The Idiot's Delight Digest is an email group that's centered around legendary free-form radio deejay Vin Scelsa and his show. (But it's not slavishly adherent only to that topic.)
The IDD is the reason I wanted to get into the world of the Internet a dozen years ago and it's one of two groups I joined as soon as I got a computer. (The other was an "ElfQuest" fan fiction email listing holt called "Sky's Cradle".)
I've met well over 100 of my fellow "Iddiots" from all over the world, become good friends with many, even took on the responsibility of god-father to the daughter of one, and was... involved with a handful of them (not all at the same time).
That's what keeps me in the IDD - the people. Because I don't necessarily need it to read the posts. And yet I do - still after twelve years, I haven't become bored like I would in other e-list discussion groups which don't let you venture outside the topic. That's the great thing about the IDD, it still remains interesting to read because the Iddiots harp on an ever-expanding array of topics.
And that includes the Geico cavemen.
The Honorable Rich Metter Rich Metter (Yep, it's not redundant!) kicked off the topic:
Aren't those Geico commercials with the aggrieved caveman the cleverestcommercials you've seen in your life?
It's not always clear whether he's just being sarcastic though, but that's all that was needed for the other Iddiots to run with the subject:
What I want to know is this - is the decidedly gay undercurrent meant to be ironic and culturally subversive or deceptively not-so-subtle in an ostensibly *anti-gay* manner, all the while silently smiling with a wink-wink-nudge-nudge nod to the knowing?
siochain,
fred
listener neil:
Jesus! I thought he was Jewish . . .
Fred continued:
Of course he's Jewish! He's a friggin' caveman . . . ya know, like B.C. and all. In those days, *everybody* was Jewish! God, Neil, I thought you knew all this stuff . . .
But just because he's Jewish doesn't make him *automatically* gay - that seems to be the extra ingredient I am sensing . . . particularly the ad where they order food at the restaurant and the newer one when they are talking on a balcony patio at some party. There are at least 2, if not more, of the characters. The guy in the airport is *not* the guy at the therapist - at least not in my reading of the caveman universe. I think the airport guy is the one who doesn't order any food because he says he doesn't have much of an appetite. The guy at the therapist is the guy who orders the duck with the orange mango salsa, I believe.
I am unsure which character appeared in the 15-second spot of the annoyed caveman TV production guy storming of the set during the shooting of a Geico commercial . . . but I think he was wearing something vaguely reminiscent of Village People shorts . . .
All of which is very clever, as RMRM noted. Or "shmart", as a gay Jewish caveman might say . . .
As did Listener Neil:
That sounds a little like Edward G. Robinson. Who was Jewish. But not gay. Although he did collect art. But what you're also saying is that the B.C. guy is DC, not AC. Which is not PC.
Carrying on was Dr. Bobt:
Carrying the stereotype a bit further, the one that is in the therapist's office, after he answers his phone, says, "it's my mother....I'll put her on speakerphone."
running for cover,
bobt
This put a burr in JKeefe's Trash Mavericks saddle:
(How can all you) people could interpret a cave man as being Jewish.Will fucking wonders ever cease? Nope, guess not.
So don't try to lay this Boogie Woogie trash talkin' on the King of Asbury Twang & Roll...
More on this later.
Coach J.
As usual with the Digest, certain topics and threads of discussion become "entwined", as was the case with the Geico Cavemen and a thread about Ten Years After:
From he who is known as "Kiddrane":
Al Kooper is Jewish?
I Thought he was the guy who played the organ on Like A Rolling Stone?
Is he related to the caveman?
Then our resident Mademoiselle Francaise had this to parlezvou:
Where are the days of gekko commercials. Ever since the gekko left, these commercials have been unbearably racist.
Colette
Having started it all, RMRM of course had to follow up on that one:
Colette writes, in reference to the Geico commercials featuring a modern-daycaveman:
"Ever since the gekko left, these commercials have been unbearably racist."
Can you please elucidate? I'm especially interested since I was the one whofirst posted about my affection for these commercials, and I'd be shocked tofind out I'm endorsing racism. For the record, although I don't have anycaveman friends, I don't care what stage of the evolutionary cycle a personis from, as long as they are a nice person.
I know you have been victimized in your life for being a member of number ofminority groups. If I remember correctly, you are Jewish, a woman, French,an Intellectual, an Artiste, and (although this is conjecture on my part) a lady from outer space. Is it possible you are also a cavewoman?
And Big Dan brought it all down to MY level:
Rich Metter wrote: Can you please elucidate?
My mom aways said too much of that could make you go blind.
Adjusting my glasses,
Big Dan
And we heard from Karla as well:
I'll start by saying that I lovelovelove the Geico caveman commercials. I don't get how they sell car insurance, but they entertain me.
I never thought the cavemen seemed gay or Jewish. I just thought they seemed very L.A.
Which I suppose is kinda gayish, kinda Jewishish.
My tele-fanatic frind Nora Lee found this link:
http://www.slate.com/id/2123285
This is the closest I could find to an article I read or story I heard on the radio that explained the entirety of the Geico campaign. That each series, the Gekko, the cavemen, the celebrity repeaters, etc. (at least I think I'm remembering right that they are all Geico), each appeals to a different type of insurance or way of getting insurance or different niche of the market that isn't getting insurance, or specifically Geico insurance, for a specific reason. And I wasn't vs. having the Gekko on the tunnel or bridge entrances in NJ.
