The television discussion thread

[Dennis]

How I Met Your Mother is past its expiration date. They've drug things out for the sake of dragging things out, and I've personally grown completely disinterested with where they're taking things. At this stage of the game, I legitimately couldn't care less who the mother is going to turn out to be.

It doesn't help that the cast have only stuck around due to contractual obligations because the apathy has carried over to the performances. Jason Segal has even gone on record saying that he'd rather be off doing other things, and I think it shows on screen. Aside from the arc that dealt with the death of his father, you can tell he's just no longer invested in Marshall; I can't really say that I blame him, either. The jokes are stale, the story-lines forced and uninteresting, and, well, the magic's just not quite there anymore. None of this is to say that the show is bad, per say, but it should be pretty obvious to anyone actually being objective that it is a shell of its former self. Big Bang Theory is getting dangerously close to heading down the same path (if they haven't veered that way already).

To HIMYM's credit, at least it hasn't turned into The Office yet. That used to be my favorite comedy on television, and now the hair on my arms actually stands up from the embarrassment; it's excruciating to see what's become of it. If the science in Eternal Sunshine were actually a thing, I'd happily have the last 4 seasons completely wiped from my memory. Just, so...ugh.

I will agree that HIMYM is not doing what it did during the previous seasons. and I did notice that marshall seemed to be silly in this past episode to the point it wasn't as funny. the big bang theory is picking up, but you are right to say it is on a dangerous path. I don't know if you have watched ben and kate, or new girl but both sitcoms are better than I expected this season.

[Iron Ape]

Ben Kate is pretty okay but I'm not trying to get too attached to it on account of it likely not being long for this world (B&K and Mindy Project have under-performed big time for FOX's much-hyped Tuesday night comedy block). New Girl is great, though, and way better than I ever thought it would be; the writing is surprisingly sharp and the cast have wonderful chemistry together.

[Dennis]

Ben Kate is pretty okay but I'm not trying to get too attached to it on account of it likely not being long for this world (B&K and Mindy Project have under-performed big time for FOX's much-hyped Tuesday night comedy block). New Girl is great, though, and way better than I ever thought it would be; the writing is surprisingly sharp and the cast have wonderful chemistry together.

raising hope is also a solid show. I think the mindy project is kind of terrible. if I am at home on tuesdays, I tend to watch the first three shows on that block and change it. I think ben and kate is safe for a couple of season. a lot of my friends really enjoy it as well.. that being said I'm pretty sure community is getting cancelled after this season even though it's the most popular sitcom among my friends.

[Robstar]

I think the last episode of The Wonder Years is, in addition to being one of the best finales ever, perfectly in line with the rest of the series' tone. I mean, the show was always a dramedy. Yeah, the heart-strings got tugged on a little bit harder than usual, but I think that's sort of to be expected with it being the emotional pay-off to the end of adolescence and all. It was honest and true to itself up until the very end, and the overwhelming majority of other shows can't make the same claim. Powerful stuff.

I was one broken hearted mofo at the end of that show and I don't think I've ever come to terms with that. Or the fact that I wasn't born in another era. But I have to agree, I was clutching at straws trying to think of a show that actually ended without mentioning pus like The Nanny or Roseanne's terrible, forgettable finish.

[Iron Ape]

raising hope is also a solid show. I think the mindy project is kind of terrible. if I am at home on tuesdays, I tend to watch the first three shows on that block and change it. I think ben and kate is safe for a couple of season. a lot of my friends really enjoy it as well.. that being said I'm pretty sure community is getting cancelled after this season even though it's the most popular sitcom among my friends.

I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but Ben & Kate will be extremely lucky to get a second season. It had a modest debut, but its numbers have continued to fall with each subsequent episode. A couple more seasons isn't particularly realistic.

I agree that The Mindy Project isn't very good. I know that Kaling is a bit of an It-girl at the moment, but I frankly don't think that she's leading lady material. Her humor is pretty superficial and entirely too reliant on pop-culture references, too, so much of the show's material comes off feeling sophomoric and empty. The whole endeavor feels like an excuse for her to, well, "play doctor" with Caucasian dudes that realistically wouldn't give her the time of day. I'd probably have to say that it's the most vain vanity project currently on the air.

[Iron Ape]

I was one broken hearted mofo at the end of that show and I don't think I've ever come to terms with that. Or the fact that I wasn't born in another era. But I have to agree, I was clutching at straws trying to think of a show that actually ended without mentioning pus like The Nanny or Roseanne's terrible, forgettable finish.

Yeah, finding out Kevin's dad died was like being punched in the gut. That might actually be the first time I ever teared-up from watching a television show.

The Wonder Years is a true favorite of mine. Shame that the situation with royalties from the show's (excellent) use of established music will likely prevent it from ever getting a proper home release.

[Dennis]

I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but Ben & Kate will be extremely lucky to get a second season. It had a modest debut, but its numbers have continued to fall with each subsequent episode. A couple more seasons isn't particularly realistic.

I agree that The Mindy Project isn't very good. I know that Kaling is a bit of an It-girl at the moment, but I frankly don't think that she's leading lady material. Her humor is pretty superficial and entirely too reliant on pop-culture references, too, so much of the show's material comes off feeling sophomoric and empty. The whole endeavor feels like an excuse for her to, well, "play doctor" with Caucasian dudes that realistically wouldn't give her the time of day. I'd probably have to say that it's the most vain vanity project currently on the air.

Now I'm going to be afraid to watch ben and kate haha...

[Robstar]

Yeah, finding out Kevin's dad died was like being punched in the gut. That might actually be the first time I ever teared-up from watching a television show.

The Wonder Years is a true favorite of mine. Shame that the situation with royalties from the show's (excellent) use of established music will likely prevent it from ever getting a proper home release.

Really? I didn't know there was an issue there. I do, however, bear the scars from purchasing The Wonder Years "soundtrack" album, many moon ago. I was expecting all 60's classics and some were there but wait, they had subtle differences! So there was your standards With A Little Help From My Friends by Joe Cocker, For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison - no problem there, all good, all to be expected. Peace Train by Richie Havens - wait, what? OK I can forgive that, maybe Cat Stevens didn't want his version on there, he was still devoutly Islamic or something at the time and Richie Havens is from that era....so, not a bad marriage. Julian Lennon doing a Stones song? Erm, ok, still slightly significant, I suppose.
But wait - what's this? The Doors covered by The Escape Club, if you can believe it; Was (Not Was)? The Indigo Girls? And the ultimate insult - 2, count 'em -TWO!- songs by Debbie Gibson!! *gasp!*
All this is not helped by, while researching this album (for memories sake ) I discovered a much better, unknown to me before now, 5 disc set from the TV show! Gutted.
I was semi-aware that sometime in between original screening and now that they changed the version of With A Little.... from the start of the show.

I admit to tearing up at the final Happy Days episode. And a couple of MASH ones always get me too....

[Iron Ape]

Yeah, the only way that they would be able to release the show would involve butchering it by cutting out all of the licensed tunes. And a Wonder Years without all of the kickass, period-specific music wouldn't quite be The Wonder Years at all. It would almost be as bad as the version of The Big Lebowski that gets aired on Comedy Central, where all of the profanities have been removed and dubbed over with absolute nonsense (for instance: "This is what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass, Larry!" becomes "This is what happens when you fight a stranger in the Alps, Larry!"). This is also why the show can no longer be found in syndication.

[Iron Ape]

There simply isn't a more fascinating character on television at the moment.