I think a big part of the backlash to these ads (and let’s be clear, since this seems to be at least partially a response to the conversation between Halle and I that we posted to Splitsider yesterday, that we were talking about the ads and not the show itself, which neither of us has seen and I still hold out hope for) isn’t that the jokes are bad, but that they have an angle on gender relations that is like 20+ years outdated. Bad jokes are one thing, but having these jokes about how annoying women are and how dudes just wanna be left alone by their naggin’ wives is another entirely.
Yes, comedy is hard to be successful at and we should be supportive of our peers. That’s why I don’t really cover shows I don’t like on Splitsider! I try to be positive, mostly, although obviously there are some exceptions. Nobody’s perfect! But comedy being hard doesn’t mean we can’t criticize something that is gross on not a comedic level, but a human level, which I think some of these completely ubiquitous Whitney ads are.
I hadn’t read the article between Hallie and yourself, Adam, but I know you both aren’t beholden to run smear jobs on Splitsider. And like you said, if you don’t like it, you don’t talk about it. To me, it’s more the knee-jerk comedy nerd reaction. Much like when everyone was using “Two and a Half Men” as the example of horrible comedy on TV, but you could tell that no one had seen a second of it.
I did look it up, and the first line of the conversation makes me feel we are on the same page; the ads might kill the show before the show is even seen. As far as the actual show goes, You and Hallie obviously have more familiarity with it as you mention bits and pieces from the pilot that feel stale. If anyone is actually qualified to criticize the show, I would say you two are the right people for the job.
I don’t want it to seem like I was singling anyone out, because it’s just the vibe going aroundlately. Yeah, it’s due to a horrible ad campaign which you guys both nailed in saying sounds like it could have fit any sitcom starring a stand-up in the past 20 years. It’s that shitty attitude that I hate that dumps on a something one hasn’t seen yet. It’s the same attitude that makes people moan that they aren’t more successful when they haven’t tried anything. Some people say since she’s a public figure, she’s open for criticism, but that doesn’t gibe with me. It’s not like she’s a movie star. Both shows could flop in two episodes. To me, there are more worthy targets in the world, like the people who are killing the middle class.
In short, I very much respect both of your opinions, as well as the fact that you both work very hard to be as informed about the art of comedy as you are. Overall, I agree with you both. I also appreciate that the critique wasn’t a dogpile of insults about bus ads, but that it was a really funny conversation.
(Source: adambozarth)
Reblogged from Adam Frucci.
September 15, 2011, 1:32pm Permalink
