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Is it just me...?
Mar. 24th, 2011 04:37 pm... or is "30 Rock" getting a lot better? Bear in mind that I am about halfway through the sequence of episodes that Netflix refers to as "Season 2," (which appears to be noticeably shorter than a normal prime-time season, so who knows what that means?). Anyway, I'm finding it funnier and funnier as it goes along. Any long-term "30 Rock" fans want to hazard an opinion on how long that keeps up? IMHO, most shows peak during their 2nd or 3rd season and only go downhill after that (with or without a shark jump).
Which brings me to "Soap," an old favorite that I'm rewatching through the magic of Streaming Netflix. I happened on this show (already in nightly reruns) about the time that Mary got pregnant by that space alien, and I thought it was the funniest show I had ever seen. Watching it from the beginning is a little sobering. The first few episodes are sort of awkward and embarrassing, with each new character bearing the obvious signs of a marathon drug-fueled high-concept brainstorming session among the show's creators. I'm 8 episodes in, and the huge ensemble cast is finally in place, settling into their characters, and starting to build the synergy that made this show so great. The change starts with the chemistry between Burt and Danny, who have now moved beyond simple food fights into a complex choreography of slapstick that is magical to watch. Billy Crystal as Jody is still over-playing his "first recurring gay TV character" as a prancing queen, but is starting to lose the over-the-top mannerisms and settle into his role as the only sane one in the family. Somehow the introduction of Chuck-n-Bob in episode 8 completed the transition of the Campbell clan from a collection of individually mugging physical comedians into a cohesive ensemble troupe.
Over at the Tate mansion the energies are still scattered. I suspect that Richard Mulligan, the actor that plays Burt, is the key to the comedic cohesiveness of the Campbell household. There are some good comic actors in the Tate household, but at this point in the series they seem to be working at cross purposes to each other - more scene stealing than ensemble acting.
Which brings me to "Soap," an old favorite that I'm rewatching through the magic of Streaming Netflix. I happened on this show (already in nightly reruns) about the time that Mary got pregnant by that space alien, and I thought it was the funniest show I had ever seen. Watching it from the beginning is a little sobering. The first few episodes are sort of awkward and embarrassing, with each new character bearing the obvious signs of a marathon drug-fueled high-concept brainstorming session among the show's creators. I'm 8 episodes in, and the huge ensemble cast is finally in place, settling into their characters, and starting to build the synergy that made this show so great. The change starts with the chemistry between Burt and Danny, who have now moved beyond simple food fights into a complex choreography of slapstick that is magical to watch. Billy Crystal as Jody is still over-playing his "first recurring gay TV character" as a prancing queen, but is starting to lose the over-the-top mannerisms and settle into his role as the only sane one in the family. Somehow the introduction of Chuck-n-Bob in episode 8 completed the transition of the Campbell clan from a collection of individually mugging physical comedians into a cohesive ensemble troupe.
Over at the Tate mansion the energies are still scattered. I suspect that Richard Mulligan, the actor that plays Burt, is the key to the comedic cohesiveness of the Campbell household. There are some good comic actors in the Tate household, but at this point in the series they seem to be working at cross purposes to each other - more scene stealing than ensemble acting.