Adweek in a bunch of articles says that the cavemen are specifically intended to be from L.A. There's a new commercial coming, or may be on but I haven't seen it yet, that has a caveman in LAX seeing an "offensive" ad. The articles also say that because the ads now have "a following" they'll continue to make new ones.
The discussion about the ethnic or whatever implications of the very funny ads makes me wonder what kind of "rehab" is Isiah Washington in? One that takes one's foot out of one's mouth?
Colette finally responded to Rich Metter Rich Metter:
Hi Rich,
Yes I am from outer space, and I look just like the gekko replacement.
So add this one to the list. I remember telling IDD that some of our first ancestors, after leaving Africa for India, decided to stop on an island near the Indian coast, and still today some of them refuse to live modern life. Some say it's because some of their brothers started smoking and doing drugs when "civilization" was brought to them..I quote an article here, I never went there to verify if these more modern islanders are in a desperate state of addiction.
As for the ones that still refuse modernity, they had to be forcibly rescued from the tsunami. Then they asked to be kept separated from the general population of the Indian hospital where they were being brought back to health by their rescuers.
When I come across one of these commercials, I always think of these island people's reaction to "civilization". It makes me uneasy, and of course, it brings back memories of the older movies where "negroes" had unglamourous roles (servants, vaudevillians...)
It is possible that the commercials' makers have very good intentions. They might be evolutionists, recognize who our ancestors really are, and feel brotherly ties to their cats, dogs, fish, and also the tiny living cells in the magma that Earth once was. Why not make a real movie about the topic, instead of clumsy commercials.
Colette
fred tried to bring a peacable end to the topic:
Karla writes:
I never thought the cavemen seemed gay or Jewish. I just thought they seemed very L.A.
Which I suppose is kinda gayish, kinda Jewishish.
I think Karla wins.
Particularly on the objective, "factual" basis, if the source Nora Lee cited about the cavemen being designed to represent the West Coast persona is accurate and correct.
But I also think that the ads, like anything else we perceive in the media, serve also as a Rorschach test when we actually stop to think about our reactions to them, what they seem to be saying to us individually and how we interpret what the meaning may suggest about the companies or agencies behind them. And, in the case of tv commercials, when we actually go that l-o-n-g extra step and discuss them as anything more than ephemeral video mental floss.
In any case - I have been contracted by Geico to do both a semiotic analysis of the entire cavemen ad series from *my* initial perspective on the implications of "risky" gay lifestyles and the associated psychological need for the sense of security that insurance, writ large, can have for said market. Phase two of the paper will deal with the secondary and tertiary cultural readings involving ethnic and geographic stereotypes (having addressed already the primary sexual-orientation reading) and it's affect on both the effectiveness (positive/negative, short-term/long-term, etc) of the branding of Geico and also the new media and new technology platforms that represent possible and logical character extension opportunities for the cavemen.
"Professor" kidd:
I have conducted a poll of my children and their friends -- I have three children ranging in age from 17 to 27 (Yes a wide gap). Including their friends the poll includes approximately 30 individuals from this age group.
When asked about the Geico commercial -- All 100% responded that it is amusing and they have no concept or idea related to any thing being racially motivated. Several commented that MY (our) age group tend to over think things.
In part I learned during my poll that most from the 17 to 27 year old generation feel MY (our) age group spend too much time analyzing what is just another form of entertainment.
Everyone from this demographic as in 100% have little or no concerns about what religion some one may be. They furthermore do not care at all what sexual orientation one may be.
And finally, Cousin Steve provides the blipvert campaign analysis:
What I don't get about these Geico campaigns is why they are all over the place thematically.
You've been discussing the Caveman theme.
They had that little green Gekko going for a while.
They still have the celebrity interpretive campaign, that's where Burt Bacharach, Little Richard, or that that from the movie promo reels interprets the customer's experience with the company.
Pretty soon, they will realize that the cost of advertising is going to have to be passed on to their customers. Then, Zoom, there go the insurance rates.
Finally....
Out of sequence, but Walr@ had this comment, which gives it a nice bit o' closure:
Thanks. I'll go put on some tangerine lip gloss and read the article......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Thursday, February 1, 2007
THE LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES: BURNT SIENNA
Talk show appearances, variety show hosting duties, and game show participations don't normally count towards one's body of work in the League of Themselves, unless there was something unbelievably astounding about it. At best, such appearances on TV as one's self can be used to flavor the tally as colorful anecdotes.
That's certainly what happened for Sienna Miller yesterday, when the actress used that most popular of words in the dictionary of colorful language, "the F-Bomb".
Miller was on 'Today', probably touting her upcoming movie "Factory Girl". The camera showed her in advance of her appearance, sitting near the window sill with the outside crowds behind her as the show prepped to go into a commercial break.
Miller squirmed a bit from the unexpected attention and then gave a weak little wave just as the camera faded to black. But just before all contact was lost, you can clearly hear her mutter that F-Bomb.
And we're out!
You can see it for yourself here.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
That's certainly what happened for Sienna Miller yesterday, when the actress used that most popular of words in the dictionary of colorful language, "the F-Bomb".
Miller was on 'Today', probably touting her upcoming movie "Factory Girl". The camera showed her in advance of her appearance, sitting near the window sill with the outside crowds behind her as the show prepped to go into a commercial break.
Miller squirmed a bit from the unexpected attention and then gave a weak little wave just as the camera faded to black. But just before all contact was lost, you can clearly hear her mutter that F-Bomb.
And we're out!
