RaLyr wrote:
I have to say, that I really do not know what the appeal of Tim and Eric might be. Tom Goes to the Mayor, at least, had a linear plot that made sense. It is not that I cannot appreciate lowbrow live-action comedy(I like Eagleheart and Children's Hospital), but it does have to be comedy for me to like a show. I do not think I have ever even come close to smiling(let alone laughing) at Tom Goes to the Mayor, Time and Eric, or Check it out. I suppose I could be missing something here, but I have studied comedy, everything from satire, slapstick, and schtick to improv, observation, and prop comedy. I really cannot place any of these shows into a genre. They are kind of all over the place and at times simply random and not the sort of random as in out of plot, but more like "What the heck was that even about?" random.
Personally, and this is just an opinion, I think the time slots that these shows take up could be better filled. Undoubtably they have somewhat of a cult following, but honestly does that compare to the fans who expect a higher quality of programming? Indeed the production value of these three shows are pretty poor. Material aside, and with the exception of a few outdoor shots I have seen, the sets are kind of middle school drama quality. Productions can be done on a low budget, look at "Star Wars" for example, and still be of excellent production value.
At any rate, for those of you who are fans, I completely understand that everyone has different interests and taste. I just honestly do not see the appeal. If you would like to share what you find appealing about Tim and Eric, I would be grateful for the insight. Hey, I might now agree with you, but at least it might help me understand.
~~~Ra Lyr
RaLyr
- Whelp, for someone who considers themself adept in various forms of comedy, I think you've missed the boat with your analysis.
While I'll concede to you that Awesome Show, and a lot of what Tim and Eric do in general, is often hard to pin down with any conclusive classification, there are aspects of the show that are satirical, slapsticky, et al.
Take the Chrimbus Special, for example. The whole idea is a satire; that much is not hard to see. The "Jim and Derrick" episode is a startlingly exact goof on shows you'll find on channels like spiketv or mtv.
And Awesome Show has its own fair share of tongue-in-cheek, slapstick violence for comedic effect.
The show has been described as a "sketch/variety show". In interviews, Eric Wareheim has called Awesome Show "alternative comedy".
One thing I want to stress is that Awesome Show is NOT random. First of all, it's a sketch comedy show, so it's an arena in which Tim and Eric have the freedom to exhibit creativity. They can switch from sketch to sketch, they aren't limited to one thing. It's a great way to get out ideas, however hit and miss it may be at times.
If Awesome Show is "random", then so is SNL, Mr. Show, Wonder Showzen, Kids In The hall or any other sketch comedy show.
Really, random is the one word I hate when it comes to describing comedy, or anything for that matter. Just writing something off as random is lazy and demeaning.
Awesome Show is bizzare, uncomfortable, strange and unconventional, but it definitely isn't random.
"fans who expect a higher quality of programming". what. You trying to say that fans of Awesome Show don't expect high quality programming? You couldn't be more wrong.
Well, there's one thing you've missed. The low-finance production value of many of the show's skits is on purpose. They're mocking/embracing the public access aesthetic that they're obsessed with. They'll go out and film something, then run it back through vhs to give it the desired feel. The fact that this is lost on you just means that Tim and Eric are doing a great job.
On the season one DVD commentaries, Tim and Eric said that they like to change the pace with high production, dramatic bits juxtaposed with the purposely amateur-looking ones.
Forgive me if I'm wrong here, but I'm guessing that you haven't browsed these boards very extensively, because multiple boarders have given multiple answers as to why they like the show, ranging from simple but poignant one liners, to lengthly essay-like posts.
I, for one, like:
- the atmosphere of the show
- the music, especially during the more ominous segments. the music is consistently catchy and hilarious.
-it's very visceral and exhilirating. and sometimes horrifying. (example: ooh mama)
- great facial expressions among other subtleties. the show has a meticulous attention to detail, which I love.
- it's creative, original and exists in its own universe. it's timeless. it doesn't rely on pop culture as a crutch, as Awesome Show does not use those allusions.
-it's introduced me to really interesting people I wouldn't know otherwise. (David Liebe Hart, James Quall, the late Richard Dunn, etc.)
I could go on listing reasons, but I'll stop there.
But honestly, don't worry, it's not a big deal if you don't like the show. At least you've given them a chance, that's the best you can do.
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