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This Friday ep 11: “The Clotharian Contamination Protocol”

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

AIRED: 8/25/08

Infested by evil Clotharian nanobots from outer space, Ida dupes The Middleman and Wendy into initiating a lockdown at Middleman HQ.

(Well, that actually sounds pretty good, especially with Mark Sheppard with a character name as inspired as "Manservant Neville." But... Will the episode also feature Noser and the whole bohemian artists shenanigans? Hmmm...)

STARRING

Matt Keeslar
The Middleman

Natalie Morales
Wendy Watson

Brit Morgan
Lacey Thornfield

Mary Pat Gleason
Ida

Jake Smollett
Noser

Brendan Hines
Tyler Ford

Mark Sheppard
Manservant Neville

Alan Smyth
Maximum Aldwin

Leland Crooke
Chairman

Chris Ufland
Mr. Lethbridge-Stewart

[–] brimfin 10 years ago

I was interrupted this morning while watching this, so had to stop about 2/3 of the way through. I’ll comment on that portion right now, and then follow up tomorrow to see if they came to a good finish.

Off to a good start to far. I had to go back and re-read the opening graphics. Instead of a typical identifying of something we already know, it actually references a mysterious inevitable detonation. Fun. Poor Ethan gives a one-man show for a one-woman audience (Wendy couldn’t even get her Mom to come apparently). Just as they’re munching on fine cuisine, along comes the “clueless up front” gag. But wait, Ethan actually notices what goes on in the background and joins in by performing a rescue, and later Wendy catches on as well. Nice change of pace; I approve.

Does this show recruit future villains or what? Sensei Ping turned out to be the future Wo Fat. Now the rescued man here turns out to be Crowley from SUPERNATURAL. He’s currently vying to retain his seat as King of Hell, if you don’t watch the show. (And if you don’t watch it, you’re missing one awesome show!) Turns out he’s some famous billionaire named Manservant who runs a company called Fatboy's which builds Youmaster devices from recycled materials. It’s not clear what they do exactly, but they look like the Doomsday box from THE OUTER LIMITS, so I’d avoid looking in them. I half expected those devices would be the threat in this episode, but so far not. Wouldn’t surprise me if they surface as a danger either later on or maybe next week.

Meantime, Wendy and MM are called on because of a Voyager probe crash on Earth (and close by – wasn’t that lucky?). I’m getting used to and enjoying the banter, including MM’s attempt to sound angry with clean language, although he actually says “manure” this week. Loved the way he handled the NASA guys and how they dropped the Lethbridge Stewart reference. (He was DOCTOR WHO’s earthbound contact in the original series.) Also liked the reference of the gloved hands as triple-strength prophylactics to which Wendy says please don’t call them that again.

Horrors! At HQ, the device explodes and Interrodroid 5000 bites the dust, the first of two to lose its head in this entry. (One wonders how high the Interrodroid model would have hit if this had been a long-running show.) Wendy is forced to get down to her skinny little bra and panties, while MM retains a t-shirt and boxer shorts - which seemed a little sexist. But moments later he’s totally naked, as it turns out they have to give each other their own scrub-downs. Of course, we don’t see that part, but Wendy did look hot in the prelims.

Uh-oh, IDA is infected by the virus and turns really mean. Wendy and MM have to escape in the ventilation shaft which is ridiculously big. “Who are these buildings designed by – TV writers?” comments Dub Dub, in so far my favorite line. Soon they’re so big you can stand up in them, and so can Interrodroid 6000 - who attacks them before meeting the same fate as the 5000. MM makes a reference to the old IDA/new IDA from a few eps back and also shows WW his code 47 messages referencing several old episode. This show does keep track of its prior history.

Meanwhile, Ethan is sent on to Fatboy’s, with a hilarious rooftop logo, where he undergoes similar testing to the Middleman type. In his interview, I caught the mispronunciation of Manservant as well, but Ethan had a whole slew of things he observed beyond that. Looks like he’s passed the test – now what? (Anybody else thinking what a good MM he would have made?) And could Manservant turn out to be some sort of anti-Middleman?

Back at headquarters, MM contacts the Clotharians who are behind the nefarious plot. I enjoyed their logic – our probe accidentally photographed their secret headquarters. Bad enough you inflict our airwaves with your reality shows and cooking contests, the Clotharian complains, now you’re becoming intergalactic voyeurs. Also loved how he had been promoted from “High” to “Maximum”. Okay, all great so far. If they can finish off as good as they started, this episode will have my highest rating yet. To be concluded tomorrow.

[–] brimfin 10 years ago

I was hoping the last third of the episode would be as good as the first two-thirds, but it wasn’t. It was better! A FANTASTIC VOYAGE spoof, or more accurately a spoof of the LOST IN SPACE episode “Trip Through the Robot” wherein Will enter a giant sized robot and tries to shrink it back to size – risking getting crushed when it returns to normal size. (Yes, I confess, I grew up watching LOST IN SPACE and it remains one of my all-time favorite shows. Having missed the Guy Goddard in-joke two weeks ago, I was glad to have caught this one.)

Wendy wearing the Interrodroid shell and fumbling around trying to pick something up. IDA wondering which one is real then saying “I don’t care,” and fortunately disintegrating the real one first. Wendy being shrunk and sent up IDA’s nose. Cross wondering what’s up IDA’s nose off my life-list, she declares. Wendy in a leotard, distracting the nanobots with a shiny object, entering IDA’s brain and finding – sweet IDA! Great stuff.

But there’s more – the secret entrance to the pneumatic tube to 2TSTK is revealed. Wendy records a genuinely touching Code 47 message for MM. But it’s not a dramatic cheat like “dead IDA” in the earlier show. She figures out a brilliant (and wickedly plausible) way to escape! The world is saved just in the nick of time. Awesome!

