Mr. Show with Bob and David: Genius or Overrated?

"if you don't like it, go take a dump in your hat."
Don't you mean on the American flag?

I can sort of see how if you don't get that vibe, it could be a really good show, but it's a bit like "if an elephant was small, white and round, it'd be an aspirin".

Oh really. Sure he wasn't just trying to be funny?

"Take it from me, I love you!"

scott so fucking OTM today. lemonade salesman, too.

btw, when was the last time you were funny? i'm thinking it was well before you threatened to get in a fistfight with roger adultery.

The show is certainly inconsistant, but they had some really incredible material. Both Mr. Show and the Upright Citizens Brigade tv show had some interesting ideas about working improv and live sketch formats into a television show, but I think both ultimately make the case for the supremecy of the live experience. (although Arrested Development plays with some of the same tools in a manner much more effective for television)

Hm...all right, let me serve up an example -- one sketch I found egregriously painful was the one in the restaurant where the staff is all falling over themselves to take care of the dude when he poops. So, was that a 'fake' sketch (and was I apparently unaware not to notice?)? (I'm not objecting to that approach -- see also SCTV, MST3K, etc. -- but I don't think it worked well here.)

like ILX is a good arbiter of what's funny. get off yo own nuts!!

-- miccio (anthonyisrigh...), April 23rd, 2005.

I mean even America's Funniest Home Videos has that smug Bob Saget cracking wry over the shots of dogs sliding around on ice.

-- miccio (anthonyisrigh...), April 23rd, 2005.

i'd understand the complaint if they, like, gratuitously paused for applause or something, but the show has a pretty zippy pace.

-- miccio (anthonyisrigh...), April 23rd, 2005.

otfm!

I was referring to the live segments--i.e. the "Space Dog" sketch.

As dumb as Lemonade Salesman's argument is, I don't know if "trying too hard" is a particularly useful criticism as it's phrased, especially when so much sketch could stand to try a lot harder (Michael Showalter, I'm looking at you). I haven't seen the poop sketch in a few years, but I'm remember it being executed very well--great raising the stakes, strong beats--but predicated on pretty weak ideas. Blount brought up Chappelle Show, which suffers from the opposite problem; great (if sometimes same-y) ideas, half-assed execution.

Is "Trying Too Hard" In Art Really THAT Bad?

I still love it.

yes

sad songs are nature's onions

paul f tompkins was chubby once

my shoes hurt too

i really love the jesus christ superstar sketch. i was obsessed with that movie at some point in my youth though.

gagortion

jcss is OK. not many lols.

the sketch i mean. the original is the best thing ever made.

yeah that sketch really goes on too long

It took me a while to start liking Mr. Show, to be honest. I had to get accustomed to it... but I think that happens with most sketch shows. You need to get a feel for the actors on the show, and for the writing. I am, however, a giant sketch comedy fan, so inevitably, this show became one of my favourite shows. When I was younger, I liked Cross best, but now it's definitely Odenkirk. All of the "best" parts I remember of his show were Bob-related... there's one sketch in particular whose name I forget, where Bob is this kid with a squeaky voice who's really down on himself, and David is his swearing friend who leaves in a jeep at one point... I think Bob says "aw, gee..." all the time. Anyone help me out here?

I still don't think I like it as much as Kids in the Hall, though, but I am a Canadian. Again, though, acquired taste?

no. kids in the hall are the greatest sketch comedy group of all time.

Hadn't watched this for a couple of years until I looked up a few favorites on YouTube yesterday. "Change for a Dollar" and the "Van Hammersley" (the guy who teaches you about history through billiards) sketches are still great.

yeah KITH is better, more consistent, generally weirder and relied much less on direct and obvious parodies

the Bob one you're thinking of Will is in Season 1, I think...? He wanders around complaining about how things change (leaves, streetlights, etc.) Its a pretty short interstitial piece if I recall.

altho yeh in general Bob >>>>>>>>>>>>> David

Kids in the Hall is superior (it's easily my favorite show of all time), but I still heart Mr. Show 2 tha max

maybe the key difference is that KITH stuff is generally character-driven, whereas Mr. Show is more concept-driven...?