You can see it for yourself here.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
02/07 TVXOHOF: MAID OF HONOR
I never understood why there was such a fuss made about 'Amos And Andy' being racially offensive and politically incorrect. Maybe that could be said about the radio version which spawned the TV show (since the characters were voiced by white men), but not the TV series.
I've seen a few episodes of the show and I just don't get that "offensive" angle. For the most part the characters were decent and hard-working and the situations they found themselves in were already to be found in sitcoms about white people. To me, the Kingfish scamming Amos and Andy could be translated into Ralph and Norton getting conned by Bilko.
If anything, I always found the characters on 'Good Times' to be more offensive and stereotypical, and yet that gets a berth on the TV Land sked.
Many of the shows that came out of the Lear/Yorkin factory in the mid-1970s utilized all kinds of stereotypes, no matter the race. But then they found a way to turn it on its head to illustrate some facet of the human condition.
And one of these stereotypes was that of the sassy, back-talking black maid which were especially prevalent in the early talkies of the thirties.
But for the 1970s, she was refashioned into a character played by Marla Gibbs on 'The Jeffersons'. Florence Johnston proved to be so popular, her character even moved in with George and Weezie and was eventually spun off into her own show.
Here's some relevant information from Wikipedia about Florence:
Florence was hired as a maid for George and Louise Jefferson. Originally, she was a recurring character; it was explained that she worked for the Jeffersons only a few days a week. Gibbs' character was popular, and she began appearing in more episodes.
In the episode "Louise Gets Her Way" (aired early in the third season), Florence moved in as a full-time maid after Florence explains to Louise that she had been evicted from her apartment building, which was scheduled to be razed. George, who is already tired of Florence's wisecracks and has not been consulted on allowing her to live with them, finds out and not only fires Florence, he kicks her out. However, Florence — thanks to her constant eavesdropping on phone conversations — is able to save George from falling victim to a crooked business deal, and he agrees to let her stay.
Florence and George often exchanged wisecracks, especially in the early years of the show. She usually took Louise's side when Louise and George argued. In later years, she found creative ways to avoid doing any work. Below is a good example:
The doorbell rings.
Louise: "Aren't you going to answer that?"
Florence: "You're closer"
When George had a potential client (a hotel owner) at his apartment to schmooze, Florence's wisecracks caused the visitor to offer her a job overseeing the housekeepers at his hotel. This was how they introduced the spinoff show Checking In. After only four episodes, Checking In was cancelled. Florence returned to The Jeffersons. On the show, it was mentioned that the hotel burned down.
In later years, the relationship between George and Florence improved, to the point that George included her in his will and put money away for her retirement.
[Thanks to Wikipedia for the information.]
After 'The Jeffersons' left the air, Florence still showed up in Toobworld. Three years ago, she enjoyed a trip to a tropical resort which was probably hosting a convention for "domestic engineers", as also present at the resort were maids and butlers like Alice ('The Brady Bunch'), Benson ('Soap', 'Benson'), Rosario ('Will & Grace') and Geoffrey ('The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air'). (This happened in a Swiffer blipvert which used to be available for viewing at www.homemadesimple.com, but alas! I don't see it listed there anymore.)
The connection to the Will Smith sitcom was actually established years earlier when Florence showed up in the sixth season episode "I, Done (Part Two)". That was the series finale in which the Jeffersons bought the mansion and planned to move in by Memorial Day. So it looks as though Florence has also living in California this past decade.
Marla Gibbs has also appeared in commercials for Sears (1984), the long distance phone service 10-10-321 (1998) and Doublemint Chewing Gum (2001). I can't verify this, but I would think that she was in character as Florence Johnston. This argument could be made especially for the phone carrier, as they used other actors as they looked in their more familiar roles, like Christopher Lloyd as taxi driver Reverend Jim Ignatowski.
But at any rate, with the appearance on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' finale, in the Swiffer ad, and with her own spinoff 'Checking In', the maid for 'The Jeffersons' was certainly moving on up for herself.
And as such, she is being inducted into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame for February, 2007, in honor of Black History Month. And there she will join her employers, George and Louise Jefferson, who were inducted together in February of 2002.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
I've seen a few episodes of the show and I just don't get that "offensive" angle. For the most part the characters were decent and hard-working and the situations they found themselves in were already to be found in sitcoms about white people. To me, the Kingfish scamming Amos and Andy could be translated into Ralph and Norton getting conned by Bilko.
If anything, I always found the characters on 'Good Times' to be more offensive and stereotypical, and yet that gets a berth on the TV Land sked.
Many of the shows that came out of the Lear/Yorkin factory in the mid-1970s utilized all kinds of stereotypes, no matter the race. But then they found a way to turn it on its head to illustrate some facet of the human condition.
And one of these stereotypes was that of the sassy, back-talking black maid which were especially prevalent in the early talkies of the thirties.
But for the 1970s, she was refashioned into a character played by Marla Gibbs on 'The Jeffersons'. Florence Johnston proved to be so popular, her character even moved in with George and Weezie and was eventually spun off into her own show.
Here's some relevant information from Wikipedia about Florence:
Florence was hired as a maid for George and Louise Jefferson. Originally, she was a recurring character; it was explained that she worked for the Jeffersons only a few days a week. Gibbs' character was popular, and she began appearing in more episodes.
In the episode "Louise Gets Her Way" (aired early in the third season), Florence moved in as a full-time maid after Florence explains to Louise that she had been evicted from her apartment building, which was scheduled to be razed. George, who is already tired of Florence's wisecracks and has not been consulted on allowing her to live with them, finds out and not only fires Florence, he kicks her out. However, Florence — thanks to her constant eavesdropping on phone conversations — is able to save George from falling victim to a crooked business deal, and he agrees to let her stay.