As for Ethan, he does take the job with Manservant. I suspect that is leading up to something more sinister in a future episode (which means either next week or never.)

So I officially award this episode 4 nanobots, 3 Interrodroids, 2 IDA bodies, and 1 nice IDA brain – for a total of 10 or an A plus. Congratulations, MM. You have officially blown my mind.

[–] madp 10 years ago

by brimfin » (Fri Jan 31 2014 16:37:56) and (Sat Feb 1 2014 06:20:34)
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Your review is so descriptive, it's excellent to revisit a few points.

a company called Fatboy's which builds Youmaster devices from recycled materials. It’s not clear what they do exactly, but they look like the Doomsday box from THE OUTER LIMITS,

The new or the old OUTER LIMITS? Which episode? Anyway, I wouldn't know, since I have a uMaestro instead.

Meantime, Wendy and MM are called on because of a Voyager probe crash on Earth

Nobody has mentioned so far, but it was obviously a reference to Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979). "What if it came back to judge its makers, has already judged and found them wanting?" One of the best quotes.

Wendy is forced to get down to her skinny little bra and panties, while MM retains a t-shirt and boxer shorts - which seemed a little sexist. But moments later he’s totally naked, as it turns out they have to give each other their own scrub-downs.

I was wondering if that could be a reference to the Enterprise (2001) episode in which T'Pol and Commander Tucker have to do the exact the same thing after a possible contamination. At the time the scene was criticized as showing gratuitous partial nudity.

Meanwhile, Ethan is sent on to Fatboy’s, with a hilarious rooftop logo,

Yeah, yeah, hilarious imitation. Sorry even now that I'm all positive and fun, I can't let that one slide. By the way, his name is Tyler, not Ethan. Where did you get Ethan from?

Bad enough you inflict our airwaves with your reality shows and cooking contests, the Clotharian complains, now you’re becoming intergalactic voyeurs.

The Clotharian's outfit really reminds me of Londo Mollari's outfit in Babylon 5 (1994), while the whole excuse to destroy the earth sounded like the silly reason they gave in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005).

A FANTASTIC VOYAGE spoof, or more accurately a spoof of the LOST IN SPACE episode “Trip Through the Robot” wherein Will enter a giant sized robot and tries to shrink it back to size

Yes, I remember that one well. At the time I wondered how convenient they had a panel to get into the robot through its foot, and how things looked correctly placed, even though the robot was lying on its back. Now I wonder why The Middleman instead of saying in its captions "it's like Fantastic Voyage, but in an android," didn't just say "it's like Lost in Space's Trip 'Through the Robot.' This show makes plenty of movie references, and acknowledges them, some more explicitly than others, but when it comes to referencing TV shows, it borders plagiarism. Right now the only one I remember they did acknowledge the TV show is "a certain cancelled TV show from the 1960s you probably never heard of."

But there’s more – the secret entrance to the pneumatic tube to 2TSTK is revealed.

It's O2STK - Organization Too Secret To Know.

Well, you certainly gave me something to think about. Perhaps I was too harsh in my judgment. The thing is, The Middleman has lots of good stuff, but also lots of stuff that irritate tremendously. Kind of like when you're trying to enjoy a good party when you have a toothache. All you can think about is the toothache. Right, charmed? (In case you're reading this.)

[–] bob-402-252005 10 years ago

Nice job of catching the various Star Trek references.

I missed those and still dare to call myself a Trekkie.

Also notice the Invasion of the Body Snatchers reference of the point and scream which led into the classic "Which is the imposter?" trope?

___________

I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

[–] madp 10 years ago

by bob-402-252005 »
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Nice job of catching the various Star Trek references.

I missed those and still dare to call myself a Trekkie. []

Anything Star-Trek-related is very easy to remember! The decontamination scene was right in the pilot, Broken Bow.
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120621075225/memoryalpha/en/im ages/6/66/Trip_and_T'Pol,_decon.jpg

Also notice the Invasion of the Body Snatchers reference of the point and scream which led into the classic "Which is the imposter?" trope

Exactly! Like in the final scene with Donald Sutherland. Nice catch!

[–] bob-402-252005 10 years ago

It’s not clear what they do exactly, but they look like the Doomsday box from THE OUTER LIMITS, so I’d avoid looking in them.

Slightly disturbing that they have no visible user interface except for a tiny lens that looks like a webcam or a phone camera.

Meanwhile, Ethan is sent on to Fatboy’s, with a hilarious rooftop logo, where he undergoes similar testing to the Middleman type.

Yeah, I had to wonder about that battery of tests and the similarity to Dubby's MM recruit testing.

Bad enough you inflict our airwaves with your reality shows and cooking contests, the Clotharian complains, now you’re becoming intergalactic voyeurs. Also loved how he had been promoted from “High” to “Maximum”.

Yeah, that guy's like something out of a Monty Python spoof of HG2G. MM's sharper than Wendy thought. He knew the Clotharians wouldn't give them the antidote, but he knew a legal loophole to require they tell him what exactly they were dealing with. Information that did come in useful in saving the day.

___________

I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

[–] bob-402-252005 10 years ago

Tyler's a little too observant:
"Excuse me, but did your boss just call you on your watch about a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster?"

Like that milk-drinker would ever even think about imbibing one of those.

I hope this doesn't mean he gets sent to Greenland with a certain pretty, young, blonde mad scientist.

The standard "talk in the foreground, action in the background" gag was used within the plot this time. While Wendy talks up Tyler to the hot dog vendor, he intervenes with a bat-weilding hothead in a fender-bender. An incident that leads to his recruitment to be Manservant Neville's sidekick. Odd that they would put him through a battery of tests oddly reminiscent of what Wendy went through as a Middle-recruit.

Creepy interview with all the board of directors in the ominously dark boardroom. I loved how he put them in their places, though. Once again, Tyler's a little too observant.

