that corkboard thing was one of the funniest moments on the show, my god
― Maggie killed Quagmire (collest baby ever) (frogbs), Wednesday, 20 August 2014 12:29 (nine years ago) link
"Inside all of our anatomies there's two parts. There's a part that's a liar, and a part that's a cool guy."
― oblique blasphemies (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Thursday, 21 August 2014 10:08 (nine years ago) link
dumb Starbucks did not disappoint
― Peeking at Peak Petty (Sufjan Grafton), Friday, 22 August 2014 04:38 (nine years ago) link
i keep thinking there should have been more interesting material there (like how did the employees react to the media blow-up), but if there were, they would have shown it.
― Philip Nunez, Friday, 22 August 2014 05:22 (nine years ago) link
This show is the most tortured I've been between thinking it's the funniest thing I've seen in years and thinking he really is possibly an awful person who is blatantly exploiting (at best) unhappy people for a gag (thinking of the repeated cuts at the expense of the lonely guy who allows Nathan to test the 40-maids-in-6-minutes scheme; the woman who says she was assaulted by an 'entity' in Switzerland during the ghost real estate thing; even the lone shot of a woman crying to herself across the pet cemetery when he unveils the advertisement/headstone).
I even felt for all the people who would have been so excited to see the 'Johnny Depp' movie being filmed - though that sequence also had me doubled over in pain from laughing (when he repurposes the footage of the guy running through the souvenir shop as 'people were desperate to get supplies' or whatever I fucking lost it).
He's got to be some kind of sociopath to stand there through these horrible and often quite sad interactions just trusting it'll all wash out in the edit.
― Your Ribs are My Ladder, Monday, 1 September 2014 14:45 (nine years ago) link
There's definitely some tension there. I think it helps that the show often paints "Nathan" the character as being untrustworthy and openly manipulative, particularly in his constructed social behavior and his contradictory narration. If anything he mirrors some of the sadder characters you mention, and only seems to behave "naturally" when confronted by the truly out-there encounters that there's just no character protocol for, like the "entity" assault victim or the pee-drinker from S1.
― Simon H., Monday, 1 September 2014 14:58 (nine years ago) link
the show often paints "Nathan" the character as being untrustworthy and openly manipulative, particularly in his constructed social behavior and his contradictory narration.
But I guess my first problem is with the actual interactions as they occurred. These people aren't meeting someone they know to be those things - and they seem to sometimes be possibly fragile people who are getting dicked around.
And then the edit can be cruel for the sake of a joke that *isn't* part of the show's larger target of cheap/dumb/lazy marketing. I was aching watching Nathan asking that guy about his relationship status and seeing the guy trail off, going "Gosh, L.A. is just so.... hard...."
― Your Ribs are My Ladder, Monday, 1 September 2014 16:10 (nine years ago) link
We just started watching this, and def. getting Sacha Baron Cohen vibes from it. It's pretty funny, though. My wife was in tears during the gas rebate episode, which just gets so ... strange.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 1 September 2014 16:44 (nine years ago) link
I agree there's inherent sociopathy involved but probably to a lesser degree than actual makeover shows.
― Philip Nunez, Monday, 1 September 2014 17:02 (nine years ago) link
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, September 1, 2014 12:44 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
SBC vibes is exactly what bothers me about it. The being a dick to being funny ratio is just a little too high for me, and he seems a little too proud of his *deadpan* humor.
― 'arry Goldman (Hurting 2), Monday, 1 September 2014 18:10 (nine years ago) link
His hair also appears to be waxy like an otter's fur
― post...aftermath (Sufjan Grafton), Monday, 1 September 2014 19:13 (nine years ago) link
I think SBC goes farther to make people look stupid. Like, part of the joke of his stuff is that no one recognizes him as a cartoon and takes him seriously (the fools!). Nathan's pitches on the other hand at least operate within a skewed system of reality TV makeover logic, made funnier by his total deadpan. I mean, sometimes his ruses work! (See: Dumb Starbucks, pig rescues goat, King of Sting, etc.). And when they don't work, he hilariously tries to find some way to take credit anyway. Or sabotage the results, like turning the gas rebate scheme into this weird human interest story, not publicising the pig rescue, taking mock offense at the King of Sting.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 1 September 2014 21:10 (nine years ago) link
there’s a weird inconsistency in character when nathan gets upset at the quiznos rep for going too far, which makes me wonder if that amazingly wasn’t staged.
― Philip Nunez, Monday, 1 September 2014 21:20 (nine years ago) link
He is Canadian. I think that's normal for them.
― il balletto da bronx, yo (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Tuesday, 2 September 2014 03:07 (nine years ago) link
They call it a "pelt."http://www.glacierwear.com/media/catalog/category/Fur_Hats_Fur_Ear_Muffs_Fur_Acc.jpg
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 2 September 2014 13:58 (nine years ago) link
The Daddy's Watching/party planner episode might have been my favorite except it also had the weight loss bit which was the first one that really crossed into unnecessary cruelty for me. But I was so happy when he brought back the Bill Gates impersonator.
― Immediate Follower (NA), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:24 (nine years ago) link
The weight loss part was amazing but yeah that ending was rather tough to watch. The Bill Gates dude could be in every episode as far as I'm concerend.
Also, if this isn't a preview of season 3 I don't know what is:http://www.vocativ.com/money/business/gestations-bar-for-pregnant-women-viral-marketing-stunt/
― Maggie killed Quagmire (collest baby ever) (frogbs), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:29 (nine years ago) link
Considering he already did the free taxi rides for pregnant ladies I don't think that's a NFY bit. Speaking of which, I loved the part when he made the obstetrician pretend to be a mechanic to vet the midwife's credentials.