Florence and George often exchanged wisecracks, especially in the early years of the show. She usually took Louise's side when Louise and George argued. In later years, she found creative ways to avoid doing any work. Below is a good example:
The doorbell rings.
Louise: "Aren't you going to answer that?"
Florence: "You're closer"
When George had a potential client (a hotel owner) at his apartment to schmooze, Florence's wisecracks caused the visitor to offer her a job overseeing the housekeepers at his hotel. This was how they introduced the spinoff show Checking In. After only four episodes, Checking In was cancelled. Florence returned to The Jeffersons. On the show, it was mentioned that the hotel burned down.
In later years, the relationship between George and Florence improved, to the point that George included her in his will and put money away for her retirement.
[Thanks to Wikipedia for the information.]
After 'The Jeffersons' left the air, Florence still showed up in Toobworld. Three years ago, she enjoyed a trip to a tropical resort which was probably hosting a convention for "domestic engineers", as also present at the resort were maids and butlers like Alice ('The Brady Bunch'), Benson ('Soap', 'Benson'), Rosario ('Will & Grace') and Geoffrey ('The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air'). (This happened in a Swiffer blipvert which used to be available for viewing at www.homemadesimple.com, but alas! I don't see it listed there anymore.)
The connection to the Will Smith sitcom was actually established years earlier when Florence showed up in the sixth season episode "I, Done (Part Two)". That was the series finale in which the Jeffersons bought the mansion and planned to move in by Memorial Day. So it looks as though Florence has also living in California this past decade.
Marla Gibbs has also appeared in commercials for Sears (1984), the long distance phone service 10-10-321 (1998) and Doublemint Chewing Gum (2001). I can't verify this, but I would think that she was in character as Florence Johnston. This argument could be made especially for the phone carrier, as they used other actors as they looked in their more familiar roles, like Christopher Lloyd as taxi driver Reverend Jim Ignatowski.
But at any rate, with the appearance on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' finale, in the Swiffer ad, and with her own spinoff 'Checking In', the maid for 'The Jeffersons' was certainly moving on up for herself.
And as such, she is being inducted into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame for February, 2007, in honor of Black History Month. And there she will join her employers, George and Louise Jefferson, who were inducted together in February of 2002.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
"GALACTICA" ZONKS "MARS"
'Veronica Mars' had the potential for a massive Zonk this week with a long high-five to 'Battlestar Galactica'. Her client Max talked in detail about how he bonded with a girl named Chelsea at ComicCon (THE big sci-fi convention) who shared his passion for all things 'Galactica' (including the observation that the spaceships look like the Batmobile in flight).
But unlike the Zonking of 'Studio 60' by 'Heroes', there's an easy way around this. First off, for the entertainment of the viewing audience, all of the references to 'Battlestar Galactica' are meant to be about the remake of the series currently airing on Sci-Fi. And as a remake, the show does not exist in the same dimension as 'Veronica Mars'. So right there, a Zonk is defused.
But there is a 'Battlestar Galactica' that did take place in the main Toobworld. It was set decades ago and in its own sequel, the ragtag fleet finally made it to Earth about 27 years ago. Once they arrived on Toobworld, the Galacticans wasted no time in embedding themselves into the fabric that makes up Earth Prime-Time, with links to 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman' and its spinoffs (with the TV network UBS), and with McCloud (thanks to an appearance by Sgt. Grover as played by Ken Lynch).
In the quarter century plus since they've been in the main TV dimension, the Galacticans have possibly gone on to infiltrate Toobworld society further. It's my contention, for example, that certain rebel members of their race contributed to the aggressions of the Eugenics wars of the 1990s.
And eventually, the news of their existence living among us came out (probably in an untelevised situation in which they were able to deflect and destroy the invading Cylon fleet that followed them to Sol). As such, it's believable that TV characters in other shows are aware of their existence and will sometimes mention the flagship of their spaceships (which have probably all been cannibalized to further the scientific advancements on Toobworld which separate TV Land from the real world).
As I mentioned once before in a post about 'Gilmore Girls', even the slang of the Galactican refugees would find its way into the language of native-born Terrans. Even if they had no clue their friends, neighbors, and co-workers may have come from alien worlds like Caprica, the people would pick up the usage of the epithet "frak" and freely adapt it to their own use.
There is, however, one reference that can't be attributed to the original version of 'Battlestar Galactica'. Veronica, in dissing the whole fan-boy obsession over 'BG', mentioned a girl named "Six".
On the remake, Six is an evolved Cylon android who doesn't look like the tin-can original, but is instead almost human in appearance, right down to the cellular structure. (One of them even bred with a human to produce a child!)
But for the original series, the Cylons always were the clinking, clanking, clattering, calliginous piles of junk.
So who could be Six in relation to the original 'Battlestar Galactica' as seen on Toobworld?
It's my belief that the reference is once again drawn from common knowledge among the Toobworlders. Six could be Six LeMeure, a character who was the "fast-talking, boy-crazy" best friend of 'Blossom'. But instead of being an evolved Cylon, she is a Galactican raised on Earth and who probably gained notoriety for being an alien child.
Assuming Six LeMeure is the same age as the actress who plays her (Jenna Von Oy), Six would have been born in 1977 (by Terran years). As the space fleet didn't reach Toobworld until 1980 (can't fight the facts of a title!), she couldn't be the equivalent of Virginia Dare of Roanoke, by being the first of her kind to be born in the New World.