I was a little disappointed that they called a couple of their pop-culture references: wearing out "like Die Hard in a building/android," "It's like Fantastic Voyage, or Die Hard...," "Nakatomi Protocol, like in the movie?"
"No. Like the real life events that inspired the movie."

I didn't get all of those on my own, but would have enjoyed the ones I did get more without having them pointed out to me, and didn't recognize the ones that I didn't get on my own anyhow.

Can't complain too much, thought, because at least it meant they addressed the issue of those crawl-through air ducts.

I did, however, catch a couple of good ones: Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster, Zygon-rated quarantine facility (although I misplaced it and thought Vogon-rated, making a second HG2G reference in my mind out of what was actually a Dr. Who reference.)(And I hate to admit it, but I then had to look up "Zygon in Wikipedia.)

"Now I have a machine gun. Ho, ho, ho!" has to be a pop-culture reference of some sort, but I sure can't place it.

Best one-off gag: When MM activated the protocol, the keypad he used played Ode To Joy on its touch tones. Absurdist gold!

Entertaining story line, moved the overall story arc along with Tyler. The usual sprinkling of pop-culture references and absurdist one-offs. I'll give it my MM par of 8 nanobots.

___________

I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

[–] madp 10 years ago

PRE-VIEWING THOUGHTS

"Infested by evil Clotharian nanobots from outer space, Ida dupes The Middleman and Wendy into initiating a lockdown at Middleman HQ." Notice that it doesn't continue with "Meanwhile Lacy and Nosy decide to have a 24-hour marathon of Art Crawl, Stump the Band and silly Animal Rights activism" which is *great* because it probably means that there's a lockdown and Nosy and Lacey and locked OUT! But characters locked inside a place usually means a bottle episode, so I'm a little ambivalent about that. After all, this show ain't... Community! (har, har) No, seriously, Community does bottle episodes pretty well.

LETDOWN MOMENTS

- 10 minutes into the show: darned too much Noser and Lacy already. I guess Tyler just made things worse and gave my two least favorite bohemians someone else to talk to. Hey, didn't they promise us a lockdown? Where's the lockdown?

- The Middleman has usually been good at casting guest stars. And wow, Mark Sheppard did look quite young in this ep. (By the way, if I were Tyler, I'd be careful. I don't know... I'd think twice before accepting a job from the guy who plays the King of Hell.) Unfortunately we simply didn't have enough Mark Sheppard moments. Maybe it's because in 2008 Sheppard was not the big TV star he is today, I'm guessing.

- The nanobots: Oompa-Loompas with power tools. And then... we've reached new levels of silly. thought I likesd the way Wendy described the little creatures, that whole part left me wondering if this show is written by five-year-olds. Or for five-year-olds.

CREATIVE MIDDLEMAN MOMENTS

When the writers of The Middleman decide to be creative and the show doesn't take a derivative route, they do come up with some very creative and funny moments, such as...

- Ha! They got me in the meaning of "Manservant" (as well as in its pronunciation. I thought Sheppard was going to play a comedic relief, a subservient type.

- What the heck does a uMaster do? Can you imagine going around with that clumsy cube in your pocket?

- MM's "I've been killed by" messages to Dubbie. Very funny and totally in tune with the character.

- MM: "I'm as serious as a German film festival."

- The code to activate the emergency incursion protocol is Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."

- Wendy pulling a Tony-Stark-inside-Ironman move. (Considering the movie was from 2008, that was a very update gag at the time.)

- Ida: "Kiss my Asimov."

- So THAT'S how they keep getting new Interrodroids. And MM and WW never stopped to wonder where they kept coming from.

DERIVATIVE, UNORIGINAL MOMENTS

Unfortunately, the abused their right to copy stuff. Copy others and copy themselves. It's OK when it's a reference to popular pop culture items done in a creative and original way, but many of these moments ere just repetition of things we've seen elsewhere or in other episodes.

- Hey, the episode starts with a "Clueless in Front" gag! Classic Middleman! Hey, do another one! Now! I think next time characters will start averting their eyes from the real action on purpose and talking to random extra characters just to justify that old gag. Hey, wait, that's exactly what just happened! What's next? Closing their eyes and "cluelessly" talking to themselves?

- Interrodroid's current number is 5000. And it's still losing its head. The next model should come with an extra resistant neck. Correction: now it's Interrodroid 6000. And no, it's neck wasn't any more resistant than that of the previous models. OK, OK, Interrodroid 7000. Or is it Interrodroid 8000 now? Will this ever end? I give up! (I'm not Middleman material.)

- Oh, Tyler's "testing montage" was imitating Wendy's "training montage" from the pilot.

- Pushing Daisies moment of the day: OK, when I say The Middleman (2008) is copying the style of Pushing Daisies (2007), you might think I'm exaggerating, but each episode seems to add another moment in which both shows are "inspired by the same sources." Hmmm... A building with a spinning head on top... Where have I seen that before? Just compare the "Fat Boy Tower" with "Snuppy's Puppies" building.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo201/Mad-Pac/FatBoySnuppy2_zps949d 783b.jpg

GRATUITOUS ATTENTION-GRABBING MOVE

- I'm sure the Natalie Morales fans of this board will be raving and drooling because of Wendy in her underpants. And ladies will definitely blush with the view of Mark Kesslar's body. He's more athletic than I thought.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS

The Lacy and Noser bit was completely unnecessary, and these characters are often dead weight. Tyler adds a new life to the show and he has a winning personality, though. Tyler's whole interview process as too long and seemed to be going nowhere. The "climax" in which Tyler was justifying his actions as a musician was definitely something made for young fans who idealize the bohemian life style and are reluctant to follow the footsteps of their parents, but for somebody older that sounds hollow and foolish.

And, again, when we have such as iconic figure as Mark Sheppard, you'll want to use him as much as possible. But yeah, this episode was shot before his participation in Supernatural and Battlestar Galactica, so that's not totally the show's fault, I guess.

