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Since it came on the air, MAD TV has been pretty much eating SNL's lunch every week, sketch for sketch. They're so much weirder, more willing to be offensive, and way less reliant on stupid "this-week's-pop-culture-reference" flailing.

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Tim Meadows is the most underrated guy in the history of the show. He's a genius of deadpan deliverary, and was very versatile, but he just doesn't have a fanbase for whatever reason. I think he's brilliant, one of the best ever.

He's not well-apreaciated because, apart from a few notable exceptions (Ferrell being the biggest), the SNL "star" players are the least apropriate sketch comedians. The best sketch comedy is based around ensemble and ever since Chevy Chase got huge after the first season, the show has become more a star factory than a sucessful sketch show and it's to the point where they're hiring schmucks like Jimmy Fallon who don't even pretend to have a sense of ensemble.

― Colin Beckett (Colin Beckett), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh my god! You've got to be kidding me about Mad TV. That could seriously be the least funny show to be on tv, ever. They are in humor deficit, Phil! I saw a bit just last night, and it was appalling.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I missed last night. What happened?

― Aja (aja), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

The sketch I saw last night was basically: "Starr Jones is FAT and BLACK! HAW HAW FATTY BLACK FATTY FAT FAT! HAW HAW! SHE'S SO FAT!"

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

The Star Jones sketch (and the Mike Tyson one --- speaking of stupid pop culture gags) on Mad TV last nite were beyond terrible....I actually felt bad for Star Jones cuz the sketch was so nasty and mean and just really not funny or clever in anyway. It reminded me of some high school jocks doing a sketch about the fat girl in a high school cafeteria.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Since it came on the air, MAD TV has been pretty much eating SNL's lunch every week, sketch for sketch. They're so much weirder, more willing to be offensive, and way less reliant on stupid "this-week's-pop-culture-reference" flailing.
-- Phil Freeman (newyorkisno...), February 22nd, 2004.

MAD TV's cast is comprised entirely of those people from high school who weren't really funny but talked loud and made fart noises so they won "class clown" at the end of the year. That, and they always bring in lame b-rate celebrities to help with sketches, and then kiss their asses.

― David Allen (David Allen), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw MadTV I think, two weeks ago. It was ok. But the one sketch I didn't like and didn't think was that funny was the one where they made fun of The Apprentice. It was stupid. And in the end, they ended up making fun of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in that same sketch.

― Aja (aja), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, they put some crap on the air sometimes. But I still say their batting average is way higher than SNL's. The one sketch that always sticks in my head is one about a male stripper at a bachelorette party who whips off his breakaway jeans to reveal huge, Marilyn-Manson-like orthopedic leg braces. He then attempts to continue his routine, as the assembled women shrink away in repulsion and horror. If SNL showed Horatio Sanz being beaten to death by chimps with fungo bats, it might be funnier than that.

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:57 (twenty-two years ago)

MAD TV's cast is comprised entirely of those people from high school who weren't really funny but talked loud and made fart noises so they won "class clown" at the end of the year.

That's not true at all. MadTV is fucking awful, but they've generally hired really talented people who did great work in Chicago. I have no idea how the show is so terrible, but the problem isn't the cast.

― Colin Beckett (Colin Beckett), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

For some reason, that old sketch on Mad TV that's my favorite, is that Pilsberry Dough Boy one. It's in claymation. The cops are after the Pilsberry Dough Boy, I forget why, but they shoot at him and the bullets go through him. He starts cursing at them and he sticks the middle finger at them. Finally while they have the shoot out in the kitchen, some cop shoves him into the oven and it's finally over for the Dough Boy.

I think I liked it so much because I was younger. I still really like it though.

