tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524462613774767993.post2392399632634301553..comments2023-11-02T06:55:15.609-07:00Comments on Let's Look Sideways: A Very Funny Red-Haired Woman Named TatePhil Normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506041961526914294noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524462613774767993.post-49519609334252202162008-06-08T17:55:00.000-07:002008-06-08T17:55:00.000-07:00I've not bothered with Dirty Sexy Money. I suspect...I've not bothered with Dirty Sexy Money. I suspect I'd find my attention wandering after half an hour. Perversely, I can watch 6 or more Arrested Developments through without a break. I think it's because I'm opting in rather than having to commit. There's a lot to love in AD, not least the sensation that the whole cast know precisely how good the series is and, thus, give it their all. If you've never seen it, analrapist, Afternoon Deelite and "Marry me!" will not make you laugh. If you've seen the series, they inspire Pavlovian reactions, and you will also never again hear the intro to Europe's 'Final Countdown' without sniggering.Louis Barfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09500085182214151483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524462613774767993.post-45751075453706785822008-06-01T09:40:00.000-07:002008-06-01T09:40:00.000-07:00I'd put Soap down as the far and away the best US ...I'd put Soap down as the far and away the best US sitcom of the 1970s. It's certainly the only 1970s US sitcom I've gone to the bother of importing the entire series of (it's quite reasonably priced on Amazon.com).<BR/><BR/>I first happened across it during the repeats on Paramount in the 1990s, on the recommendation of my parents who loved the show when it was shown on ATV. I'd imagine it was pretty well-received in general over here, as I recall Comedy Review publishing an entire episode guide for it. <BR/><BR/>While the final series wasn't up to the standards of the first few, the final episode does include possibly the greatest yet darkest comedy line ever spoken by a character not actually in an episode (From memory - Chester answers the phone whilst waiting to hear from Jessica's kidnappers. After he replaces the receiver, he's asked "Was that the kidnapper?" "No, it was Bob asking if Chuck's here." Because Bob is Chuck's puppety alter-ego of course, suggesting that Chuck has finally become completely deranged and now wholly only able to communicate via the medium of Bob. Ah, youhadtobethere.)<BR/><BR/>Arrested Development is certainly a worthy successor to Soap, with it's gloriously intricate plotting, razor-sharp wit, subverting of the 'traditional American sitcom family' and being criminally underrated with the viewing audience. So good, someone else basically remade it, only so it's not quite as good, called it Dirty Sexy Money, and had a huge smash hit with it. No justice.Mark Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08568170388731350030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524462613774767993.post-86097852974342467342008-05-28T13:26:00.000-07:002008-05-28T13:26:00.000-07:00I thought "Soap" was fairly well-known in the UK, ...I thought "Soap" was fairly well-known in the UK, maybe I was just living in an LWT-area bubble where we thought it was one of the funniest shows ever.<BR/><BR/>It was supposedly taken off the air in the States after a campaign by the Moral Majority who objected to it having a gay character and boycotted firms that advertised on it so the network pulled the plug.londonleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08431179744928331353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524462613774767993.post-30635893726230295832008-05-28T09:06:00.000-07:002008-05-28T09:06:00.000-07:00Yes, Friday nights late. I used to quite like it b...Yes, Friday nights late. I used to quite like it but had no clue what was going on, which I suppose was the general idea, and being 11 most of it probably went over my head. <BR/><BR/>However it was a big deal at the time and was very much in the public domain as something to talk about. <BR/><BR/>I've not seen Arrested Development. But then I've never seen Peep Show either.Jon Peakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04471926651090670258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524462613774767993.post-20659681820472248602008-05-27T12:28:00.001-07:002008-05-27T12:28:00.001-07:00Arrested Development is another of those recent US...Arrested Development is another of those recent US shows I've 'been meaning' to pick up on for far too long. If it's a 'Soap for the naughties' (surely that's Shield, if my memories of marginally risque advertising is anything to go by?) I'll certainly give it a go.Phil Normanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05506041961526914294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524462613774767993.post-22490256843162604342008-05-26T17:06:00.000-07:002008-05-26T17:06:00.000-07:00I first encountered 'Soap' when it was shown by LW...I first encountered 'Soap' when it was shown by LWT way past my official bedtime on Friday nights, and it's a love that's endured nearly 30 years. It's a wonderful show, and linked genetically to the no-less-wonderful and thematically-similar 'Arrested Development'. Susan Harris went on to do 'Golden Girls', where Mitch Hurwitz got his writing break. How they are related...Louis Barfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09500085182214151483noreply@blogger.com