The Clotharian plot is, or should be, the core of the episode. Unfortunately that was not handled well, and the surprise was spoiled by the summary, which is written by idiots. But even despite that, there wasn't enough meat in the bones besides the "Ida is infested with nanobots" part.

GRADE

An episode lacking in many aspects. This one gets 4 Interrodroid chopped-off heads.

COUNTDOWN

The end is close! But this is definitely one case in which the end doesn't justify the means. Just ONE more anyway. In the words of one of earth's sacred documents, YIPPIE, YIPPIE KAY-YAY!!!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
+-----------------------------------------------+
| X X X X X X X X X X X . |
+-----------------------------------------------+
12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

[–] bob-402-252005 10 years ago

- The nanobots: Oompa-Loompas with power tools. And then... we've reached new levels of silly. thought I likesd the way Wendy described the little creatures, that whole part left me wondering if this show is written by five-year-olds. Or for five-year-olds.

I don't know. I've heard Oomp-Loompa references in banter between coworkers in a few different blue-collar workplaces in my time. Such "family" movie characters differ from strictly childrens' characters in being cute enough for the adults in the family to be amused rather than just annoyed as many childrens' show characters tend to affect most adults.

I thought it was a funny crack. Although I was a little disappointed not to find credits listing the names of the little people in the nanobot costumes.

- What the heck does a uMaster do? Can you imagine going around with that clumsy cube in your pocket?

I did find it funny, though, that Lacey and Noser both pulled them from their pockets where the things had inexplicably been concealed without the obvious bulges they would surely make.

- Oh, Tyler's "testing montage" was imitating Wendy's "training montage" from the pilot.

Not exactly like it, but similar enough for me to share Brimfin's suspicions. Especially when coupled with the uMaster's lack of a user interface and only surface feature being a camera lens.

- I'm sure the Natalie Morales fans of this board will be raving and drooling because of Wendy in her underpants. And ladies will definitely blush with the view of Mark Kesslar's body. He's more athletic than I thought.

Too straight-line a figure for my tastes. She looks better in clothes that give the impression of more curves. That's what I like about her new Middle uniform. It accentuates her bosom. And the black tights, like the black catsuit before, seem to flatter what slight curves she does have in a nice way. Also seem to have some mental affect on how she moves in them.

I did get a good laugh out of Ida's, "That's what you get for being made of meat," being answered back by a pair of pants in the face.

Just compare the "Fat Boy Tower" with "Snuppy's Puppies" building.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo201/Mad-Pac/FatBoySnuppy_zpsf1bb2 ae6.jpg

Just an FYI, I got a photobucket notice image stating that the picture had been either moved or deleted. Now you've got my curiosity piqued so I want to see it.

___________

I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

[–] madp 10 years ago

by bob-402-252005 » 5 hours ago (Sat Feb 1 2014 11:16:32)
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I don't know. I've heard Oomp-Loompa references in banter between coworkers in a few different blue-collar workplaces in my time. Such "family" movie characters differ from strictly childrens' characters in being cute enough for the adults in the family to be amused rather than just annoyed as many childrens' show characters tend to affect most adults.

I thought it was a funny crack. Although I was a little disappointed not to find credits listing the names of the little people in the nanobot costumes.

I did enjoy the Oompa-Loompa reference, but thought the nanobots being guys in robot suits a bit too much. It's understandable the Interrodroid may be a guy or girl in a suit, since androids are made to mimic humans. But nanobots following the same logic, that's just plain silly. Too silly for my taste.

- What the heck does a uMaster do? Can you imagine going around with that clumsy cube in your pocket?

I did find it funny, though, that Lacey and Noser both pulled them from their pockets where the things had inexplicably been concealed without the obvious bulges they would surely make.

Yes, I liked that part too. Especially with that generic reference to a device that will change our relationship with everything or something. So generic, like it's something we don't actually need, or never thought we'd need. I also loved the "one uMaster per children" and the uMaestro being a knockoff jokes.

- Oh, Tyler's "testing montage" was imitating Wendy's "training montage" from the pilot.

Not exactly like it, but similar enough for me to share Brimfin's suspicions. Especially when coupled with the uMaster's lack of a user interface and only surface feature being a camera lens.

That might lead to something else, all right, but The Middleman has no qualms in repeating the same joke over and over again, as "the illegal sublet Wendy shares with another photogenic artist" (I've even memorized it) proves it.

Too straight-line a figure for my tastes. She looks better in clothes that give the impression of more curves. That's what I like about her new Middle uniform. It accentuates her bosom. And the black tights, like the black catsuit before, seem to flatter what slight curves she does have in a nice way. Also seem to have some mental affect on how she moves in them.

I did get a good laugh out of Ida's, "That's what you get for being made of meat," being answered back by a pair of pants in the face.

Taste is taste, and Natalie Morales simply doesn't do it for me. But I love Lacey instead. As for Ida, no she doesn't do it either, but I loved the scene with her robotic schematics.

just compare the "Fat Boy Tower" with "Snuppy's Puppies" building.

Just an FYI, I got a photobucket notice image stating that the picture had been either moved or deleted. Now you've got my curiosity piqued so I want to see it.

Why does this keep happening? Well, I've updated the image. It must work now:
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo201/Mad-Pac/FatBoySnuppy2_zps949d 783b.jpg

Let me know if it works. It certainly works in my computer, but then I'm the one who posted it, in my account. I just want to know if it's available to the general public.

[–] bob-402-252005 10 years ago

Why does this keep happening? Well, I've updated the image. It must work now:
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo201/Mad-Pac/FatBoySnuppy2_zps949d 783b.jpg

Yep. That one worked. Thx.

___________

I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

[–] bob-402-252005 10 years ago

Me:
Although I was a little disappointed not to find credits listing the names of the little people in the nanobot costumes.