― Aja (aja), Sunday, 22 February 2004 22:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I disagree about the cast of Mad TV - they may have some technical chops, but no one who has ever been on that show has any presence or charisma. Everyone they hire is generic and bland, and very obviously all of the people who aren't good enough to get on SNL or any other sketch show on television. It's bottom-of-the-barrel leftover talent. If sketch comedy was college, Mad TV would be community college.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 22 February 2004 22:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I generally like the one guy on Mad TV (tall guy with brown short curly hair) who has been on the show forever...I guess I'm missing the good sketches, Phil, but I feel like I watch on a semi-consistent basis.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Sunday, 22 February 2004 22:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Isn't that the guy who plays that woman's retarded son?

― Aja (aja), Sunday, 22 February 2004 22:11 (twenty-two years ago)

yep.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Sunday, 22 February 2004 22:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I hate that make up he puts on his face. I did like that sketch when he wanted cowboy boots and his mom was trying to get the sales lady to help trick him and buy him sneekers insead. The sales lady got all pissed off and ended up giving him the boots.

― Aja (aja), Sunday, 22 February 2004 22:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I would say that the problem isn't lack of presence or charisma on the part of the cast, but maybe that they're more geared toward stage than TV. The way both Mad TV and SNL farm out talent hurts the improv/sketch ensemble process. I think the people Mad TV hires are more cognizant of this, so instead of ending up with tons of people climbing all over each other to become celebrities, they churn out a watered down in-between version of good sketch and SNL, which is the opposite side of the same coin.

― Colin Beckett (Colin Beckett), Sunday, 22 February 2004 23:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think that the people who end up on SNL necessarily have to "climb all over each other" in order to become famous - in most cases, SNL hires people with a stronger sense of individuality than those who end up on Mad TV (and other shows too - most of the non-Bob and David players on Mr. Show were very nondescript for example) - the type of people who would be successful with or without the show because they are more compelling and/or memorable people. Even in the case of very weak former cast members like Jim Breuer or Melanie Hutsell, they are if nothing very memorable and unique players.

The only Mad TV person to ever make it to SNL is Jeff Richards, who is a boring guy with a lot of bad characters, and has recently been fired. It's pretty obvious why he didn't fit in.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 23 February 2004 00:38 (twenty-two years ago)

>Jim Breuer...memorable and unique

"Hey, honey, remember that stomach virus I got that nearly killed me? I'll never forget that." Jim Breuer is that kind of memorable.

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Monday, 23 February 2004 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I love that this has morphed into a TS: SNL or Mad TV thread.

by the by Mad TV wretched and makes me wretch when I watch it (though they occasionally fall into a good sketch) they equate yelling and repeating annoying quirks w/comedy. also the sketch w/the tall guy that has rosy cheek make up and pretends hes a little kid ('stuart' I think) is awful but they continue to do a sketch w//the character almost every show!

― christhamrin (christhamrin), Monday, 23 February 2004 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Phil, I'm with you on disliking Breuer, but yeah, that's exactly it. He's at least memorable in how terrible he is. The folks on Mad TV tend to be just as poor, but they are so faceless that most people wouldn't be able to pull them out of a police lineup after watching a 24 hour marathon of the show.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 23 February 2004 15:13 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

I'm shocked and horrified, but...I recently realized I like Maroon 5. While "Harder To Breathe" offended me in the brief snippets I'd hear before switching radio stations, I finally noticed that really loud gasping sound during the chorus and, well, the hook got me hooked. Now the song sounds like the most interesting Lenny Kravitz song ever (at least by default). And while "This Love"'s video features the most horrifying visual I've ever seen (when he's laying on top of the girl and the flower petals swirl around them), it's a pretty pleasant little song on the radio (plus paying attention to the lyrics have made both songs more interesting than they were when I just focused on the disgusting mainstream-visual qualities). He's got the kind of voice I could see a lot of people finding annoying, but I dunno, both their singles are pretty enjoyable.

Sigh.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 13:20 (twenty-two years ago)

"This Love" is such a great song!

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Incidently, the flower petals weren't supposed to be a part of the video; they were added in some post-janet stupidity.