That's my splainin, and I'm sticking to it!
For good measure, there were fleeting mentions of 'Star Trek' and "Star Wars", but both of those shows have been given their "Get Out Of Zonkdom Free" cards long ago and this has been way too long as it is to go back into those discussions!
Zonk averted. "So say we all."
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
But unlike the Zonking of 'Studio 60' by 'Heroes', there's an easy way around this. First off, for the entertainment of the viewing audience, all of the references to 'Battlestar Galactica' are meant to be about the remake of the series currently airing on Sci-Fi. And as a remake, the show does not exist in the same dimension as 'Veronica Mars'. So right there, a Zonk is defused.
But there is a 'Battlestar Galactica' that did take place in the main Toobworld. It was set decades ago and in its own sequel, the ragtag fleet finally made it to Earth about 27 years ago. Once they arrived on Toobworld, the Galacticans wasted no time in embedding themselves into the fabric that makes up Earth Prime-Time, with links to 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman' and its spinoffs (with the TV network UBS), and with McCloud (thanks to an appearance by Sgt. Grover as played by Ken Lynch).
In the quarter century plus since they've been in the main TV dimension, the Galacticans have possibly gone on to infiltrate Toobworld society further. It's my contention, for example, that certain rebel members of their race contributed to the aggressions of the Eugenics wars of the 1990s.
And eventually, the news of their existence living among us came out (probably in an untelevised situation in which they were able to deflect and destroy the invading Cylon fleet that followed them to Sol). As such, it's believable that TV characters in other shows are aware of their existence and will sometimes mention the flagship of their spaceships (which have probably all been cannibalized to further the scientific advancements on Toobworld which separate TV Land from the real world).
As I mentioned once before in a post about 'Gilmore Girls', even the slang of the Galactican refugees would find its way into the language of native-born Terrans. Even if they had no clue their friends, neighbors, and co-workers may have come from alien worlds like Caprica, the people would pick up the usage of the epithet "frak" and freely adapt it to their own use.
There is, however, one reference that can't be attributed to the original version of 'Battlestar Galactica'. Veronica, in dissing the whole fan-boy obsession over 'BG', mentioned a girl named "Six".
On the remake, Six is an evolved Cylon android who doesn't look like the tin-can original, but is instead almost human in appearance, right down to the cellular structure. (One of them even bred with a human to produce a child!)
But for the original series, the Cylons always were the clinking, clanking, clattering, calliginous piles of junk.
So who could be Six in relation to the original 'Battlestar Galactica' as seen on Toobworld?
It's my belief that the reference is once again drawn from common knowledge among the Toobworlders. Six could be Six LeMeure, a character who was the "fast-talking, boy-crazy" best friend of 'Blossom'. But instead of being an evolved Cylon, she is a Galactican raised on Earth and who probably gained notoriety for being an alien child.
Assuming Six LeMeure is the same age as the actress who plays her (Jenna Von Oy), Six would have been born in 1977 (by Terran years). As the space fleet didn't reach Toobworld until 1980 (can't fight the facts of a title!), she couldn't be the equivalent of Virginia Dare of Roanoke, by being the first of her kind to be born in the New World.
That's my splainin, and I'm sticking to it!
For good measure, there were fleeting mentions of 'Star Trek' and "Star Wars", but both of those shows have been given their "Get Out Of Zonkdom Free" cards long ago and this has been way too long as it is to go back into those discussions!
Zonk averted. "So say we all."
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
"STUDIO 60": ZONKED ON THE SUNSET STRIP
Masi Oka guest-starred as himself on this week's episode of 'Studio 60'. The episode can either be considered as the first part of an unnecessary two-parter, or as the middle segment in a tediously drawn-out trilogy. (Gods of Kobol, I hope the Harriet dinner storylines end next week!)
The actor's contribution to the episode showed him filming promos for the show-within-a-show, also known as 'Studio 60 (Live On The Sunset Strip)'. It's a great premise for utilizing quick cameos by the guest stars - the promos for 'Saturday Night Live' have been a staple on the air for years (and sometimes they're even funnier than the show they're promoting!)
But with these promos, much ado was made about Masi Oka starring in 'Heroes': he came right out and said that he was starring in NBC's mega-hit; 'Studio 60' cast member Harriet Hayes appeared in the promo with him dressed as a cheerleader and whispering "Save me, save the show!"; and he had to explain to her that the character she was spoofing was indestructible while his character could bend time.
I gotta tell ya, to me this looks like an insurmountable Zonk. In a perfect Toobworld, 'Studio 60' and 'Heroes' should be existing in the same dimension, and not think of each other as being TV shows. I've dodged a few Zonk bullets in the past in regards to 'Studio 60' - a show about the behind-the-scenes machinations of a late-night TV show is bound to have them! - but this time I think I've met my match.
In the past I would have done the pretzel logic thang - twisting myself into a chiropractic nightmare until I came up with a suitable splainin to keep both shows in the same TV dimension. I did this for 'Studio 60' when a "Bartlet 4 America" poster showed up on the wall of one of the dressing rooms.
But the thing of it is, I just don't think it's worth the trouble anymore. I had such high hopes for 'Studio 60' when I first saw the pilot via Netflix. And then the next three episodes made me alternate between anger and nausea as I watched Sorkin basically use his show as a combination soapbox and cudgel. There was a glimmer of hope that things were improving as the Christmas break approached, but these last two episodes (the first since the show's return) have dashed those hopes.