Madp:
It's understandable the Interrodroid may be a guy or girl in a suit, since androids are made to mimic humans. But nanobots following the same logic, that's just plain silly. Too silly for my taste.

Still disappointed that I couldn't find credits for the little people in the nanobot costumes, though. Now for me it's Schrodinger's episode in which my favorite Hollywood little person both was and wasn't in it.

___________

I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

[–] madp 10 years ago

by bob-402-252005 » 6 hours ago (Sat Feb 1 2014 21:30:46)
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Still disappointed that I couldn't find credits for the little people in the nanobot costumes, though. Now for me it's Schrodinger's episode in which my favorite Hollywood little person both was and wasn't in it.

And who might this little person be? And yep, this is Schroedinger's show: it's very good and it isn't. Hey, I think you just defined things for me perfectly.

[–] bob-402-252005 10 years ago

And who might this little person be?

Debbie Lee Carrington. She made an impression on me in Total Recall and I've been something of a fan ever since. I kind of like to see where she turns up in odd bit parts. I've watched Cameron's Titanic 3 times since learning she was on the stunt crew and still not sure I could pick her out. I kind of think she went overboard costumed as a little girl, but then that would be the obvious stunt for her in that movie.

This show isn't listed on her page either as actress or stunt woman so I'm gonna assume that no, she wasn't in it.

___________

I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

[–] charmedwon666 10 years ago

Hey, the episode starts with a "Clueless in Front" gag! Classic Middleman!

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Pushing Daisies moment of the day: OK, when I say The Middleman (2008) is copying the style of Pushing Daisies

Classic MadP You repeat this more than MM does the in front gag.

http://codenamestone.blogspot.com/

[–] madp 10 years ago

by charmedwon666 » 28 minutes ago (Sun Feb 2 2014 11:05:45)
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Pushing Daisies moment of the day: OK, when I say The Middleman (2008) is copying the style of Pushing Daisies

Classic MadP You repeat this more than MM does the in front gag.

It's simple. I'll stop doing it when they do. Or when they start "paying uncredited tribute" to another show.

[–] charmedwon666 10 years ago

It's simple. I'll stop doing it wyen they do. Or when they start "paying uncredited tribute" to another show.

Lol.....my apologies, didn't know everything ever done on Daisies was original. especially the clown car thing...never saw that before.
http://codenamestone.blogspot.com/

[–] madp 10 years ago

Lol.....my apologies, didn't know everything ever done on Daisies was original. especially the clown car thing...never saw that before.

Ha, ha! Of course that's not original per se. But that falls in the category of referencing classic comedic tropes, like when Middleman makes a reference to Fantastic Voyage, Die Hard, Planet of the Apes, James Bond movies... I never said Middleman was unoriginal in those moments.

Just for the record, Daisies made references to Hitchcok's movies, The Sound of Music, Robin Hood, and shamefully stole from the French movie Amelie.

But the thing with Daisies is that there are so many coinkidinks between both shows that it's a little hard not to talk about that. For instance, Daisies' style included several quaint and absurd buildings, such as Betty's Bees, The Intrepid Cow, Snuppy's Puppies... And when The Middleman shows a building with a cartoony spinning head on top, come on, that's the same gag they borrowed.

[–] charmedwon666 10 years ago

I guess so. So does that mean Daisies borrowed all the narration from a show such a dragnet? I believe all television is borrowed from all other television which is borrowed from books and so on and so on. I just thought is was funny that you brought up something every week you thought was over used and then proceeded to keep doing the same thing in your review....thought it to be ironic in a humorous way to me.

http://codenamestone.blogspot.com/

[–] madp 10 years ago

by charmedwon666 » 16 minutes ago (Sun Feb 2 2014 12:40:14)
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I guess so. So does that mean Daisies borrowed all the narration from a show such a dragnet?

No, the narration style of Dragnet was completely different. They "borrowed" it from Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001). And that's the point I'm trying to make. They took a great part of the style of that movie, like the whole package so to speak: the narrator who narrated in a fairy-tale style, the quaint French cafe on the corner, the perky brunette who was eternally optimistic, the saturated color palette. To tell the truth, I think they did a good job Americanizing a European concept, and added a whole bunch of things, and did a better job in the end but they did more than just borrow one or two ideas.

So, likewise, I see similarities between both TV shows now. Parts of the music, the nature of some of the cases the quaintness and absurdity of certain scenes, the way they make silly excuses to have access to places, the way some of the witnesses reply, the load of movie and pop culture references, the fast dialogue full of jokes. It's the style, not just one or two things, and it's not a reference or a homage. Sometimes t's almost like Pushing Daisies with a science fiction twist and a much lower budget.

I believe all television is borrowed from all other television which is borrowed from books and so on and so on.

Yes, that's right. Ideas are constantly recycled and I admit sometimes it's very hard to determine the line between an homage and plagiarism. Personally i think when it's a single scene which is so evident that it's inspired by something else, it becomes clear it's a mere reference. But another thing is importing a style and disguising as your own. But yes, we could debate this all day.

I just thought is was funny that you brought up something every week you thought was over used and then proceeded to keep doing the same thing in your review....thought it to be ironic in a humorous way to me.

Funny, but you don't sound amused, rather a little miffed. Anyway... I did say I wouldn't bring up the "illegal sublet Wendy shares..." again even that's grating and the joke has long overstayed its welcome, but repeating things from the style of a single show from the same network group, and released just one year earlier, and which was still on air at the time, is something too good to pass, come on!

[–] charmedwon666 10 years ago

As far as Daisies narration is concerned, I see no difference between that and the illegal sublet thing. I found the daisy narrations somewhat pretentious and irritating. The facts were these...I got tired of hearing everything counted down to the exact second over and over again......The perky brunet who was eternally irritating.

Funny, but you don't sound amused, rather a little miffed.

