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Good and bad things about the Middleman - part 1 (the bad)

posted 10 years ago by madp
11 replies | jump to latest

STUFF THAT BOTHERED ME ABOUT THE MIDDLEMAN

The facts are these: sometimes you just fall in love with a show. The show and you click together in such a way that no matter what crappy work the writers do later, you’re willing to forgive and forget, and just look at the bright side. Lazy writing, flat characters, clichés, nothing will faze you. It’s because something in the show was done so right and you connected with it so much that nothing else matters.

Unfortunately for TV producers, that’s not what happens with most viewers, though. Those have to be seduced and conquered, and several things may get in the way. You may even enjoy the premise very much, but if a whole bunch of things start bothering you, you might just as easily leave the show and never watch it again. And this may explain why a show gets cancelled in its infancy.

My opinion doesn't represent any but my own, but I can identify with those who tried to enjoy the show, but always found something bothering them. Let’s see, a humorous show about a comic-book-like character and science fiction. What’s NOT to like? Apparently this show was made for me. What could possibly have gone wrong? Let’s consider what those may issues might have been:

- The problems started very early, even in the pilot, and the improvements took a long while to come. I’ll list a few of the problems here, and unfortunately the problems preceded the rewards. This can be a real problem with impatient viewers. Possible solution: show the goodies as soon as possible! If the writers had something good in store, present it in the first four or five episodes. Don’t keep something good hidden too long. You may not have the chance to show it after all.

- There were many uninteresting elements that burdened the cool central premise. OK, so we had a comic book character and science fiction. But we also had to deal with bohemian hipsters, ridiculous forms of animal rights protest, art exhibitions, girl talk, and a conservative sense of humor. For somebody to fully enjoy the show I suppose they would have to enjoy all of these dissonant elements, which would be unlikely, or at least not to be bothered by the elements they don’t care about. I had problems with many of those. Possible solution: focus on the sci-fi cases, and go easy in the personal life stuff.

- Too many hipster bohemians. As I said earlier, I don’t particularly identify with these characters, and by that I mean not at all. Possible solution: Add a main character who is more work-driven and a nerd. Reach different audiences.

- Inconvenient political humor. The problem with that is that if you actually believe in global warming (or at least believe we’re screwing with the environment and those problems are somehow our fault) and see people behave like fools because they believe in global warming, then you feel like they are calling you a fool. Also, if you don’t think “communist” is a dirty word that works as a punchline, even if you’re not a communist yourself, that kind of joke falls flat. And if you admire George Takei, a joke associating him with an evil universe is even hard to understand. Possible solution: that’s easy. Make Wendy a liberal and The Middleman a conservative. Let them confront and contrast their views in funny exchanges. When two characters disagree, we have constructive diversity of opinions. When all characters think the same, they become mouthpieces for the writers’ political views.

- Ethnical stereotyping. Unfortunately that happened a lot in the beginning. Even if it was dropped later, that might have been too late. So we began with stereotypical Italian gangsters and stereotypical Mexican gangsters. Possible solution: Americans are very good at making jokes about themselves. Make it a gang about some typically American group for a change. Show that anyone can be a target of their humor, not just foreigners.

- Too much ridiculousness. That’s very subjective, I know. For some people, the more ridiculous, the better, I know, but I doubt that strategy will work with a greater audience. And sometimes the show abused the idea of being ridiculous. A talking gorilla planning crimes in a lab may be funny. Put the same gorilla brandishing a machine gun, wearing shiny necklaces and leading a gang of Italians, is too over the top. Possible solution: If they have to have those extreme ridiculous moments, make them count. Make them fewer so they catch us by surprise when they happen.

- The Middleman didn’t have a nemesis. None of the villains were really impressive, and in the end they were all defeated by MM and WW. Manservant Neville had the potential to be a Lex Luthor figure, but in one episode he appeared he did very little, and in the other, he was actually a nice guy (though that was his mirror universe counterpart). The writers might have been preparing something big for him later. Well, too little too late if that’s the case. Possible solution: make the Middleman lose at least once. Let an enemy escape to come back later. And if there's going to be a big baddie, show him in the first episodes. Don't wait until the show has been cancelled.

