from a structural standpoint. Granted I'm not a theatre buff so please correct me if I'm wrong on this but what I didn't like about the scene was that the characters felt 'placed' like they are in the 'who done it?' revelation scene in a Poirot case. It's the same feeling I had in the Howard's dad's letter reveal. Too cardboard for television which is such a fluid medium. The illusion is shattered as they really are *just* actors on a stage and the way they all waited for Sheldon to give his Grinchless response was completely blah as everyone knew he would say something shmaltzy (and he didn't disappoint). The writers seem to be concerned about placing particular 'moments' "just so" and this has extended to how the scene plays out on tv. It's like they really do think they're doing a smashing job writing-wise and are writing in moments to stand back and take in their 'genius'.
The whole plot of Bernie and Sheldon going to the mall to get a punishment gift for Amy was completely and utterly crack-smoking. I mean even Bernie was looking at Sheldon with a 'wtf are you thinking?' This is from 'one of the greatest minds of his generation'? It makes him look dumb not naive and most definitely not 'cute' (as I'm sure the spin is that this is subconsciously what Sheldon wanted to do for Amy).
Yes there was the bird plot which was an attempt to capture an 'early days' feel as it was sorta 'sciencey' and had the three amigos in action but there was something not quite right about it. The humour between them was again meaner than it used to be as there had to be a butt of the joke and this time it was Howard. And it wasn't just a 'Mars rover' insert but they kept hammering Howard's screw ups again and again until it became unfunny. It was bullying plain and simple.
I've read that the ratings for this episode were low. It looks like TPTB's estimation of their audience is off. So then it comes to this: after reworking the show their peers don't reward it and the audience appeal is waning. They've killed the golden goose and got a big ol' nothing to show for it.
Let's go exploring!