No not miffed. Really, I'm amused that the things you hate about MM you love about Daisies. No matter what, a lot of times it all comes back to daisies somehow. Not just this show but others as well....no big deal just observation.

http://codenamestone.blogspot.com/

[–] madp 10 years ago

by charmedwon666 » 3 minutes ago (Sun Feb 2 2014 14:54:38)
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As far as Daisies narration is concerned, I see no difference between that and the illegal sublet thing. I found the daisy narrations somewhat pretentious and irritating. The facts were these...I got tired of hearing everything counted down to the exact second over and over again......The perky brunet who was eternally irritating.

You're absolutely right. Pushing Daisies was repetitive in many aspects, and many people found the narrator pretentious and annoying. But then Americans tend to find the British pretentious to tell the truth. This reminds me of the comedy Episodes with Matt LeBlanc:

The writers of the show introduce themselves to a celebrity. The celebrity asks:
Celebrity: "British or pretentious?"
She: "British." (She chuckles.)
He: "And a little pretentious too." (The celebrity makes a strange face, and the male writer continues. "Gosh, why did I say that?"

Anyway, yes, Pushing Daisies was repetitive, to the point many people found irritating (hey, let's not forget it was cancelled, right?) but that doesn't make The Middleman any better, does it? And only proves my point that The Middleman copied Pushing Daisies style.

No not miffed. Really, I'm amused...

So I misinterpreted your reaction, sorry.

...that the things you hate about MM you love about Daisies.

Well, well, we human beings are made of contradictions, aren't we? A man your age should know that by now. ha, ha! Gotcha! Besides, I did enjoy many of these things (including some of the repetitions) for the first time, when I saw Pushing Daisies. But now, second-hand jokes have the opposite effect.

No matter what, a lot of times it all comes back to daisies somehow. Not just this show but others as well....no big deal just observation.

It does seem The Middleman borrowed heavily from Pushing Daises and Men in Black, two productions that had the style of Barry Sonnenfeld. It seems Javier Grillo-Marxuach should have placed a big "thank-you" note to Sonnenfeld in the credits. (Yeah, I know, and he should have done the same to Tim Burton...)

[–] charmedwon666 10 years ago

But then Americans tend to find the British pretentious to tell the truth.

Careful, we wouldn't want to stereo type a group of people, say like the Italians or Mexican wrestlers or whatever.

Well, well, we human beings are made of contradictions, aren't we? A man your age should know that by now. ha, ha! Gotcha!

Yes we are....Not sure how you got me, but, go on.

It does seem The Middleman borrowed heavily from Pushing Daises and Men in Black, two productions that had the style of Barry Sonnenfeld. It seems Javier Grillo-Marxuach should have placed a big "thank-you" note to Sonnenfeld in the credits. (Yeah, I know, and he should have done the same to Tim Burton...)

What you call borrowed, I call parodied. Yes they do lots of things from other shows, as a matter of fact their shows are written that way, A lot of it I find very humorous. A lot of it I don't. As you pointed out with Daisies, this show was canceled as well.

I have enjoyed your countdown calendar for this show and believe I may "borrow it" or parody it for future endeavors as we move forward. But as with all things, we will be moving on very soon to something different. I can only hope it will generate as much conversation as this show has and that all the people here will move on with us and stay with our little rag tag group.

http://codenamestone.blogspot.com/

[–] madp 10 years ago

by charmedwon666 » 19 minutes ago (Sun Feb 2 2014 15:34:43)
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But then Americans tend to find the British pretentious to tell the truth.

Careful, we wouldn't want to stereo type a group of people, say like the Italians or Mexican wrestlers or whatever.

Fair enough, scratch Americans. But I've often seen in American pop culture the association between British and pretentious. Though I'm sure that's not how most Americans think.

What you call borrowed, I call parodied. Yes they do lots of things from other shows, as a matter of fact their shows are written that way, A lot of it I find very humorous. A lot of it I don't. As you pointed out with Daisies, this show was canceled as well.

That's the thing. I never felt The Middleman was trying to make a parody of Pushing Daisies and Men in Black, the same way I never felt Bryan Fuller was parodying Tim Burton. (The Amélie thing is open to discussion, though, because they even used a song that was in that movie.) For sure the Fantastic Voyage and Die Hard ideas were parodies, but in case of Daises and MiB it seemed more of rehashing the same ideas as their own without giving recognition. That's the way it seemed to me at least. If MM had thrown a "piemaker" reference, or someone had asked MM and WW "why aren't you wearing black," that would've sufficed as acknowledgment in my opinion, but that never happened.

I have enjoyed your countdown calendar for this show and believe I may "borrow it" or parody it for future endeavors as we move forward.

Unless I copyrighted it! But I'll license it to you for a fair amount.

But as with all things, we will be moving on very soon to something different. I can only hope it will generate as much conversation as this show has and that all the people here will move on with us and stay with our little rag tag group.

Completely agree. Let's see if we have that much discussion in the next choices we make, if I'll be on your side of the fence. Now, by the way, I regret not having entered the Wonderfalls discussions earlier when they happened.

[–] charmedwon666 10 years ago

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I have enjoyed your countdown calendar for this show and believe I may "borrow it" or parody it for future endeavors as we move forward.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unless I copyrighted it! But I'll license it to you for a fair amount.

checks in the mail

http://codenamestone.blogspot.com/

[–] madp 10 years ago

I checked my email box today. The check is not there yet. I'll check tomorrow.

