I just killed a show, and I'm sorry

OTHER SCIENCE FICTION SERIES

I just killed a show, and I'm sorry -

POSTED BY: SEVENPERCENT
UPDATED: Friday, March 19, 2004 17:46
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 7681
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Friday, March 12, 2004 10:33 PM

So here's the thing- Tonight I broke down- I said to myself, "Self, lets give that Wonderfalls a shot" - So I changed the channel over to Fox (which required a supreme act of willpower - No power in the 'verse could stop me though) and set the VCR - So when I got home from work, I rewound and pushed Play -
Well, I liked it- I never watched 'Joan of Arcadia,' so that comparison meant little to me- I liked it- They have a good cast, the dialogue seemed witty and smart, and it's quirky (which sometimes works, sometimes doesnt, this time it did, etc.) -
But, as all FF fans know, what I have done is just killed a show- That's right, with a really big axe- The equation goes like this:

I liked it
+ It's on on Fridays
+ It's on Fox
----------------
=It's dead meat

So to the rest of you that liked it, I'm sorry, and I'll be watching it with you as long as I can, at least until the hammer falls and they kill it-

BASTARDS!!! You killed another show....
here we must end, because here is where the men in white coats came to drag Seven away

------------------------------------------
He looked bigger when I couldn't see him.

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Saturday, March 13, 2004 5:41 AM

FIREFLYTHEMOVIE

Wait, you killed it? I'm so relieved. I thought I was the one who killed it...

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Saturday, March 13, 2004 7:23 AM

DRALIONSOLEIL

i think they're doing poor advertising again. when i watched the show, there was a distinctly different feeling from whatever teh ads were doing. the ads do not convey any of the quirky weirdness of the show. plus the ads aren't making the show distinctive enough.. especially if everyone's comparing it to joan of arcadia. (which i've only seen once) their strategy seems to be "hey we know you like things like joan of arcadia, so here's another one just like it!" which is utterly retarded. they should be pointing out the uniqueness of the show. personally i think they'd have more success pushing wonderfalls at the malcolm in the middle audience.

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Saturday, March 13, 2004 7:51 AM

SOUTHERNMERC

Just what is it about anyway? I've heard it was good from some sources, but haven't been able to catch it.

Jayne: "How big a room?"

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Saturday, March 13, 2004 8:13 AM

MELEAUX

okay i watched last night with the intention of liking it but...
i do like quirky but i must be a bit too puritanical for this show...
i couldn't get past all the language..
" sucks, bitch, tampons, orgasm, son of a bitch,
taking a dump, etc" it was an awful lot and it grossed me out.

She understands, she doesn't comprehend

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Saturday, March 13, 2004 8:59 AM

ZELDA

Don't worry Seven - you didn't kill it. It's Tim Minear's fault. He insists on working on new, interesting stories like Wonderfalls and Firefly, and from then on they just don't have a chance.

They don't call him the Tim Reaper for nothing!

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Saturday, March 13, 2004 9:59 AM

TALLGRRL

Quote:
Originally posted by meleaux:
okay i watched last night with the intention of liking it but...
(snip) i couldn't get past all the language..
" sucks, bitch, tampons, orgasm, son of a bitch,
taking a dump, etc" it was an awful lot and it grossed me out.

She understands, she doesn't comprehend

ok...there could be some possible flaming happening after my response...but here goes.
i only hope for some healthy, non-stupid debate and maybe even a call for a back-off on all of the nonsensical censorship that seems to be creeping up on our society.

please don't take this as an attack or dissing or anything like that, but i feel for you if "tampons" and "orgasm" constitutes "language" for you.
please. those words "grossed you out?" how old are you? these are proper words. they are not slang. they are not dirty nor do they discribe anything dirty. (our society's problem with these words generally stems from its attitude towards women, sexuality and "down there". but don't get me started.)
please give some serious thought about what it is exactly that bothers you about the word "tampon".

it's not like i'm saying "get over it". i'm saying give it some serious thought, and realize that in The Real World, people use these terms...and items.
no, it's not always "polite"...but there is no rule that says the world is "polite".
if a character says things like SoB or refers to elimination as "taking a dump", that's a reflection of *that character*.
one of the things "art" does is reflect The World.
but i'll not open up the can o' worms labeled "art" because it, like beauty, is in the eye of the...well, you know.
any-who, give the show another chance will ya?

