I recently made a late-night visit to a local drug store to get some non-adherent gauze for an annoying wound I have. At this drug store I had a wonderful conversation with a quaint little immigrant, and by "wonderful" I mean exhausting, and by "quaint little" I mean frighteningly oompa loompa-ish.
The conversation went like this:
Me: Hi
Lady: Hello
Me: Where could I find some non-adherent gauze?
Lady: Jaws?
Me: What? No, gauze
Lady: Jeees?
Me: Gauze
Lady: J-E
Me: G-U
Lady:....
Me:....
Lady: Jaws?
Me: Just show me where the pharmacy is.
Don't worry, the trip wasn't all a waste. I had a great conversation with my dad on the way home in which I taught him how to eat a Gobstopper. He concluded that it was "too hard" and didn't like it until I showed him "red" was a flavor in which he replied "ok gimme". It was the longest conversation we've had in 3 years.
Now if that's not father and son bonding then too bad because that's all my kid is gettin'
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Heart in Sitcoms
In an era dominated by webisodes, skits, and perpetual joke machines there is something that is seriously lacking in today’s scripted comedies, heart. With the introduction of Family Guy in the early 2000’s many shows, animated or not, have followed Seth McFarlane’s technique of cramming as many non-sequiturs into 22 minutes of programming. Extremely funny, critically acclaimed shows such as The League, Workaholics, and Always Sunny in Philadelphia have had success with this technique; however the issue that is being raised in this post is the same issue with the aforementioned shows, there is no longer any depth or heart in today’s sitcoms.
I should probably backtrack and not say there aren’t ANY sitcoms with heart anymore. Lets talk about a few that have done a masterful job of making us laugh while pulling at our heart strings.
The Mindy Project:
The Mindy project is currently in its infancy as it struggles to find its place on the FOX network. It is wonderfully quirky and writer/creator Mindy Kaling has done an exceptional job of mixing observational comedy into deeper story lines. An episode that exemplifies this is the Thankgiving episode. Mindy is attending a party at her BFF Gwen’s house and has become increasingly insecure regarding her personal relationship as well as her relationship with Gwen, and as we can imagine, hilarity ensues.
Danny, another doctor as Mindys practice has decided to feel sorry for himself and spend thanksgiving alone in his office. Dannys character thus far in the season has been built up as pseudo recluse and essentially refuses to have fun at all costs . however at the end of the episode he receives a picture via text of a now resolved Mindy celebrating Thanksgiving with a caption underneath simply stating “Happy Thanksgiving!” forcing a rare smile out of Danny.
There was nothing comical about the text, or the picture Mindys character had sent. It was a simple gesture of “we are thinking about you”. It was one minute of a 22 minute episode where the writers decided to stop joking for a second and show they care about the growth and happiness of its characters just as much as its audience does.
At the risk of making this post much too long and boring I will post the example that influenced this post.
The Simpsons:
The Simpsons have been my favorite show for a long time. Although I haven’t seen a new episode in years the wit and humor displayed in the 90’s and early 2000’s shaped the way I view comedy today. There is something about placing sketch comedy writers, comics, and a sprinkle of Harvard dorkiness in a damp room that seems to create comic genius (see SNL). Before I continue my love letter to The Simpsons writers lets talk about the episode that exemplifies this post, and I know its hard to imagine The Simpsons as the beacon to this post but just keep reading. The episode is entitled “Maggie Makes three” and let me provide you with a brief synopsis: After looking at some old family pictures Homer decides to tell Bart and Lisa the story of when Maggie was born. The story begins with Homer being completely and utterly content. He has 2 wonderful children and with his latest cheque he is officially made him debt free. He hilariously quits his job at the nuclear plant and decides to work at his dream job, the bowling alley. Life is good, homer has hair, he is happy, but hold on (record scratch) Marge has been informed that the Simpsons are pregnant with their third child . Devastated, Homer realizes the only way he can afford to pay for another child is if he begs the nefarious Mr. Burns for his job back at the nuclear plant. Mr. Burns begrudgingly agrees, however Homer must look at a “de-motivating plaque” placed over his desk that simply states “Don’t Forget. You are Here Forever”.
A doleful Homer arrives home and has this hilarious dialogue with Marge:
Homer: Aw, I can't go on with this charade any longer! I hate my job, I hate my life, and ever since I found out about this baby there's been nothing but bad luck.