- Damned reset button. Often when we had a major development which would imply in character development, things got back to “normal” in the end. MM and WW faced Ida’s death? No problem, they got a new one. MM and Lacey started a romance that would shake the Middleman’s foundations? They broke up, or Lacey was brainwashed to forget all about it. Possible solution: let the chips fall where they may. Put the characters in impossible situations and let the characters learn how to deal with the consequences.

- A comedy in a drama or dramedy format. Traditionally comedies only last 22 minutes on American TV. Shows that last longer normally have real drama elements. Possible solution: make it a real dramedy, with some real, though occasional, dramatic situations. Make the stakes higher. Make the characters’ loss real. Make us think the characters may actually lose something in the battle against evil. Make their negative emotions real and touching, even if the show is mostly giddy.

- Unlikable characters. Personally, I had problems with Wendy. She’s not particularly attractive, and not particularly likable. I liked the Middleman and Ida. I learned to like Lacy when she abandoned her silly protest routines. Other characters added later were good though (Tyler and Pip). But I had serious problems with Noser and Wendy never got me rooting for her. Yeah, I know she’s a strong young female and possible a model for girls watching the show. Possible solution: improve the Lacey character by making her more believable and make her more relevant to the story, other than just being Wendy’s soundboard. Why does Tyler have to be a musician? We already have Noser, who is a musician. Tyler could be a more work-driven character from the beginning and he could even be recruited as another Middleman assistant, or even a spy in Neville's organization. He’s an interesting character, and the actor did a great job.

- A cascade of irrelevant pop culture references. References are nice and we all enjoy them. But too much is too much. So we had a Joe 90. Why? Any connection with the Joe 90 show? No, none. It’s just for us to laugh at the pronunciation of his name. There were many other gags like this. Possible solution: make the references fewer and meaningful to the story.

- Some jokes were repeated to death, and others that should were not. How many versions of the “clueless in front” gag have we seen? And did we have to be reminded every single time that it was an illegal sublet blah blah…? At what point did that stop being funny and was just there because we expected it to be there? On the other hand, MM drank milk. That’s important because it involved the character’s essence. But the writers dropped that completely. Possible solution: use common sense! Invest in the jokes that affect characterization.

- Borrowed style. This is not just me saying. TV.com recommends as “similar shows and movies” Wonderfalls (2004), Pushing Daisies (2007), Better Off Ted (2009), The Unusuals (2009), and The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984). And imdb.com adds Eureka (2006), Eli Stone (2008) and Torchwood (2006). Of these, the ones I've found greater similarities with the Middleman were Pushing Daisies, Wonderfalls and Buckaroo Banzai. The thing is The Middleman kind of reminded me of a Bryan Fuller show, with the difference that when Wonderfalls and Pushing Daisies first aired, I had that feeling that it was something fresh and new (even if ideas are constantly reused in the entertainment industry). But because Daisies had first aired a year earlier than Middleman, that novelty feeling was not there anymore. Call it coincidence, bad timing, bad luck, whatever, but The Middleman made me constantly think of Pushing Daisies, Men in Black and Warehouse 13. Possible solution: perhaps restudy the style of the show? Postpone its air date by a couple of years?

Tomorrow: the good stuff. This I enjoyed about the Middleman. And no, it’s not going to be a three-line list.

[–] charmedwon666 10 years ago

Make Wendy a liberal and The Middleman a conservative. Let them confront and contrast their views in funny exchanges. When two characters disagree, we have constructive diversity of opinions. When all characters think the same, they become mouthpieces for the writers’ political views.

I found Wendy and MM to be at odds quite a bit. disagreeing all the time.