"Take me, sir. Take me hard."

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Saturday, March 13, 2004 1:11 PM

MELEAUX

I am happy to discuss with you and am sorry only that at this present time my reponse will have to be brief due to time constraints on my part.
I am a 37 year old mother of 5 and all grown up and I agree with you up to a point about censorship. That was not what I was implying, only that I think bathroon humour is a cheap way to get a laugh and some of the funniest things I have ever scene were filmed in the glory days of cinema when censorship was at its greatest. I get what you're a saying about the refelction on the charcter but for me when the term tampon is used or taking a dump I can't help but get a visual. I don't think I am the only person who feels this way. It was not necessary nor integral to the story and really my biggest issue was that it was so excessive. It's just not classy either I am from the old school that calls for ladies not to mention certain things in certain company. It's called manners. Not a sexually repressive society. By the way I use tampons and have orgasms...regullarly as a matter of fact

She understands, she doesn't comprehend

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Saturday, March 13, 2004 6:09 PM

ANKHAGOGO

Quote:
Originally posted by meleaux:
.....I agree with you up to a point about censorship. That was not what I was implying, only that I think bathroon humour is a cheap way to get a laugh and some of the funniest things I have ever scene were filmed in the glory days of cinema when censorship was at its greatest.

I have to agree here on both counts.
(And I didn't watch Wonderfalls, I'm just commenting on her comment, just so's ya know)
For the record, I'm 35, have no kids, and gleefully enjoy movies like Reservoir Dogs, but bathroom humour doesn't make me laugh at all, and I'm desperately hoping we're nearing the end of the "gross-out" comedy phase in movies.
I completely agree that there are movies made under the Hayes Code that are funnier than anything made after, simply because they had to be creative & sneaky to get things past the censors.
Which is not to say that I don't find some perfectly infantile movies funny, cause God knows I do -- but they're not my preference.

Quote:
I get what you're a saying about the refelction on the charcter but for me when the term tampon is used or taking a dump I can't help but get a visual. I don't think I am the only person who feels this way.

Nope, you're not. There are some things I just don't want to hear about because I can't keep my brain from automatically forming a picture of the process.

And, to steer myself back on topic, can anyone tell me what the premise of Wonderfalls actually is? I do watch Joan of Arcadia, which I find very interesting, and I have heard the "it's like Joan of Arcadia" comparisions, but is it?

"Jayne is a girl's name."

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Saturday, March 13, 2004 6:24 PM

SUCCATASH

I totally agree with Meleaux.

Meleaux is a smart, beautiful person who has posted on this board for a long time and she is such a great Browncoat. I think I offended her once, a long time ago, and I deeply regret upsetting her in any way. In a sense, I love her very much.

Meleaux, I truly, deeply think fondly of you, and I respect you greatly.

I will post more about this later. Right now, my stomach hurts and I have to go take a dump.

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Saturday, March 13, 2004 6:51 PM

MELEAUX

Quote:
Originally posted by Succatash:

I totally agree with Meleaux.

Meleaux is a smart, beautiful person who has posted on this board for a long time and she is such a great Browncoat. I think I offended her once, a long time ago, and I deeply regret upsetting her in any way. In a sense, I love her very much.

Meleaux, I truly, deeply think fondly of you, and I respect you greatly.

I will post more about this later. Right now, my stomach hurts and I have to go take a dump.

I love you too and you made me laugh out loud... bathroom humour apparently can be funny

She understands, she doesn't comprehend

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Sunday, March 14, 2004 10:22 AM

SOUTHERNMERC

Sorry to shanghai this thread about the benefits and compexities of toilet humor to ask, PLEASE!!! SOMEONE tell me what Wonderfalls is about? (sobs) The synopsis online says it's about some woman working in a souvenier shop hearing the statuettes talking to her and poking into other people's lives, but what else is there to it? Can you give me a breakdown of characters and what your opinions of them are? Please? With sugar? And a cherry?

Jayne: "How big a room?"

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Sunday, March 14, 2004 10:41 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Yes, she works in a souvenier shop, and yes, inanimate objects talk to her, and they tell her to do or not do certain things. After one episode there's not a lot more one can say about it.

