Funkhauser (just the name makes me laugh), Larry and Jeff from "Curb Your Enthusiasm." (HBO photo)
Comedy is a subjective art. What’s hilarious to you might be boring to me. And what makes me laugh might seem downright stupid to you (what, you have a problem with talking meatwads?). But I’m trying to broaden my horizons and open up to different TV comedies. Here’s a report on how that little experiment is going so far this week.
Tried it, hated it
“Big Bang Theory” (CBS). Sorry. It did nothing for me. I’ve avoided it for two seasons, but checked out the season premiere last night and didn’t even crack a smile. There’s a generic setup-punchline flow that I’ve seen on a million other shows, and the laugh track was obnoxiously loud. That itself was enough to turn me off – I really hate fake laughs. It’s like the ultimate insult to an audience – “Hey idiot, this is when you’re supposed to laugh!” Yeah, no thanks. The whole let’s-laugh-at-nerds thing seems dated too, a throwback to the days of “Revenge of the Nerds” and Erkel. I just couldn’t get into it.
Too invested to give up
“Entourage” (HBO). I think we can safely say this stopped being a great series a while back. There aren’t a lot of laugh-out-loud scenes anymore, but it still has its moments, like Sunday’s episode, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It might have been the best episode of the season, even. We had fast-paced, quick-cutting multiple plotlines (most of them even interesting), some actual character development (yay for Lloyd!) and, thankfully, E’s big breakup with Gollum. Turtle’s being seen cap-less more and more, and I’m really liking his storyline with Jamie. It actually seems like a real relationship, which is something in short supply on this show. This season’s been largely disappointing, but the show seems to be finally hitting its stride. Just in time for next week’s finale.
Intrigued, but not entirely on board yet
“How I Met Your Mother” (CBS). I’ve caught a few episodes here and there over the years, and it’s a decent enough show, but not quiiiiite there for me. I like the actors and the characters they play (though Ted’s a little too much like mopey, dopey Ross from “Friends”), and there are flashes of brilliance in certain scenes. But I want to like it more than I actually do. I think a big reason it that it looks like a typical sitcom. CBS likes its comedies shot in a very traditional style, and I’ve kinda moved on from that. Blame “Arrested Development” and “The Office” and “30 Rock” for opening my mind to the possibilities, but I wish “HIMYM” would follow that style and become a little edgier. I know CBS doesn’t do edgy, but I don’t like having to lower my expectations to watch it. Still, I watched last night’s season premiere, and I have to admit it was very funny. Tuxedo night, flugelhorn, how to spell “professor” . . . . that was good stuff. I’ll keep watching. Maybe not every week, but semi-regularly.
“Bored to Death” (HBO). The series premiere Sunday was slow, but showed potential. The comedy was subtle at times, and it might help if you’re already a fan of slow, quiet “Royal Tennenbaums”-type humor. It’s odd, in a good way. I find Jonathan’s white wine fixation is vaguely funny for some reason, and his entire personality is just off-kilter enough to be interesting. It’s certainly different, pretty much the complete opposite of the more lowbrow “Eastbound & Down.” But it made me laugh, and that’s the bottom line. I’m curious where it’s going, so I’ll keep watching.
Totally on board
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO). God, I love this show. It’s awkward, shocking, tabboo-busting, and almost never fails to be jaw-droppingly funny. In Sunday’s season premiere alone it touched on the subjects of bedroom temperature, helping yourself from someone else’s fridge, dinner-party invitation etiquitte, sex with mental patients and the delicate task of breaking up with someone who might have cancer. Sick and wrong? You bet. And that’s why it works so well.