Trading in the soapbox for old cliches is certainly not the step in the right direction.
It's a shame too, because there are characters I really like on this show - Matt, Lucy, Cal, Jack, Wilson White, and Mark McKinney's staff writer, - and I hate to see them wasted like this. (Not that it probably matters, but I had tired of Bradley Whitford as Josh on 'The West Wing' before the role expanded with the Santos campaign, and I'm finding his character of Danny on this show to be creepy.)
So I'm ready to just wash my hands of the whole show and banish it into the Toobworld corn-field - some other TV dimension where it can Zonk away at its heart's content.
I don't really care which dimension to place it, although I think the one where characters think of all other TV shows AS TV shows (where 'Hi Honey, I'm Home' resides) might be the best fit. But I do know that it probably can't be the same dimension where you'll find 'The West Wing' (and 'Mr. Sterling' and 'Smallville') even though that "Bartlet 4 America" poster could be seen on the show. Despite the Sorkin connection, I'm fairly certain that George W. Bush is the President of the United States as far as 'Studio 60' is concerned, and not Matt Santos.
So adios, 'Studio 60'. I'm leaving you locked out on the Toobworld roof. I'm not ready to give up on simply watching the show just yet, but then that's due more to the fact that I'm taping prime-time while I sleep/get ready for work/commute to my overnight job, and there's really nothing else on at 10 pm on a Monday night that interests me.
Not much of a recommendation, that.....
The only one coming out of this Zonk smelling like a Rose is Masi Oka. Despite the fact that 'Studio 60' is now banished to an alternate dimension, there is no adverse effect on his tally for inclusion in the League of Themselves. If he can appear in three more TV series as himself, he could eventually be inducted into that wing of the TV Crossover Hall of Fame!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
The actor's contribution to the episode showed him filming promos for the show-within-a-show, also known as 'Studio 60 (Live On The Sunset Strip)'. It's a great premise for utilizing quick cameos by the guest stars - the promos for 'Saturday Night Live' have been a staple on the air for years (and sometimes they're even funnier than the show they're promoting!)
But with these promos, much ado was made about Masi Oka starring in 'Heroes': he came right out and said that he was starring in NBC's mega-hit; 'Studio 60' cast member Harriet Hayes appeared in the promo with him dressed as a cheerleader and whispering "Save me, save the show!"; and he had to explain to her that the character she was spoofing was indestructible while his character could bend time.
I gotta tell ya, to me this looks like an insurmountable Zonk. In a perfect Toobworld, 'Studio 60' and 'Heroes' should be existing in the same dimension, and not think of each other as being TV shows. I've dodged a few Zonk bullets in the past in regards to 'Studio 60' - a show about the behind-the-scenes machinations of a late-night TV show is bound to have them! - but this time I think I've met my match.
In the past I would have done the pretzel logic thang - twisting myself into a chiropractic nightmare until I came up with a suitable splainin to keep both shows in the same TV dimension. I did this for 'Studio 60' when a "Bartlet 4 America" poster showed up on the wall of one of the dressing rooms.
But the thing of it is, I just don't think it's worth the trouble anymore. I had such high hopes for 'Studio 60' when I first saw the pilot via Netflix. And then the next three episodes made me alternate between anger and nausea as I watched Sorkin basically use his show as a combination soapbox and cudgel. There was a glimmer of hope that things were improving as the Christmas break approached, but these last two episodes (the first since the show's return) have dashed those hopes.
Trading in the soapbox for old cliches is certainly not the step in the right direction.
It's a shame too, because there are characters I really like on this show - Matt, Lucy, Cal, Jack, Wilson White, and Mark McKinney's staff writer, - and I hate to see them wasted like this. (Not that it probably matters, but I had tired of Bradley Whitford as Josh on 'The West Wing' before the role expanded with the Santos campaign, and I'm finding his character of Danny on this show to be creepy.)
So I'm ready to just wash my hands of the whole show and banish it into the Toobworld corn-field - some other TV dimension where it can Zonk away at its heart's content.
I don't really care which dimension to place it, although I think the one where characters think of all other TV shows AS TV shows (where 'Hi Honey, I'm Home' resides) might be the best fit. But I do know that it probably can't be the same dimension where you'll find 'The West Wing' (and 'Mr. Sterling' and 'Smallville') even though that "Bartlet 4 America" poster could be seen on the show. Despite the Sorkin connection, I'm fairly certain that George W. Bush is the President of the United States as far as 'Studio 60' is concerned, and not Matt Santos.
So adios, 'Studio 60'. I'm leaving you locked out on the Toobworld roof. I'm not ready to give up on simply watching the show just yet, but then that's due more to the fact that I'm taping prime-time while I sleep/get ready for work/commute to my overnight job, and there's really nothing else on at 10 pm on a Monday night that interests me.
Not much of a recommendation, that.....
The only one coming out of this Zonk smelling like a Rose is Masi Oka. Despite the fact that 'Studio 60' is now banished to an alternate dimension, there is no adverse effect on his tally for inclusion in the League of Themselves. If he can appear in three more TV series as himself, he could eventually be inducted into that wing of the TV Crossover Hall of Fame!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
"Through a dozen adventures, which have had no resolution,
We now come to an end to this, this morality play."
Wo Fat
'Hawaii Five-O'
We now come to an end to this, this morality play."
Wo Fat
'Hawaii Five-O'
Sunday, January 28, 2007
THIRD EARL OF KENT
One of the many ways in which the Television Universe differs greatly from that of the Trueniverse, our world of "reality":
Among the letters of recommendation solicited by 'Studio 60' producer Danny Tripp to impress the woman he wanted to woo was one from the Third Earl of Kent.