Marge: My contractions started an hour ago.
Homer: It's just in one ear and out the other with you, isn't it, Marge?
However , as Maggie arrives into the world one inch at a time Homer quickly remembers the feeling of having a child and immediately falls in love. The show concludes with Lisa proudly stating “So you loved her from the start!” wherein Homer responds “absolutely”. Bart then astutely says “Then why no pictures?” in which Homer simply replies “Oh there are pictures, I keep them where I need them most”
No matter the amount of times I see this episode I always turn off the television with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. Even as I write this post the magnitude of the gesture by Homers character and the juxtaposition of complete irreverent humor with endearing message of love illustrated by the writers has me completely amazed and even emotional.
The epitome of heart in a sitcom, typified by televisions dumbest character, brilliant.
I've often been compared to Homer Simpson, and one day when I have my own child I can consider it an honor.
The Mindy Project:
The Mindy project is currently in its infancy as it struggles to find its place on the FOX network. It is wonderfully quirky and writer/creator Mindy Kaling has done an exceptional job of mixing observational comedy into deeper story lines. An episode that exemplifies this is the Thankgiving episode. Mindy is attending a party at her BFF Gwen’s house and has become increasingly insecure regarding her personal relationship as well as her relationship with Gwen, and as we can imagine, hilarity ensues.
Danny, another doctor as Mindys practice has decided to feel sorry for himself and spend thanksgiving alone in his office. Dannys character thus far in the season has been built up as pseudo recluse and essentially refuses to have fun at all costs . however at the end of the episode he receives a picture via text of a now resolved Mindy celebrating Thanksgiving with a caption underneath simply stating “Happy Thanksgiving!” forcing a rare smile out of Danny.
There was nothing comical about the text, or the picture Mindys character had sent. It was a simple gesture of “we are thinking about you”. It was one minute of a 22 minute episode where the writers decided to stop joking for a second and show they care about the growth and happiness of its characters just as much as its audience does.
At the risk of making this post much too long and boring I will post the example that influenced this post.
The Simpsons:
The Simpsons have been my favorite show for a long time. Although I haven’t seen a new episode in years the wit and humor displayed in the 90’s and early 2000’s shaped the way I view comedy today. There is something about placing sketch comedy writers, comics, and a sprinkle of Harvard dorkiness in a damp room that seems to create comic genius (see SNL). Before I continue my love letter to The Simpsons writers lets talk about the episode that exemplifies this post, and I know its hard to imagine The Simpsons as the beacon to this post but just keep reading. The episode is entitled “Maggie Makes three” and let me provide you with a brief synopsis: After looking at some old family pictures Homer decides to tell Bart and Lisa the story of when Maggie was born. The story begins with Homer being completely and utterly content. He has 2 wonderful children and with his latest cheque he is officially made him debt free. He hilariously quits his job at the nuclear plant and decides to work at his dream job, the bowling alley. Life is good, homer has hair, he is happy, but hold on (record scratch) Marge has been informed that the Simpsons are pregnant with their third child . Devastated, Homer realizes the only way he can afford to pay for another child is if he begs the nefarious Mr. Burns for his job back at the nuclear plant. Mr. Burns begrudgingly agrees, however Homer must look at a “de-motivating plaque” placed over his desk that simply states “Don’t Forget. You are Here Forever”.
A doleful Homer arrives home and has this hilarious dialogue with Marge:
Homer: Aw, I can't go on with this charade any longer! I hate my job, I hate my life, and ever since I found out about this baby there's been nothing but bad luck.
Marge: My contractions started an hour ago.
Homer: It's just in one ear and out the other with you, isn't it, Marge?
However , as Maggie arrives into the world one inch at a time Homer quickly remembers the feeling of having a child and immediately falls in love. The show concludes with Lisa proudly stating “So you loved her from the start!” wherein Homer responds “absolutely”. Bart then astutely says “Then why no pictures?” in which Homer simply replies “Oh there are pictures, I keep them where I need them most”
No matter the amount of times I see this episode I always turn off the television with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. Even as I write this post the magnitude of the gesture by Homers character and the juxtaposition of complete irreverent humor with endearing message of love illustrated by the writers has me completely amazed and even emotional.
The epitome of heart in a sitcom, typified by televisions dumbest character, brilliant.
I've often been compared to Homer Simpson, and one day when I have my own child I can consider it an honor.
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