You know, our talks have made me think of a couple things since yesterday. I've come to a few conclusions:

On PD's narrator's supposed pretentiousness

Doing my best to avoid generalizations about Americans, I still think that has something to do with how educated British accent is perceived in the US. I had a perfect quote from a famous writers, who explained that quite well (Orson Scott Card or Damon Knight, I can't remember), but I don't even know the book it came from. But if you insist I'll try and find it. But I did find this web page:

"Why Villains in Movies Have English Accents" (from BBC news)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/dna/place-lancashire/plain/A891155

"The solution they came up with was admirably clever. Drawing on the legends of such gentlemanly criminals as Edward Pierce, and combining them with the American perception of the English accent, the Sophisticated Evil Genius was born to populate villainous roles in film on countless occasions.

The accent most commonly employed in this manner is received pronunciation (or RP). This and other English accents, and sometimes even Scottish or Welsh accents as well, in America have a ring of sophistication and intelligence. This association possibly stems from frontier times, when among the rough and tumble talk of the Wild West the less altered speech of genteel folks from the east stuck out conspicuously. It may have to do with the general impression of Great Britain as the 'Old World': a place of tradition and schooling and nobility. Also, the concept of the British as the 'old masters' and British influence as an unjust yoke to be thrown off is deeply ingrained in American cultural history. In any case, though most Americans don't know what RP is, it sounds smart to them."

Methinks if the PD narrator would be considered pretentious had he spoken with an Alabama accent. Which also makes me think, can anybody sound pretentious, smart and sophisticated with an Alabama accent? I say that because the other day I watched The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) with actor Lucas Black and I simply hated his accent and he sounded, well, extremely unsophisticated.

On repetition in The Middleman and Pushing Daises, and why someone may like one and hate the other, an *apparent* paradox

Yes, why do I at least tolerate certain things in PD and can't stand them on The MM? After considering things carefully overnight, I got thinking that the basic response The Middleman expects to draw from its viewers is the humor, as it's basically a comedy with adventure elements. Pushing Daisies, on the other hand, is more of a dramedy, and the writers tried to establish very funny moments as well as very tender and sad ones, which is much more to my personal taste. An opinion not everybody has to subscribe to, since many people prefer the simplicity of humor, rather than an odd mixture of feelings.

Whenever the narrator repeat (and he did repeat that a lot) things like "and they could never ever touch," or something like "The piemaker had a feeling of elation" or something like that, "Vivian's despondency and drinking," the idea was to remark the drama and sadness, and get the audiences to go all "awwwwwwwwww... so sad."

The way I see things, and again, you might just as well see things differently, when the same dramatic elements are introduced repeatedly, or tragicomic situations are shown this way, they seem much more tolerable than simply funny ones. Pure humor repeated over and over again gets old pretty fast to me, but I revel in drama, even if I'd been that before. So I hope that answers your question.

And as for the Narrator's "the facts are these," well, that's a common trope in detective stories. In fact, detectives usually have a catch sentence when they are about to explain something in the story climax. I remember Monk (2002) used to say, "Here's how it happened" in just about every episode. So that just comes with the territory with detective stories. But of course you're totally in your right to find that annoying after the third or fourth time.

Well, I guess that's all, at least for the time being...

[–] charmedwon666 10 years ago

Well I agree with all you have said. except you and I are 180 degrees out. I feel the way about drama that you feel about pure humor as you put it. and I do grow tired of detective stories and drama, seeing people be cruel to each other all the time I find tiresome and predictable just as you do the things I like. Don't get wrong, I found a lot of likable things in daisies, it was a good show and it was different not doubt. I just got so tired of chuck and the can't touch thing. It got to where it drove me insane but hey that's me. As far as the Alabama accent thing is concerned I probably would not have considered it pretentious you are right, it would have been HILARIOUS. They should have done that.

http://codenamestone.blogspot.com/

[–] madp 10 years ago

That should be the new sale pitch of the A.N.A. (Alabama Narrators' Association): "Hire us. We're HILARIOUS!"

[–] brimfin 10 years ago

…but they look like the Doomsday box from THE OUTER LIMITS, (brimfin)

The new or the old OUTER LIMITS? Which episode? (madp)

It was the original OL, an episode called “Don’t Open Till Doomsday.” It was a larger size wooden box with just an eyehole in it. If you looked in it, you saw an ugly creature and then couldn’t pull your eye away. Eventually, you pass out and the creature somehow shrinks you and pulls you in with him. Though about a tenth the size, the Youmaster (or uMaster, whatever) reminded me of that.

- What the heck does a uMaster do? Can you imagine going around with that clumsy cube in your pocket? (bob-402-252005)

My suspicion is that eventually, people who look in the Youmaster will see a kaleidoscope effect and will be bent to the will of Manservent Neville.

Nobody has mentioned so far, but (the Voyager probe) it was obviously a reference to Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979). "What if it came back to judge its makers, has already judged and found them wanting?" One of the best quotes. (madp)

I didn’t catch that one, and I loved that movie.

By the way, his name is Tyler, not Ethan. Where did you get Ethan from? (madp)

You’ve got me. I can’t even figure out where I got that name from. It’s not even that common a name.

(Trip Through the Robot)Yes, I remember that one well. At the time I wondered how convenient they had a panel to get into the robot through its foot, and how things looked correctly placed, even though the robot was lying on its back. (madp)

Oh yeah, that episode was full of strange logic. Other times, they removed the Robot’s power pack without any problems. But suddenly that week, if his power ran out, he would “die.” It was a show you couldn’t take too seriously.

It's O2STK - Organization Too Secret To Know. (madp)

I did forget the O all right. But I thought it was O2TSTK – Organization Too Top Secret to Know, and they used 2T instead of TT just to be cute. But I could have misheard. Maybe Charmedwon could tell us for sure.

Also notice the Invasion of the Body Snatchers reference of the point and scream which led into the classic "Which is the imposter?" trope? (bob-402-252005)

I did have the same thought. Now that you and madp saw it too, that confirms it.

