I watched Batman to see Julie Newmar, Yvonne Craig, and Eartha Kitt. That way, I could avoid noticing how badly Adam West and Burt Ward were chewing the scenery.
As for Star Trek, I lost interest when it became obvious that the writers and producers honestly thought that a socialist, pacifist state (with Draconian measures toward its own citizens who failed to act "enlightened"- vis. the Maquis), could survive, let alone become as big and powerful as the UFP. Especially with neighbors like the Romulans, Cardassians, etc. Although long before they got done sharpening their knives for the Ides of March, the UFP would have collapsed under the weight of its own contradictions, economic and otherwise.
"Willing suspension of disbelief" on the audience's part has its limits. Mine go no further than FTL drive.
Taking absurdity so seriously puts me in mind of how as a child I viewed my mother's friends when they discussed soap operas. To the casual listener you'd think they were talking about real people.
Now that sort of thing has washed across all popular culture to the exclusion of serious things. Everything from comic books to Ghostbusters have taken on their own sort of "reality". And don't get me started on all the drippy teen vampire stuff.
Sadly, the serious things have achieved an "American Idol" status as well; take a look at the resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, if ever anyone was elected just because the idea of electing him seemed so cool rather than on issues and background, Barry's the guy.
I agree with Eon about Star Trek as well, when they would get preachy I'd be searching out Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. No matter the situation, I could count on Admiral Nelson to handle it with either a cleverly executed box of electronics, or by tossing an atom bomb.
As a kid, I loved VTTBOTS exactly because it was fricking ridiculous half the time. Notably the fact that whenever the Seaview lost power, she slammed into the bottom. (Real SSBNs just sort of hang there while somebody kicks in the auxiliary diesels and executes a blow.)
The first time I saw an episode of Doctor Who, in the Pertwee era, I realized instantly that I was looking at a British analog of VTTBOTS. And I loved it right up to the end with Sylvester McCoy.
(I keep hoping against hope that the new version will someday come up with something worth watching, other than Freema Agyeman. Although by herself, she made the show bearable.)
4 comments:
I watched Batman to see Julie Newmar, Yvonne Craig, and Eartha Kitt. That way, I could avoid noticing how badly Adam West and Burt Ward were chewing the scenery.
As for Star Trek, I lost interest when it became obvious that the writers and producers honestly thought that a socialist, pacifist state (with Draconian measures toward its own citizens who failed to act "enlightened"- vis. the Maquis), could survive, let alone become as big and powerful as the UFP. Especially with neighbors like the Romulans, Cardassians, etc. Although long before they got done sharpening their knives for the Ides of March, the UFP would have collapsed under the weight of its own contradictions, economic and otherwise.
"Willing suspension of disbelief" on the audience's part has its limits. Mine go no further than FTL drive.
cheers
eon
Absurdism? BADGER! 20000 tea-singing algorithms being devoured by fire ants! Segway!
Regicide, but only on Tuesdays.
Taking absurdity so seriously puts me in mind of how as a child I viewed my mother's friends when they discussed soap operas.
To the casual listener you'd think they were talking about real people.
Now that sort of thing has washed across all popular culture to the exclusion of serious things. Everything from comic books to Ghostbusters have taken on their own sort of "reality". And don't get me started on all the drippy teen vampire stuff.
Sadly, the serious things have achieved an "American Idol" status as well; take a look at the resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, if ever anyone was elected just because the idea of electing him seemed so cool rather than on issues and background, Barry's the guy.
I agree with Eon about Star Trek as well, when they would get preachy I'd be searching out Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
No matter the situation, I could count on Admiral Nelson to handle it with either a cleverly executed box of electronics, or by tossing an atom bomb.
Neil;
As a kid, I loved VTTBOTS exactly because it was fricking ridiculous half the time. Notably the fact that whenever the Seaview lost power, she slammed into the bottom. (Real SSBNs just sort of hang there while somebody kicks in the auxiliary diesels and executes a blow.)
The first time I saw an episode of Doctor Who, in the Pertwee era, I realized instantly that I was looking at a British analog of VTTBOTS. And I loved it right up to the end with Sylvester McCoy.
(I keep hoping against hope that the new version will someday come up with something worth watching, other than Freema Agyeman. Although by herself, she made the show bearable.)
cheers
eon
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