She seems to come from a very dysfunctional family, her mother is very obnoxious and uncaring, she doesn't seem to get along with her sister who apparently is a lesbian, and the writing and acting was so lackluster and scattered that I didn't even care enough that I don't know what any of their names are at the moment.

I have liked most of what I have seen of Joan of Arcadia, although the last couple of new episodes were very weak in my opinion. The only thing these two shows have in common are that the main characters hear things (or imagine they hear them), Joan supposedly from God and the girl in Wonderfalls has figurines and stuffed animals talk to her.

I will probably give it another chance or two, but I was not impressed with what I saw last Friday. I am also no prude, but I do agree they seemed to be trying to be as gross as possible on several occasions.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

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Sunday, March 14, 2004 10:53 AM

MISGUIDED BY VOICES

Quote:
Originally posted by SouthernMerc:
Sorry to shanghai this thread about the benefits and compexities of toilet humor to ask, PLEASE!!! SOMEONE tell me what Wonderfalls is about? (sobs) The synopsis online says it's about some woman working in a souvenier shop hearing the statuettes talking to her and poking into other people's lives, but what else is there to it? Can you give me a breakdown of characters and what your opinions of them are? Please? With sugar? And a cherry?

Jayne: "How big a room?"

I think you just summarised the concept - but check out Aint-It-Cool News (Coaxial) for a 4.5 star review and breakdown that may help -

http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=17172

"I threw up on your bed"

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Monday, March 15, 2004 9:47 AM

STEVE580

Joan of Arcadia...man does that show look stupid. Never seen it, but I remember a promo from several weeks ago:

Narrorator- On the next episode of Joan of Arcadia: God wants Joan to...throw a wild party for her friends!!

No joke, that's what he said.
Pretty dumb.
-Steve

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Monday, March 15, 2004 11:42 AM

SPLIBERTARIAN

Well, SouthernMerc asked for a breakdown of the characters and opinions of them.

I only got to know one character, and that was the whiny, self-absorbed, rude, ungrateful brat that the show is about. Not generally the kind of character I sympathize with, nor the kind I care to spend an hour a week following the complaints of. I suppose that will change, i.e. that has to be what the show's about, right? - the character changing/growing, etc...But I doubt I'll have the patience to bother considering that the pilot seemed completely devoid of a story. It seemed like just a string of events.

Maybe I'm picky, but I need a little more than "quirk" to get me to tune in.

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Monday, March 15, 2004 12:28 PM

CAPTAINCDC

Quote:
Originally posted by meleaux:
.... only that I think bathroon humour is a cheap way to get a laugh and some of the funniest things I have ever scene were filmed in the glory days of cinema when censorship was at its greatest. I get what you're a saying about the refelction on the charcter but for me when the term tampon is used or taking a dump I can't help but get a visual. I don't think I am the only person who feels this way. It was not necessary nor integral to the story and really my biggest issue was that it was so excessive. It's just not classy either I am from the old school that calls for ladies not to mention certain things in certain company. It's called manners. Not a sexually repressive society. By the way I use tampons and have orgasms...regullarly as a matter of fact
She understands, she doesn't comprehend

Give the show more credit than that. It is not based on "bathroom humor", it is so much smarter than that. I'm astonished there is any show on tv that does not wreak havoc with your delicate sensitivities. Give me a break.

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 12:34 PM

LINDLEY

Quote:

Joan of Arcadia...man does that show look stupid. Never seen it, but I remember a promo from several weeks ago:

Narrorator- On the next episode of Joan of Arcadia: God wants Joan to...throw a wild party for her friends!!

No joke, that's what he said.
Pretty dumb.

Its actually a very good show----the first highschool-based show I've ever seen that I've really enjoyed. (That was part of what convince me to try Buffy, and now I enjoy that too.)

The episode you refer to is "Recreation", and its one of my favorites.

God suggests that Joan should have a party while her parents are out of town. Aside from the hilarity that ensues when dozens of strangers show up and invade the house, a noise complaint brings in the police------and as a result, those police don't die in the explosion of a Meth lab they were about to raid.

That's really what Joan is all about. God tells Joan to do things---sometimes odd, sometimes trivial---and as the ep progresses, you realize what his purpose was in telling her that. Or sometimes you don't, and its a mystery. But usually you do. Occasionally God even explains it.