I'm no expert on the peerage, but here in the real world it looks like the title of "Third Earl Of Kent" was rendered "extinct" in 1407.
Apparently, the title is still in use today in Toobworld. If the Third Earl of Kent ever does show up on 'Studio 60', it would be nice to bring in another Sorkin alumni to play the role - Roger Rees, who was Lord John Marbury in 'The West Wing'. (And would it be too much to hope for that his name should be Clark?)
Or perhaps in Toobworld, the Third Earl of Kent is a hip-hop artist's stage name or some such. Maybe the name of an entire rock band.
Good thing 'Studio 60' doesn't take place in the sketch comedy dimension. Because then Jordan would have received a letter of recommendation from Lord and Lady Douchebag!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Ladies and gentlemen, the Third Earl of Kent has left the building!
Among the letters of recommendation solicited by 'Studio 60' producer Danny Tripp to impress the woman he wanted to woo was one from the Third Earl of Kent.
I'm no expert on the peerage, but here in the real world it looks like the title of "Third Earl Of Kent" was rendered "extinct" in 1407.
Apparently, the title is still in use today in Toobworld. If the Third Earl of Kent ever does show up on 'Studio 60', it would be nice to bring in another Sorkin alumni to play the role - Roger Rees, who was Lord John Marbury in 'The West Wing'. (And would it be too much to hope for that his name should be Clark?)
Or perhaps in Toobworld, the Third Earl of Kent is a hip-hop artist's stage name or some such. Maybe the name of an entire rock band.
Good thing 'Studio 60' doesn't take place in the sketch comedy dimension. Because then Jordan would have received a letter of recommendation from Lord and Lady Douchebag!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Ladies and gentlemen, the Third Earl of Kent has left the building!
GALACTICAN BANDSTAND
Television theme songs don't really play a role in the lives of Toobworld residents. They're part of the overall universal "atmosphere", along with credits and commercial interruptions, that is experienced by the real world audience. Sometimes their lyrics are quoted by other TV characters and this is either an indication that the character is tele-cognizant (aware of his surroundings as a TV show), or it's just a Zonk that would have to be dealt with.
So the fact that tonight's episode of 'Battlestar Galactica' uses a lyric from the theme song for 'Cheers' isn't of major concern in Toobworld televisiology. Not only is "Taking A Break From All Your Worries" a song lyric but it's also a title, and no one on board the Galactica in Joe's Bar should have any awareness of it.
Besides, there's also no Zonk violation in its use even if Lee or Sam or some other battle-weary Galactican utters it. 'Cheers' and this new version of 'Battlestar Galactica' are part of the TV Universe, but in alternate dimensions. 'Cheers' is to be found on Earth Prime-Time, the main Toobworld, while 'BG' is still wandering through their own final frontier in search of Earth Prime-Time/Remake.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
So the fact that tonight's episode of 'Battlestar Galactica' uses a lyric from the theme song for 'Cheers' isn't of major concern in Toobworld televisiology. Not only is "Taking A Break From All Your Worries" a song lyric but it's also a title, and no one on board the Galactica in Joe's Bar should have any awareness of it.
Besides, there's also no Zonk violation in its use even if Lee or Sam or some other battle-weary Galactican utters it. 'Cheers' and this new version of 'Battlestar Galactica' are part of the TV Universe, but in alternate dimensions. 'Cheers' is to be found on Earth Prime-Time, the main Toobworld, while 'BG' is still wandering through their own final frontier in search of Earth Prime-Time/Remake.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
WHAT BECOMES A LEGEND MOST?
Members of the League of Themselves don't have to actually appear in a TV show to add credits to their body of work in Toobworld. All that is needed is for a TV character to mention something that they did, prefereably something fictional.
For example, we actually saw Tom Hanks getting his pants zipper worked over by a waitress in a four star restaurant, thanks to 'The Naked Truth'. So that established the televersion of the two-time Academy Award winner in Toobworld. But thanks to 'Unhappily Ever After', we know he also clobbered the main character with his Oscar.
We didn't see it happen, but we were told it did, and that's good enough.
So with that in mind, we can now use the League of Themselves to link 'Studio 60' to 'The Sopranos', thanks to the legendary Lauren Bacall.
In his disturbing pursuit of his boss Jordan McDeare, Danny Tripp flooded her office with letters of recommendation from noted celebrities in all walks of life. (When she begged him to stop, - to stop the entire courtship idea, - he could have done the noble thing and accepted that she was not interested. Instead, he told her no. TV critic Alan Sepinwall had a word for his behavior: "squicky".)
One of the letters of recommendation was from Ms. Bacall, who last year was mugged for her celebrity gift basket by mobster Christophuh Moltisanti in an episode of 'The Sopranos'.
So Ms. Bacall is the link between 'Studio 60' and 'The Sopranos'.
Technically, Martin Scorcese also links the two series. He also sent a letter of recommendation to Jordan on Danny's behalf, and he was also seen in 'The Sopranos'. However, he was portrayed by a lookalike and so didn't actually appear as himself.
But the lookalike was seen so fleetingly and was so convincing in the look, that I'm willing accept him as the real thing.
The film director did portray himself in another HBO series, 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', in which he directed Larry David in the role of a mob boss.