Ethnical stereotyping. Unfortunately that happened a lot in the beginning. Even if it was dropped later, that might have been too late. So we began with stereotypical Italian gangsters and stereotypical Mexican gangsters. Possible solution: Americans are very good at making jokes about themselves. Make it a gang about some typically American group for a change. Show that anyone can be a target of their humor, not just foreigners.

Ok, here we go....I'm going to say it and I'm sure I'll be branded as a bigot racist or what ever but here goes...... I think people have become to sensitized to any little thing almost like they are spring loaded in a gotcha position and no matter what is presented they will always find something offensive, bullying or stereo typing about it......Sometimes a hotdog is just a hotdog. Sometimes the most intolerant people in the world turn out to be the ones preaching tolerance. One of the hottest comedies going right now on American television is Modern family. it pokes fun at many things about gay lifestyles, older man younger woman (Caucasian and Latina), married couple, you name it and it's funny, that's all just funny. not malicious just funny.

Overall there is nothing that can be done when someone doesn't like a Show, believe me when I say I know how you feel. This bothered me from the start because I so wanted all to enjoy it. It became evident early on that wasn't going to be the case. There was plenty about it I didn't like either but as you pointed out I was able to overlook it because I liked the over all picture. I found Wendy to be likeable and attractive. I thought she was tough, strong and fallible. all the things that make for a good character. I found MM to be clever, confident, self sacrificing and likeable. again all the things that make a good character. I wish we could have all liked it and I do want thank you all for giving it a chance and it was fun for me to get to watch it. Perhaps our next show will be an all for everyone show. fingers crossed.

http://codenamestone.blogspot.com/

[–] madp 10 years ago

Make Wendy a liberal and The Middleman a conservative. Let them confront and contrast their views in funny exchanges. When two characters disagree, we have constructive diversity of opinions. When all characters think the same, they become mouthpieces for the writers’ political views.

I found Wendy and MM to be at odds quite a bit. disagreeing all the time.

Funny, not the way i saw it. When the Middleman came up with the silly "global warming" excuse, Wendy jumped right on it, and they actually seemed to be having a kick out of that. And when Wendy made a joke about the Carter Administration or the fact Brecht was a communist, MM took that very naturally and didn't express opposing political views. I think the show would've been much more enriching had they disagreed on such issues.

Ok, here we go....I'm going to say it and I'm sure I'll be branded as a bigot racist or what ever but here goes...... I think people have become to sensitized to any little thing almost like they are spring loaded in a gotcha position and no matter what is presented they will always find something offensive, bullying or stereo typing about it......Sometimes a hotdog is just a hotdog. Sometimes the most intolerant people in the world turn out to be the ones preaching tolerance. One of the hottest comedies going right now on American television is Modern family. it pokes fun at many things about gay lifestyles, older man younger woman (Caucasian and Latina), married couple, you name it and it's funny, that's all just funny. not malicious just funny.

First I don't think Caucasian and Latino(a) are mutually exclusive, so I don't see how they could be two separate groups (like saying Caucasians and Americans), but that's another story.

Yes, I agree there's a lot of intolerance disguised as tolerance. But again, the initial impression the show gave me in that area was very unfavorable with the Italians and Mexicans chosen as groups of gangsters. As for Modern Family, I think they try to please everyone by placing a gay couple, an Asian adoptee, a loud, emotional and sexy Latina (all stereotypes you can imnagine, which grates me) married to an older man. But perhaps one of the gay guys could be black...

Overall there is nothing that can be done when someone doesn't like a Show, believe me when I say I know how you feel.

Yeah, especially for the shows we choose. I mean, one-season cancelled shows. I'm sure they usually need major fixing... And since this is what we do here, try to enjoy and analyze them, that's what I did with this comment.

This bothered me from the start because I so wanted all to enjoy it. It became evident early on that wasn't going to be the case. There was plenty about it I didn't like either but as you pointed out I was able to overlook it because I liked the over all picture.