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow, there are some people here who like "This Love" too! I remember reading this thread after hearing "Harder to Breathe" (not great) and I just assumed everyone would hate their second one too.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 16:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Incidently, the flower petals weren't supposed to be a part of the video; they were added in some post-janet stupidity.

Actually, that makes me feel a lot better. Sophie Muller's one of my favorite videos and I hated the idea that the worst image I'd ever seen was her idea.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

they were added in some post-janet stupidity.

Beautifully worded! Cheers!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Sophie Muller's one of my favorite videos

videomakers.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:19 (twenty-two years ago)

That you actually have "favorite" videomakers is somewhat astouding, Antoine.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I went to film school, yo. Originally I wanted to be one. Now I've realized I'd rather songs didn't have videos, but I like Sophie Muller because she focuses more on faces and people rather than effects.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

"This Love" is not a highlight of her filmography.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, man, I should re-tract my statement, as I can name a videomaker (isn't "director" the term?) who I particularly admire. Notably ZBIG RYBCZYNSKI, who shot the clip for Belfegore's sadly rarely-seen "All that I Wanted," which would rock a new part in your mullet, you shameless Good Charlotte fanboy.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

No hyphen in "retract", no?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

video director, videomaker, film director, filmmaker, whatever

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:34 (twenty-two years ago)

What's to dislike with "This Love"? It seems like a very well-constructed melody with relatively interesting chord changes and a tasteful arrangement.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:37 (twenty-two years ago)

"This Love" is a really interesting song, I think. I like the melody/chord changes and the fake funk (very very fake), and the production is closer to a pop record than a radio-rock one, which is a wonderful relief.

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

OK, I'm going to listen next time I hear it come on the radio, but I am suspicious about the chord progressions in that song being interesting. Maybe I'm wrong.

― Tim Ellison, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:43 (twenty-two years ago)

The comments above inspired me to listen to it again. Nope: his voice, lyrics, and the Jamiroquai-style music and melody still make me want to get as FAR away as possible.

This is definitely my least favorite flavor of current pop music: sensitive-dude pop-rock.

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

They do sound a bit like Jokeyroquai, but for some reason they don't annoy me quite as much. "This Love" is okay.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I forgot to mention that I would never willfully listen to it. It is grating. I just think it's interesting is all.

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:53 (twenty-two years ago)

the production is closer to a pop record than a radio-rock one, which is a wonderful relief

this sums up much of the appeal of both singles for me, actually

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 22:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Little X is a good video director - check out his work with color on the (widescreen, I believe!) video for Wayne Wonder's "No Letting Go" (an excellent song too, I might add).

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 22:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Of course I kind of liked Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity" too.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 23:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I like "This Love" in *exactly* the same way as I like Soul Decision's "Faded", although I can't at present articulate what "way" that is.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 21 April 2004 01:24 (twenty-two years ago)

haha! perfect tim

― jeremy jordan (cruisy), Wednesday, 21 April 2004 02:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex, are you big upping that Belfegore video that's just a bunch of swooping camera shots interspliced? It's only one warehouse and one air snyth away from being "Seperate Ways", y'know.

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 21 April 2004 03:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha. Now that's a comparison I hadn't thought of!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 21 April 2004 03:01 (twenty-two years ago)

OMG. "Harder to Breath" just came on the radio. Oh, Lord, and of course I put Extremities...., I can't remember the who title of the album, in my cd player.

― Aja (aja), Wednesday, 21 April 2004 03:06 (twenty-two years ago)

The WHOLE

― Aja (aja), Wednesday, 21 April 2004 03:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex, are you big upping that Belfegore video that's just a bunch of swooping camera shots interspliced? It's only one warehouse and one air snyth away from being "Seperate Ways", y'know.

(1) It's a great deal more complicated than that --- and you know it.

(2) "Seperate Ways" is without question Journey's finest hour.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 21 April 2004 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

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