From Goode to Bad-ass 6

Comments View as Threaded

1. 

   GonzoDon Posted 3:49 am
   15 Aug 2008

   Good for the goose?Nothing wrong with poking fun at Whole-Foods-shopping, hybrid-driving, African-orphan-adopting, vegan-dog-having do-gooders.  Lord knows there's plenty to make fun of, and as Grist demonstrates it's healthy to have a sense of humor about these things.
   However I am curious: if there were an animated program that poked fun at the ridiculous and irrational beliefs of fundamentalist Christians, or portrayed SUV drivers as self-centered environmental criminals, or featured foreigners mocking U.S. citizens for their obsession with guns and big cars, and for their general ignorance about what's going on in rest of the world (only 95% of which is non-U.S.), would Americans be so amused?
   Consider: Mark Twain and H.L. Menken could never get published in any mainstream media today.  And T. Jefferson could never get elected president.  (Not since the news got out that he clipped his Holy Bible down to 26 pages that he felt provided "useful ethical precepts" rather than fanciful myths and unverifiable miracles).  Don't try that and run for president today, man!  
   Jefferson would have to settle for getting a job as a greeter at his local Wal-Mart.  No union benefits, of course.

   Permalink

2. 

   Biodiversivist Posted 8:13 am
   15 Aug 2008

   Goode Family might be funIf it's as good as King of the Hill, I'll be watching it.

   Permalink

3. 

   stopgreenpath Posted 12:30 pm
   15 Aug 2008

   i hope it's funnysome good points, Gonzo, although to be fair, the Simpsons, South Park and King of the Hill do wander a little into those territories sometimes...  Mark Twain had a sense of humor about Mark Twain, which was the basis of his genius, so all us greenies can just laugh along and STILL know we are superior (wink).
   the trailer thing for it looked incredibly trite and boring, which is, pretty much, in an interesting twist, what they are accusing the Goodes of being.  fingers crossed that it's actually funny, and that they aren't relying on mildly insulting stereotyping for the entire comedy line...

   Permalink

4. 

   archigeek Posted 1:26 am
   16 Aug 2008

   stopgreenpath...You need to read "The Innocents Abroad" to get a really good idea of how Mr. Twain viewed his fellow Americans. The basis of his genius could also encompass the ability to make us laugh at someone else's behavior, while secretly acknowledging that we, the audience and reader have very likely exhibited the very same foolish behavior. "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" is also another take on our American foibles. Enjoy.

   Permalink

5. 

   Delay And Deny Posted 3:33 am
   16 Aug 2008

   I already like it
   
   The kid on the right's name is "Ubuntu".
   I already like this show.
   
   

   Permalink

6. 

   Delay And Deny Posted 3:16 pm
   16 Aug 2008

   The Ties That Bindalthough to be fair, the Simpsons, South Park and King of the Hill
   Well, to be fair then, "Family Ties" set that paradigm up more than two decades ago:  the liberal dad and mom, the opening shot of them at Woodstock, he worked at a public tv station.  The kids were a future marketing director and a boy-crazed mall hopper who hated their parents frugal, granola ways as they tried to make it in the materialistic suburbs (...uh...wait...isn't that the plot of ....)
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iliLnQmaEOA

   Permalink