I feel exactly the same way. We all wish everybody would enjoy a show that is picked. When that doesn't happen, it's a real pity. And I apologize if I sounded rude sometimes, but the thing is, if I don't get emotionally involved doing this (an excellent distraction to life's real problems), I wouldn't do it at all.

I found Wendy to be likeable and attractive. I thought she was tough, strong and fallible. all the things that make for a good character. I found MM to be clever, confident, self sacrificing and likeable. again all the things that make a good character.

I agree with you about MM (well, you haven't seen the second part of my post-show review - the things I liked!), and we agree to disagree about Wendy. The thing is, if most viewers thought about the characters the same thing you do, I bet it wouldn't have been cancelled.

Likewise, I think you had more clarity than I to point out the flaws in Dark Skies, for the same reason. After all, the reasons for it to be cancelled were all there.

I wish we could have all liked it and I do want thank you all for giving it a chance and it was fun for me to get to watch it. Perhaps our next show will be an all for everyone show. fingers crossed.

It was a fun ride anyway. One way or another it was fun.

[–] charmedwon666 10 years ago

First I don't think Caucasian and Latino(a) are mutually exclusive, so I don't see how they could be two separate groups (like saying Caucasians and Americans), but that's another story.

Yeah your right, bad choice of words there. American and Latina is correct.

http://codenamestone.blogspot.com/

[–] dtmuller 10 years ago

- Inconvenient political humor. The problem with that is that if you actually believe in global warming (or at least believe we’re screwing with the environment and those problems are somehow our fault) and see people behave like fools because they believe in global warming, then you feel like they are calling you a fool. Also, if you don’t think “communist” is a dirty word that works as a punchline, even if you’re not a communist yourself, that kind of joke falls flat. And if you admire George Takei, a joke associating him with an evil universe is even hard to understand. Possible solution: that’s easy. Make Wendy a liberal and The Middleman a conservative. Let them confront and contrast their views in funny exchanges. When two characters disagree, we have constructive diversity of opinions. When all characters think the same, they become mouthpieces for the writers’ political views.

Welcome to television comedy. The problem is that if you actually believe in Christianity and see people behave like fools because they believe in Christianity, then you feel like they are calling you a fool. Also, if you don’t think “conservative” is a dirty word that works as a punchline, even if you’re not a conservative yourself, that kind of joke falls flat. And if you admire John Wayne, a joke associating him with an evil universe is even hard to understand.

Get the point? As has been pointed out previously, television is loaded with programming that shows a strong leftward bias. And yet, somehow, folks on the right not only survive, but actually enjoy it.

There were maybe three jokes in the entire series that you keep coming back to as evidence of political bias. Come on! Is one joke for every four episodes really that much of a problem? I think the heat's getting to you, my friend.

[–] madp 10 years ago

by dtmuller » 2 hours ago (Sun Feb 9 2014 04:06:49)
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Welcome to television comedy. The problem is that if you actually believe in Christianity and see people behave like fools because they believe in Christianity, then you feel like they are calling you a fool. Also, if you don’t think “conservative” is a dirty word that works as a punchline, even if you’re not a conservative yourself, that kind of joke falls flat. And if you admire John Wayne, a joke associating him with an evil universe is even hard to understand.

Get the point?

Totally! But the thing is I'm criticizing THIS show, not all the others. When we watch the others, which by luck we haven't seen yet, I promise i'll be as fierce. All I can tell is that so far I think John Wayne's reputation remains intact.

As has been pointed out previously, television is loaded with programming that shows a strong leftward bias.

Hmmmm. I don't know if I can feel comfortable with quoting all those unnamed shows as basis for your argument. All I can tell is that we seem to have missed them in our little group. Name one. Even "God, the Devil and Bob," a show I criticized a lot) the one in which a few people (or many people) say God looks like Jerry Garcia I found mild in any criticism one way or the other, especially because... Who the heck is Jerry Garcia? I have no idea. So he just looked like a laidback and casual God, that's all.

