It's not about taste or being elitist;
You say that, and yet you spend pretty much the rest of your post demonstrating the attitude of elitism.
it's about the GALL to make money of something like this.
That's just it, though - it wouldn't make money if it wasn't popular and didn't bring people joy. It's quite loved, so it must be doing something right. Just because it doesn't fit in with what you like, doesn't mean it shouldn't be made at all. And, I know that "popular doesn't make it good," but I'm not arguing its quality. As I mentioned previously, I don't care for this show, either. But, I AM arguing for the right of other people to like it.
Most of the jokes are stolen, either from sitcoms from the 60s and 70s and the rest from old joke books bought at Scope
Yeah, that's what Vaudeville and Borscht Belt comedy was, too. So, this is kind of a throwback to that style.
Here's the thing - sometimes, people have fun checking their brain at the door and just enjoying some good old-fashioned lowbrow humor. It doesn't mean that they don't ALSO enjoy the highbrow stuff. THAT, I think, is where the elitist attitude fails people like you. The assumption that, just because one enjoys Mrs. Brown's Boys means that they can't possibly also like The Office. Sure, there's no connecting tissue between the two, but tastes vary widely, from person to person, but also within the individual. I'm sure there are people out there that love an expensive caviar and lobster dinner, but are also sometimes in the mood to just gorge themselves at McDonald's. Or, they may enjoy attending a marathon of avant garde French cinema on Saturday, but on Sunday, they just feel like watching Arnold Schwarzenegger blow some sh!t up. You might like to listen to challenging music sometimes, but then at others, you just like to dance along to Coldplay or the My Best Friend's Wedding soundtrack.
Think of it this way, you may be hanging about with your mates. One of them farts and everyone laughs. There's naught wrong with that. Sometimes, we just like stupid stuff.
In the case of Mrs. Brown's Boys, everyone watches television for their own reasons. Not everyone is looking to be intellectually stimulated while watching a sitcom. It doesn't mean they don't enjoy it elsewhere. It's like I've seen with heavy metal, for instance. There will be people that look down on others for thinking that a band like Korn is heavy. "They're not heavy, so and so is heavy." But, that original person that likes Korn may think that they are heavy ENOUGH for them. That's the level of heaviness that they were after. Not everyone is looking for the same extremes in each form of art as everyone else. And, to be condescending to others' taste is just being an ass (also, elitist).
You don't like this show. Fair on you. I don't either. But, why not just let other people like what they like? I don't understand the impulse to want to sh!t on things that make others happy. I WISH that I could laugh hysterically at a show like this. There's enough bad stuff in the world, so if this makes someone happy, then I am happy FOR them. I'm glad they found some joy.
There is no craft, no effort and no originality.
OF COURSE there is craft and effort in getting a television show written, produced, aired, and enjoyed by millions. I won't disagree about the originality part, but it's lazy arguing to say that they aren't working hard to make a television show happen...
You seem to feel personally offended ("it's about the GALL...") that this show even exists. If you're going to be THAT high strung about a tv show that you will NEVER be forced to watch, then you're probably going to have blood pressure problems much earlier in life than you should.
There's room for ALL tastes, so let's all just have fun with whatever we choose to watch. I PROMISE you that, if you were to name the things that you like, someone could very easily come along and tell you why those things are pure sh!t and you should be watching _______________, instead.
"Hello, hello, what's all this shouting? We'll have no trouble here!"
reply
share
Theodor_Birch
7 years ago
That's just it, though - it wouldn't make money if it wasn't popular and didn't bring people joy. It's quite loved, so it must be doing something right. Just because it doesn't fit in with what you like, doesn't mean it shouldn't be made at all. And, I know that "popular doesn't make it good," but I'm not arguing its quality. As I mentioned previously, I don't care for this show, either. But, I AM arguing for the right of other people to like it.
So because a lot of people like it, it must be good? That’s an awful assertion - the opposite may not be true, but that doesnt make it true.
«People» liked Big Brother or Eurovision Song Contest or Survivor or Oasis or Blur or drinking till their livers rot or smoking or prostitution or sexism. Etc, etc, etc.
Here's the thing - sometimes, people have fun checking their brain at the door and just enjoying some good old-fashioned lowbrow humor. It doesn't mean that they don't ALSO enjoy the highbrow stuff.
That’s the thing. This GLORIOUS new age of television means we don’t HAVE to pick one or the other. We can have both! Gone are the days when the choice was either mindless crap or highbrow boring political satire.
Today we have shows that are both HIGHLY entertaining AND well-written. Like The Sopranos. The Wire. Six Feet Under.
So, you see, there is no need for something which is just the one thing anymore. The viewers have grown-up and desire MORE.
This has put more pressure on writers to produce at the top of their abilities. To never pander again. To be able to juggle entertainment and great art.
So for a writer like O’Carroll (I forget his name) to just roll out of bed and chuck a bunch of old jokes and sitcom tropes together is unforgivable and brings the entire tone down. Way down.
Think of it this way, you may be hanging about with your mates. One of them farts and everyone laughs. There's naught wrong with that. Sometimes, we just like stupid stuff.
I don’t know what kind of people you hang out with, but if somebody at mu party farted and then laughed, I would chuck them out. Tell them to jog back to their camping site or cruise liner.
Unless you are 4 years old there is no excuse for laughing at a fart.
There is nothing funny about fart. Certainly not a fart on its own.
