Wheels and the Legman
Oct. 4th, 2010 12:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vovatThe Simpsons episode had a decent premise, but the ending seemed a little rushed. I guess I should give it credit for tying up the loose ends, but it was just a little too quick and obvious. Still, it did make me want to see Nelson succeed at his business, so that's something. The episode loses a few more points in that Abe giving his family their inheritance while they were still alive was already the catalyst for "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy." I guess it's possible that he earned that $200 since then, though. The Homer and Marge plot didn't really go anywhere, but the scene in the restaurant and the Chris Hansen appearance were amusing enough. So overall, I guess it was okay. Hooray for adequacy!
Family Guy was kind of weird, in that Rush Limbaugh actually playing a major part on a typically left-leaning show was unexpected and a little awkward. It seems like the writers made an effort to be careful with the dialogue, because they really didn't do much to make fun of him, and instead presented him as a nice enough guy who just happens to believe different things. I suppose that would be fine if Rush weren't all about getting people to agree with him without thinking about it beforehand, which is exactly what he came out against in the episode. But hey, I guess he should get some credit for even agreeing to do the show, even if it was just for the money. And I think it did do a good job of exposing the side of Brian that's been hinted at in other episodes, which is that while his beliefs are quite close to Seth MacFarlane's own (and mine, for that matter), he often holds those beliefs without really thinking them through. It's odd how he's developed from being the voice of reason on the show into kind of a shallow jerk who's largely a self-parody of Seth, but I guess all the characters have changed quite a bit. Well, maybe not so much Peter, although I think even he comes across as more disconnected from his family than he was in the early days of the show. He was never a good father, certainly, but with a few exceptions it seems like he now has pretty much no emotional attachment to his kids whatsoever.
I'm glad American Dad is back for another season. Only occasionally do I come across people talking about it, and I didn't like it much myself at first, but it grew on me. I appreciate that there's more of an effort to keep the style of humor distinct from FG. Sure, there are similarities, but it doesn't have the same "hey, it's the same show with some different characters" vibe that the Cleveland Show does. Hayley getting married was an interesting development, but one that I don't think will alter the show that much. Also, I was just thinking of Stan's best friend who became a Satanist, so it's weird that he would reappear, even if it was just to die. I have to wonder if they'll do anything else with the principal having gone crazy in later episodes. Probably not, but it would be interesting if they did.
Family Guy was kind of weird, in that Rush Limbaugh actually playing a major part on a typically left-leaning show was unexpected and a little awkward. It seems like the writers made an effort to be careful with the dialogue, because they really didn't do much to make fun of him, and instead presented him as a nice enough guy who just happens to believe different things. I suppose that would be fine if Rush weren't all about getting people to agree with him without thinking about it beforehand, which is exactly what he came out against in the episode. But hey, I guess he should get some credit for even agreeing to do the show, even if it was just for the money. And I think it did do a good job of exposing the side of Brian that's been hinted at in other episodes, which is that while his beliefs are quite close to Seth MacFarlane's own (and mine, for that matter), he often holds those beliefs without really thinking them through. It's odd how he's developed from being the voice of reason on the show into kind of a shallow jerk who's largely a self-parody of Seth, but I guess all the characters have changed quite a bit. Well, maybe not so much Peter, although I think even he comes across as more disconnected from his family than he was in the early days of the show. He was never a good father, certainly, but with a few exceptions it seems like he now has pretty much no emotional attachment to his kids whatsoever.
I'm glad American Dad is back for another season. Only occasionally do I come across people talking about it, and I didn't like it much myself at first, but it grew on me. I appreciate that there's more of an effort to keep the style of humor distinct from FG. Sure, there are similarities, but it doesn't have the same "hey, it's the same show with some different characters" vibe that the Cleveland Show does. Hayley getting married was an interesting development, but one that I don't think will alter the show that much. Also, I was just thinking of Stan's best friend who became a Satanist, so it's weird that he would reappear, even if it was just to die. I have to wonder if they'll do anything else with the principal having gone crazy in later episodes. Probably not, but it would be interesting if they did.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 05:38 am (UTC)Simpsons was OK -- not bad, and I like that the Nobel Prize Winning Guy was really voiced by the Nobel Prize Winning Guy. That was actually pretty cool. I do like the idea of the Micro-loans, and I've thought about investing that way myself. (Though not to Nelson.) The Marge plot, though, was... yeah, just kinda there. I was surprised they didn't lampshade the Abe stuff, considering that until the fifty-dollar reveal it was almost the original scene from "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy" verbatim.
Did Family Guy do a single cutaway gag? I'm trying to think, but I think this one was pretty much all plot. Wiggy! It was pretty decent, I thought -- better than the bulk of the overly mean last season. I was a little surprised Limbaugh agreed to a lot of his lines. Sometimes I think he might be an OK guy.... but then he goes and does something horrible like whatever the racist thing about football players he said a while ago. So, yeah, I'm pretty sure he's a creep, but once in a while he slips up and does something OK.
....and after... what, five, six years? I've finally come around to actually enjoying American Dad. I'm glad it's back. I'd be bummed if they cancelled it for Cleveland because, man, that show is so boring. At least when it's not making fun of itself for being boring. But yeah -- I dug the Legs & The Wheelman stuff, particularly Roger ripped on Turkish Amphetamines and cheese puffs. And the payoff was kinda cool with the Mad^6 World bit going into Chitty Chitty Bang Bang of all things. So, yeah. I actually like American Dad. Wiggy.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-04 09:00 pm (UTC)I don't think there were any cutaway gags in that episode, which I see as a good thing when there's a real story to tell (as with this episode), but not so much when the plot is weak. As for Limbaugh, I get the impression that he and his ilk believe very little of what they say. Not that they're secretly not Republicans or anything, but they seriously exaggerate their beliefs because it brings in the listeners. But occasionally something will slip out that doesn't seem to be part of the script and IS really offensive, like racist comments both Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly have made.