AS for saying "all shows have a leftwing bias, so we're going to make this with a rightwing one" that seems to me like the motto of Fox News: all news group are liberal-biased, so we'll go to the other side to keep things "fair and balanced." I might be touching a sensitive area here so I apologize in advance if there are any Fox News viewers in this group, but I studied journalism and that wasn't exactly a respected newssource.

OK, OK. next time why don't we watch THE NEWSROOM and I PROMISE I'1l be outraged by Will McAvoy's rants on republicans.

And yet, somehow, folks on the right not only survive, but actually enjoy it.

That's another interesting point. Of course, while The Simpsons attack Chief Wiggun and My Burns, the police and the industrialists survive just fine. of course, the real power is outside the TV. Powerful figures will always be powerful even if they are ridiculed on TV.

There were maybe three jokes in the entire series that you keep coming back to as evidence of political bias. Come on! Is one joke for every four episodes really that much of a problem? I think the heat's getting to you, my friend.

Well, in my last review I wasn't saying much new. I was making a summary and writing final conclusions, so I repeated a lot of things I'd said before. And possibly depending on the joke, a single joke may be able to ruin your whole appreciation of the episode, perhaps the whole show. And I'm not sure what "the heat is getting me means," but I thought we were supposed to write our feelings and impressions on the show, and that's what I did. You turned off and apparently slept, while I was bothered. Who's to say your reaction was more appropriate than mine?

[–] dtmuller 10 years ago

But the thing is I'm criticizing THIS show, not all the others.

And yet you've failed to mention any of the incidents of leftward bias in this one.

AS for saying "all shows have a leftwing bias, so we're going to make this with a rightwing one"

Who said that? Not me. Not anyone else in this group. Not anyone connected with the show, as far as I know.

And I'm not sure what "the heat is getting me means,"

Just means I think you're really reaching on a couple of points, and maybe the 35 C is making you a little crotchety. Much like the 0 F is starting to do to me. (I've had to clear snow every #$%&^#!@ day for over a week now.)

... but I thought we were supposed to write our feelings and impressions on the show, and that's what I did. You turned off and apparently slept, while I was bothered. Who's to say your reaction was more appropriate than mine?

Nothing whatsoever! We both have opinions, and they are just that. Of equal value (or lack thereof). Just like Coke and Pepsi. Well, not really. Anybody who actually thinks Coke is better, well, what can I say?

********

On an unrelated note, my mother-in-law just last week moved into a new senior citizen apartment complex. One of the first women she met there was named Ida. Should I be concerned?

[–] madp 10 years ago

by dtmuller » 16 minutes ago (Sun Feb 9 2014 16:36:15)
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But the thing is I'm criticizing THIS show, not all the others.

And yet you've failed to mention any of the incidents of leftward bias in this one.

Well, in my reviews of good and bad things, I mentioned the things that bothered and pleased ME, not the things that YOU thought should have been mentioned as well, so no, I don't think I failed mentioning anything I found relevant. I think I've been very thorough, but if you think something is still missing, please feel free to write an additional review of your own. I'd be more than glad to read it. But what I had to say has about this has been said. My job is done.

But you're right about one thing at least. If I were you I'd sleep with at least one eye open considering there's an Ida in the same building...

[–] brimfin 10 years ago

AS for saying "all shows have a leftwing bias, so we're going to make this with a rightwing one" that seems to me like the motto of Fox News: all news group are liberal-biased, so we'll go to the other side to keep things "fair and balanced." I might be touching a sensitive area here so I apologize in advance if there are any Fox News viewers in this group, but I studied journalism and that wasn't exactly a respected newssource. (madp)

I can’t let a statement like that pass unchallenged. I watch the Fox News Channel a lot. I hear both sides of all issues on it, and they have several commentators who clearly and unapologetically lean left – and several that lean right as well. I consider that being fair and balanced as they advertise. I find most of the other news channels lean left – and they are the very ones that constantly complain that FOX news leans right, but insist that they don’t lean left. That's all I'm going to say about it, as I don't want to drag the political discussion on and on.