― Immediate Follower (NA), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:31 (nine years ago) link
"When we started Microsoft..."
― you walk on the street, grab the rock (President Keyes), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 23:03 (nine years ago) link
I've been listening to this every day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcrLSSlNZGs
― frogbs, Friday, 7 August 2015 20:33 (eight years ago) link
Managed 27 seconds.
― ewar woowar (or something), Friday, 7 August 2015 23:09 (eight years ago) link
33 here
― Aimless, Friday, 7 August 2015 23:41 (eight years ago) link
.53 and a lot of that was because I was in another tab and couldn't figure out what to close
― let's not get too excited w/ the ouches (forksclovetofu), Saturday, 8 August 2015 02:00 (eight years ago) link
Zippity-doo-dah for the Internet Age.
― Aimless, Saturday, 8 August 2015 02:05 (eight years ago) link
geez, youre missin the good part
― frogbs, Saturday, 8 August 2015 02:05 (eight years ago) link
and wisely avoiding all the rest
― Aimless, Saturday, 8 August 2015 02:08 (eight years ago) link
Nathan's lipsynching is fascinating.
― a poetic ODE to FORNICATION (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Saturday, 8 August 2015 20:46 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDs3sw098tU
― Number None, Monday, 21 September 2015 20:04 (eight years ago) link
ha, feels like he might step up his game to compete with Review
― the naive cockney chorus (Simon H.), Monday, 21 September 2015 20:06 (eight years ago) link
I'd say Nathan >>> Review but both shows are great
― frogbs, Monday, 21 September 2015 20:58 (eight years ago) link
I loved that he said he wanted to keep each season of his show low on episodes to keep quality high.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 21 September 2015 21:24 (eight years ago) link
what's review? google not coming up with the answers
― NI, Monday, 21 September 2015 22:42 (eight years ago) link
tell a lie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2141913/
8.3 stars on IMDBThat's 999,991.7 less than COCAINE!
― Why because she True and Interesting (President Keyes), Tuesday, 22 September 2015 22:02 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHBaVVIrONI
omg the soundproof sex box
― woman in the dunes, Thursday, 24 September 2015 17:25 (eight years ago) link
"Alligators, little doors... I'm seeing psychosis."
― frogbs, Friday, 16 October 2015 12:38 (eight years ago) link
god this one had everything didn't it
― frogbs, Friday, 16 October 2015 13:20 (eight years ago) link
Oh man that was great. When he brought the guy to be psychologically evaluated, we were rolling. "Oh yeah, we sell TVs for a dollar, but you need to wear a tuxedo, and you have to go through a little door first, past the alligator ..."
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 17 October 2015 03:32 (eight years ago) link
At this point I can't imagine actually watching this show as it airs on TV. There are always several points at which I need to pause and step away, either to recover from what just happened or to steel my nerves for what's coming next. In this episode those moments were (1) when he asks the guy in the Man Zone "what's your favorite posish" and (2) when you see the part of the store display with the human bones.
― JRN, Friday, 23 October 2015 18:21 (eight years ago) link
i watched both of those live and the answer is "i look away from the screen, wincing in pure embarrassment"this season has been A++ so far
― a llove spat over a llama-keeper (forksclovetofu), Friday, 23 October 2015 18:27 (eight years ago) link
the gun shop guy's message ringtone!
scale of 1 to 10, how fake was the rabbi?
― a llove spat over a llama-keeper (forksclovetofu), Friday, 23 October 2015 18:28 (eight years ago) link
not sure, but the gun shop owner was real as fuck
― the naive cockney chorus (Simon H.), Friday, 23 October 2015 18:29 (eight years ago) link
i don't believe in this bubblegum cotton candy world of yours where -UH OH UH OHis... is that your ringtone?
― a llove spat over a llama-keeper (forksclovetofu), Friday, 23 October 2015 18:30 (eight years ago) link
also I died at Nathan's insistence that the stable owner would definitely just be remembered for this stunt, and definitely not for any other reason
― the naive cockney chorus (Simon H.), Friday, 23 October 2015 18:31 (eight years ago) link
nathan explaining how missionary is his favorite position, "man on top, woman on bottom""nothing wrong with that!"
― a llove spat over a llama-keeper (forksclovetofu), Friday, 23 October 2015 18:31 (eight years ago) link
rabbi is real, he's a mohel in la. this show remains so fucking amazing.
― balls, Saturday, 24 October 2015 02:22 (eight years ago) link
died at him showing old usfl games
― balls, Saturday, 24 October 2015 02:23 (eight years ago) link
This show makes me uncomfortable ... It works as comedy in places but overall is just kind of creepy.
― calstars, Saturday, 24 October 2015 11:21 (eight years ago) link
Man, the fake oven ... my wife had to cover her eyes like she was watching surgery footage.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 24 October 2015 13:00 (eight years ago) link
He constantly seems like he’s trying to not even be relevant, just keep himself tethered to this marriage, tv show, partial friendship with Dougie, but… his tethers all fail
your analysis is interesting mh -- i have struggled to figure out how Asher fits into this at all as he seems to fuck up everything he touches and we have no idea where he comes from. i'll buy it!
― Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Friday, 26 January 2024 16:26 (two months ago) link
i do get a strong whiff of "i married a women whose family has money and i am not letting this go without a fight" only he's bad at fighting and also at everything else
― Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Friday, 26 January 2024 16:27 (two months ago) link
oops WOMAN
I think the end of the season is just a set up for S2 in which grown Asher plays baby Asher
― calstars, Sunday, 11 February 2024 19:20 (two months ago) link
Still fucking fuming about this
― X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Friday, 16 February 2024 01:17 (two months ago) link