[–] madp 10 years ago

by brimfin » 34 minutes ago (Sat Feb 1 2014 16:22:02)
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It was the original OL, an episode called “Don’t Open Till Doomsday.” It was a larger size wooden box with just an eyehole in it. If you looked in it, you saw an ugly creature and then couldn’t pull your eye away. Eventually, you pass out and the creature somehow shrinks you and pulls you in with him. Though about a tenth the size, the Youmaster (or uMaster, whatever) reminded me of that.

Thanks. That also reminds me of The Twilight Zone's box in "Button, Button." And uMaster is how they spelled in the subtitles I got. It makes sense, as it must be a spoof of iPad or email. Anyway, i liked the whole joke because it's described as a gadget which so generically changes out relationship with the world or something, a typical selling pitch for those new shiny and pretentious Apple gadgets that we don't actually need or don't know we need until we do. And the lack of interface is in tune with their clean, minimalist design, and the camera is for them to spy on us and conquer the world of course. I also liked the jokes about "one uMaster per child" and the uMaestro being a knockoff which "is not the same."

Oh, come to think of it, by the way, the device could be a "YouMaster" as in "YouTube" especially with a video lens...

- What the heck does a uMaster do? Can you imagine going around with that clumsy cube in your pocket? (bob-402-252005)

Nope! That was me again!

My suspicion is that eventually, people who look in the Youmaster will see a kaleidoscope effect and will be bent to the will of Manservent Neville.

Something tells me that will be explained in the last episode.

Oh yeah, that episode was full of strange logic. Other times, they removed the Robot’s power pack without any problems. But suddenly that week, if his power ran out, he would “die.” It was a show you couldn’t take too seriously.

Well, that was never the point of that show, especially after it became more comedic.

[–] dtmuller 10 years ago

About all I can muster is to check in on this one. Yes, I'm still above the sod.

Sat down this evening to watch some TV and thought, "Gee, I'd better watch this week's Middleman." And then I realized I had watched it, last evening. No impression whatever. I guess I'm totally on autopilot.

[–] madp 10 years ago

by dtmuller » 29 minutes ago (Sat Feb 1 2014 18:46:14)
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Sat down this evening to watch some TV and thought, "Gee, I'd better watch this week's Middleman." And then I realized I had watched it, last evening. No impression whatever. I guess I'm totally on autopilot.

Wow, shortest review ever! I think you'be been brainwashed by Manservant Neville's device.

[–] wlcebtg 10 years ago

"And then I realized I had watched it, last evening. No impression whatever. I guess I'm totally on autopilot."

I feel your pain on these episodes. Sorry Stone I know you like this show...

[–] bob-402-252005 10 years ago

It makes sense, as it must be a spoof of iPad or email. Anyway, i liked the whole joke because it's described as a gadget which so generically changes out relationship with the world or something, a typical selling pitch for those new shiny and pretentious Apple gadgets that we don't actually need or don't know we need until we do. And the lack of interface is in tune with their clean, minimalist design, and the camera is for them to spy on us and conquer the world of course.

Yeah, I also got a bit of an Apple vibe there. Not quite as well thought out, but that white plastic cube did look like a Mac asthetic choice. Also, what was said of Manservant Neville vaguely reminded me of Steve Jobs, though not an exact analog.

___________

I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

[–] brimfin 10 years ago

And uMaster is how they spelled in the subtitles I got. It makes sense, as it must be a spoof of iPad or email. (madp)

That makes perfect sense. Henceforth, I'll refer to it as a uMaster

[–] charmedwon666 10 years ago

Oh those clotharians, they are always up in are business or should I say perhaps we are all up in there business, either way we have a very fragile relationship with those dudes.
I have long suspected that those voyagers would do us no good at some point. they are already responsible for VEGER which reeked havoc looking for the maker.

The episode its self was good and I enjoyed it way better than the puppets. I does seem that the MM people have gotten used to blowing up Ida without worrying very much about it as we are now up to Ida 3. It also seems the preferred method of taking down Interrodroid is to pop the head off, still funny.
I know the whole episode was geared toward the die hard movie but when WW was shrunk it reminded me of the classic episode of Lost in Space Trip through the robot, an awesome episode as I recall.
The protocol 47 scene was nice and also the lockdown scene was niiiiice.
All in all good episode I enjoyed watching, I'll give this one 7 exploding Ida's on the MM Scale. Coming to then end wish they had done episode 13.

http://codenamestone.blogspot.com/

[–] bob-402-252005 10 years ago

and also the lockdown scene was niiiiice.

One little subtlety I noticed on about the 5th or 6th time I watched it is that when the building was locked down, the traffic signal by it turned red. Then every time they showed the outside of the locked building, it was the same still with the red light. When they opened it backup again, the light turned green.

I think I've had to stop at a red light or two on such a schedule.

___________

I'd've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

[–] wlcebtg 10 years ago

“The Clotharian Contamination Protocol”

I seem to be late all the time here lately. Finally took the time to write something down on this week’s episode. Wow Dub Dub is quite the beautiful lady seen so much of her lately I believe I’m going to miss her when this series is done for good. The scrub down scene will be locked in my mind for a long time. Maybe a day or two my memory gets shorter every day. I just love those nano bots they crack me up seeing them with drills and saws all. Reminded me of some of the project Stone and I have taken on we can tear things up so fast. If we had the middleman device we could your do some damage. I have been unable to verify this but rumor has it sargon god may be joining us on our next adventure. If this is true it could get interesting. We will see, glad to say only one episode remains. I must admit I will miss Natalie Morales…..

[–] charmedwon666 10 years ago

I have been unable to verify this but rumor has it sargon god may be joining us on our next adventure.

Zargongod seemed very interested, especially when we discussed wonder falls. that was one show he liked very much. You need to stay on him and he will roll over and join us....One of us...one of us....one of us......

And you are right you dog I do like this show, much like all the women I have dated in my life you have turned on me....... I once knew a great man who always told me....they all turn on you eventually. didn't believe it until now

http://codenamestone.blogspot.com/