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret did a great fart joke, but it wasn’t just a fart on its own.
If you haven’t seen it, Todd farts at a pub and brilliantly hides it by pretending he has a fart ringtone - until the drunk girls wanna hear the fart ring tone again. And again. And again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BJP0nmF2rsYou don't like this show. Fair on you. I don't either. But, why not just let other people like what they like? I don't understand the impulse to want to sh!t on things that make others happy. I WISH that I could laugh hysterically at a show like this.
Because it’s hack work. And hack work should never be accepted. You wouldn’t simply overlook a journalist making up facts because his point was so good? You wouldn’t eat a meal with a bug in it because you didn’t want to offend the cook.
If someone is not doing the work it should be pointed out. This show is LAZY and there should be no allowance for it.
There are PLENTY of shows that aren’t genius but still work. Like The It Crowd or Friends. They use stereotypes, cliches and tropes, but they are also well constructed and deceived. When did you ever watch When the whistle… I mean Mrs Browns Boys and think «that was clever».
Dressing up in a dress and saying rude words does not constitute a finished idea, O’Caroll. Back to the drawing board and come back with a sliver of originality.
You seem to feel personally offended ("it's about the GALL...") that this show even exists. If you're going to be THAT high strung about a tv show that you will NEVER be forced to watch, then you're probably going to have blood pressure problems much earlier in life than you should.
Again, I am offended because not only is your license fee being spent on this tat, but it’s taking up valuable air time AND putting the comedy scene back to the stone age of Bernard Manning.
reply
share
WeDidntBurnHim
7 years ago
So because a lot of people like it, it must be good? That’s an awful assertion - the opposite may not be true, but that doesnt make it true.
«People» liked Big Brother or Eurovision Song Contest or Survivor or Oasis or Blur or drinking till their livers rot or smoking or prostitution or sexism. Etc, etc, etc.
You LITERALLY quoted the part where I personally said that just because a lot of people like it doesn't make it good, and yet you completely ignored that I said it. In fact, you are pretty much claiming that I'm saying the opposite. Take another look at the paragraph of mine that you QUOTED. Once again, I'm not arguing that it's good. But, a lot of people liking it means that it makes people happy and serves a purpose, so no harm done. You can't measure quality - it's all subjective. How many more times do I need to mention that I'm not calling this show 'good?'
That’s the thing. This GLORIOUS new age of television means we don’t HAVE to pick one or the other. We can have both!
I agree, but it doesn't have to be within the same show. We CAN have both, and we do...
So, you see, there is no need for something which is just the one thing anymore. The viewers have grown-up and desire MORE.
Which viewers are you speaking for? Certainly not all of them because the ratings for this show are MASSIVE. And, even some of those viewers who desire more ALSO desire this show, it would seem.
Because it’s hack work. And hack work should never be accepted.
You said this in response to me asking why not just let other people like something that makes them happy? You didn't really answer the question. In a world that has a much crap going on as we do now, if something makes people happy and it's not physically harming anyone, then you should just let them have it and you can be free not to watch it.
You wouldn’t simply overlook a journalist making up facts because his point was so good? You wouldn’t eat a meal with a bug in it because you didn’t want to offend the cook.
Just because you make a comparison doesn't make it apt, and these two certainly aren't. You don't overlook a journalist making up facts because you go to a journalist for NEWS. If you're going to Mrs. Brown's Boys for news, then you're doing it wrong. News/journalism and comedy shows have different sets of standards. And, you wouldn't eat a meal with a bug in it because that meal would not be enjoyable to you. But, Mrs. Brown's Boys is obviously enjoyable to the people who watch it. Otherwise, why would they watch it? I think a better comparison would be "would you continue watching a show that brings you joy every week and makes you laugh if some anonymous guy on the internet told you that this show isn't even worthy of existing and it's not good enough for you?" Yeah, probably so...
There are PLENTY of shows that aren’t genius but still work. Like The It Crowd or Friends. They use stereotypes, cliches and tropes, but they are also well constructed and deceived.
It's funny that you would use a show like Friends as an example. I've heard mostly backlash about how unoriginal THAT particular show is. Most would NOT say that it's well constructed and (I assume you mean) conceived. That's what I was telling you - if you name ANY show that you like, then there will be people who tell you that show is not good enough. But, if it makes you happy, then good (and, I'm not saying you like Friends - I know that's not necessarily why you listed it). Everyone's tastes are different.
When did you ever watch When the whistle… I mean Mrs Browns Boys and think «that was clever».
Not once - I've never thought this show was clever and have never seen more than a few clips here and there. Never saw a complete episode. As I've said quite a few times, I'm not arguing in favor of its quality.
Again, I am offended because not only is your license fee being spent on this tat, but it’s taking up valuable air time AND putting the comedy scene back to the stone age of Bernard Manning.
It's not taking up much space at all. There is just as much, if not more, originality out there as there has ever been. And, there has also always been shows like this on the air. But, again, if people didn't like it then they wouldn't watch it. If they didn't watch it, it wouldn't make money. If it didn't make money, then they wouldn't continue airing it.
Since you're judging others, let's see the list of shows that you like...
"Hello, hello, what's all this shouting? We'll have no trouble here!"
reply
share
Godlins
7 years ago
Yeh, and while you're at it, tell us what you do for a living. What do YOU have the GALL to make money at?
reply
share