I guess those scenes can only be seen in the Toobworld version of "The Departed".....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
For example, we actually saw Tom Hanks getting his pants zipper worked over by a waitress in a four star restaurant, thanks to 'The Naked Truth'. So that established the televersion of the two-time Academy Award winner in Toobworld. But thanks to 'Unhappily Ever After', we know he also clobbered the main character with his Oscar.
We didn't see it happen, but we were told it did, and that's good enough.
So with that in mind, we can now use the League of Themselves to link 'Studio 60' to 'The Sopranos', thanks to the legendary Lauren Bacall.
In his disturbing pursuit of his boss Jordan McDeare, Danny Tripp flooded her office with letters of recommendation from noted celebrities in all walks of life. (When she begged him to stop, - to stop the entire courtship idea, - he could have done the noble thing and accepted that she was not interested. Instead, he told her no. TV critic Alan Sepinwall had a word for his behavior: "squicky".)
One of the letters of recommendation was from Ms. Bacall, who last year was mugged for her celebrity gift basket by mobster Christophuh Moltisanti in an episode of 'The Sopranos'.
So Ms. Bacall is the link between 'Studio 60' and 'The Sopranos'.
Technically, Martin Scorcese also links the two series. He also sent a letter of recommendation to Jordan on Danny's behalf, and he was also seen in 'The Sopranos'. However, he was portrayed by a lookalike and so didn't actually appear as himself.
But the lookalike was seen so fleetingly and was so convincing in the look, that I'm willing accept him as the real thing.
The film director did portray himself in another HBO series, 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', in which he directed Larry David in the role of a mob boss.
I guess those scenes can only be seen in the Toobworld version of "The Departed".....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
BROTHERS & SISTERS & ANGELS
It was another case of serendipiteevee....
After I defused those three Zonks from 'Veronica Mars', I decided to watch my tape of 'The Knights Of Prosperity'. I set it up after an episode of 'Brothers & Sisters' from before Christmas which I had not yet seen, so I decided to watch that first.
And during the episode, it was mentioned that the character of Holly Harper had been in the movie "Being There" and in 'Charlie's Angels', one of those shows I had de-Zonked for 'Veronica Mars'.
The first thing I did was to check the IMDb.com for Patricia Wettig's credits, to see if she had been involved with either production. If so, it would have qualified for an in-joke. But her career - at least, officially, - began after "Being There" was released.
I dismissed the Peter Sellers movie right off, as there was no reason to blend the movie universe with Toobworld to include it.
With 'Charlie's Angels', I couldn't just dismiss the reference as being about the movies since I accepted them as part of the TV Universe that same day.
So I decided to use this latest Zonk attempt to illustrate my splainin.
Nora Walker mentioned that she set her DVR to pick up "Holly Harper" appearances and she recorded her at 4 am in 'Charlie's Angels'. For in the real world, that could have meant either the TV series or the movies.
But for the denizens of Toobworld, it refers to the hyupothetical reality show that might have been made about Charlie Townsend's detective agency.
In that previous splainin about 'Charlie's Angels', I talked about the reality show as being filmed after the events of the second movie. But it could just as easily have happened prior to the first one, in those twenty plus years since the series ended.
The character of Madison Lee in the second movie proves that life went on for the Angels. The reality show could have been flimed back in the 1980s, and Holly Harper might have been a client caught up in that taping.
But wouldn't it be cool if Charlie had hired Holly for her skills as an actress to assist in some case back then, doing undercover work? And it was all caught on tape so that in 2006, Nora Walker finally saw it as part of a reality show called 'Charlie's Angels'.
Zonk averted. One less headache for Ojai Foods.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
PS:
I never did watch that 'Knights Of Prosperity' episode.......
After I defused those three Zonks from 'Veronica Mars', I decided to watch my tape of 'The Knights Of Prosperity'. I set it up after an episode of 'Brothers & Sisters' from before Christmas which I had not yet seen, so I decided to watch that first.
And during the episode, it was mentioned that the character of Holly Harper had been in the movie "Being There" and in 'Charlie's Angels', one of those shows I had de-Zonked for 'Veronica Mars'.
The first thing I did was to check the IMDb.com for Patricia Wettig's credits, to see if she had been involved with either production. If so, it would have qualified for an in-joke. But her career - at least, officially, - began after "Being There" was released.
I dismissed the Peter Sellers movie right off, as there was no reason to blend the movie universe with Toobworld to include it.
With 'Charlie's Angels', I couldn't just dismiss the reference as being about the movies since I accepted them as part of the TV Universe that same day.
So I decided to use this latest Zonk attempt to illustrate my splainin.
Nora Walker mentioned that she set her DVR to pick up "Holly Harper" appearances and she recorded her at 4 am in 'Charlie's Angels'. For in the real world, that could have meant either the TV series or the movies.
But for the denizens of Toobworld, it refers to the hyupothetical reality show that might have been made about Charlie Townsend's detective agency.
In that previous splainin about 'Charlie's Angels', I talked about the reality show as being filmed after the events of the second movie. But it could just as easily have happened prior to the first one, in those twenty plus years since the series ended.
The character of Madison Lee in the second movie proves that life went on for the Angels. The reality show could have been flimed back in the 1980s, and Holly Harper might have been a client caught up in that taping.
But wouldn't it be cool if Charlie had hired Holly for her skills as an actress to assist in some case back then, doing undercover work? And it was all caught on tape so that in 2006, Nora Walker finally saw it as part of a reality show called 'Charlie's Angels'.
Zonk averted. One less headache for Ojai Foods.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
PS:
I never did watch that 'Knights Of Prosperity' episode.......
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