[–] madp 10 years ago

by brimfin » 8 hours ago (Thu Feb 13 2014 03:23:20)
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I can’t let a statement like that pass unchallenged. I watch the Fox News Channel a lot. I hear both sides of all issues on it, and they have several commentators who clearly and unapologetically lean left – and several that lean right as well. I consider that being fair and balanced as they advertise.

I admit most of the criticism I get about FOX News nowadays is from other media sources, like, say, Jon Stewart, so those sources can be highly criticized too. All I can say is that in the journalism department of the university where I studied, Fox was never taken seriously as a responsible news source, at least internationally. That left me feeling you's have to be American, and of a certain political inclination to appreciate what they do. I have to say I respect those professors.

But of course, Brazil (as well as most South American countries that were afflicted by anti-communist military dictatorships) leans towards left, and way beyond the left you'd consider prudent in the US. This is why when someone says that American news channels lean left in the US I find it a funny statement and imagine one of the editions of the World Social Forum that have happened in Porto Alegre, my hometown, and you'd see young people with T-shirts, one saying "Marx" and another, "Che Guevara," and then another would have a shirt saying, "This is CNN International." The image is funny and impossible and can't be reconciled with our political reality. For Brazilians, left is, well, really left, if you know what I mean. Anyway, in this context, a Brazilian and an american, no matter how fair and balanced they considered themselves, would never agree much on anything.

Personally, I'm always arguing against this left wave that is sweeping Brazil, and here I'm considered quite conservative, I vote for candidates that identify themselves with a position known as "center" and never vote for communist candidates, and believe me there are many. I have a cousin that frown upon with the amount of American friends I have and how well I get along with Americans, especially because his pastime is to speak ill of the USA... But I guess if I lived in an American context, that conservative/capitalist approach would not be quite possible. Well something to consider if I even get to live in the US one day, not one of my top priorities right now.

Back to Fox news, once we had it among our cable channels, so I got some first-hand experience. I remember they spoke about the military all the time. There was often some military expert, or interview with soldiers, some emotional piece, something brought by some embedded journalist. And I would see the American flag a lot. But of course, the bias of the reports was always in favor of the American military, never the local population that would have problems with the military presence in their land.

I also remember TV hosts that would yell, something I had never seen before, would speak loudly at their guests (which I found disrespectful, after all why invite someone to your program to yell at them?) and wold often not let the guest finish their answers (also rude and bad journalism). But again, that was for a few months only, so they might have changed.

I find most of the other news channels lean left – and they are the very ones that constantly complain that FOX news leans right, but insist that they don’t lean left. That's all I'm going to say about it, as I don't want to drag the political discussion on and on.

The impression I got from CNN (which I watched much longer) is that they were impartial and professional, but often gave opinions they simply knew little about, especially when they would talk about some South American issue and didn't seem to rely on local news sources to understand the problem and the culture of the place.

When I lived in the US I used to enjoy news shows like 20/20, Dateline and 60 Minutes not so much because of their views, but because they where well-made and entertaining, like a thrilling story. But that was a long time ago.

Anyway, I agree I don't want to drag a political discussion on and on. The best thing is that we're here, two people with different views who are able to discuss a touchy and controversial topic and even with difference of opinions keep it civilized. That's the best part of all.

[–] brimfin 10 years ago

The best thing is that we're here, two people with different views who are able to discuss a touchy and controversial topic and even with difference of opinions keep it civilized. That's the best part of all. (madp)

I agree with that wholeheartedly and look forward to our commentaries on the next show we choose.

[–] tseybert 10 years ago

I watch the Fox News Channel a lot. I hear both sides of all issues on it, and they have several commentators who clearly and unapologetically lean left

Who would that be?

Janet! Donkeys!