Also, the dialog is very Whedon-esque. This isn't the best scene to illustrate that, but it was funny anyway (from the aforementioned episode):

*Joan opens the door*
Detective: "I'm Sergeant Williams. We recieved a noise complaint, I think its about time to break things up."
Joan: "Oh, thank god....Everbody, the police are here! Time to get out! C'mon, clear out!"
*Joan turns to the detective*
Joan: "Thank you for that...."
Williams: "I work with your father."
Joan: "You're...not going to tell him, are you?"
Williams: "He has enough on his mind."

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 12:42 PM

MISGUIDED BY VOICES

Quote:
Originally posted by Steve580:
Narrorator- On the next episode of Joan of Arcadia: God wants Joan to...throw a wild party for her friends!!
No joke, that's what he said.
Pretty dumb.
-Steve

I got that beat. Watching Season 3 B5 DVD (Passing Through Gethsemane - genius) and watched the promos about the Vorlon Shadow conflict...

"The rumble is on!"

"I threw up on your bed"

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 12:44 PM

LINDLEY

Oh, about Wonderfalls. Recently saw the pilot.

Looks good. Not great----yet----but definate potential. Similar to Joan in some ways, but very different in others. Actually, its like a cross between Joan and Tru Calling.

Some of the camera stuff really gave it a unique look.

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 1:35 PM

HJERMSTED

Two things:

First, Wonderfalls is not a "high school based show". The protagonist of the show is a Brown graduate. That's a college.

Her new manager is an annoying high school kid which leads her into further slacker malaise.

Secondly, Fox is showing the Wonderfalls premiere again this Thursday (beside Tru Calling). So Wonderfalls is already getting more support from Fox than Firefly did.

But still... enjoy it while it lasts because who knows what will happen?!

mattro

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 3:01 PM

LINDLEY

^Sorry, I was referring to Joan with that description. Should have been clearer.

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 3:39 PM

FIREFLYTHEMOVIE

Quote:
Give the show more credit than that. It is not based on "bathroom humor", it is so much smarter than that.

I must agree. Most of the "bathroom humor" wasn't even meant to be funny. The "tampon" line was just a woman describing the contents of her now-empty purse. And the "orgasm" line was meant to horrify you a little, as it did to Jaye (that's the main character's name, for those who managed to miss it somehow). The rest of it was really just the way most twentysomethings talk, without the profanity.

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 4:15 PM

ANKHAGOGO

Quote:
Originally posted by Lindley:
Quote:
That's really what Joan is all about. God tells Joan to do things---sometimes odd, sometimes trivial---and as the ep progresses, you realize what his purpose was in telling her that. Or sometimes you don't, and its a mystery. But usually you do. Occasionally God even explains it.

I'm OTing, here, just so ya know.....

One of the things I find the most interesting about Joan is how religious it's not. You'd think a show where the main character talks to God would be in-your-face Christianity, but so far, they've not gotten into that at all. It's frequently just about the ripple effect, i.e., Joan does something fairly little and usually semi-dull that ends up affecting something larger. That strikes me more as an Eastern-minded philosophy. If I wasn't half asleep, I could probably even think of a name to go with that vagueness.

"Jayne is a girl's name."

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 5:25 PM

GATOZHIAN

I dug Wonderfalls, and other than the orgasm comment , none of the other stuff even registered. I guess I'm too desensitised. (Did I spell that right?)

Is it great? No.

Is it good? Yes.

It even has a decent enough hook(with the objects talking to her and the mystery of the God of the Falls.) However, I do feel like it is doomed to failure, due to it's quirkiness. And I certainly look forward to buying the DVD set (in a year and a half) with "X unaired episodes!" Not to mention the sorrowful Tim Minear interview.

Also, I've never seen Joan of Arcadia so I can't comment on that...

Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take Wash and Book from me...

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 7:35 PM

LINDLEY

Quote:
If I wasn't half asleep, I could probably even think of a name to go with that vagueness.

"Ripple Effect" works well. I've also used the term "Causality" to describe it.

This could be a good pairing-----Joan at 8pm, Wonderfalls at 9pm.

They're similar enough to attract the same audience, and different enough to maintain that audience's attention.

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 9:14 PM

Language doesn't really bother me, but I think they need to distance themselves from JOA very quickly. I may just be a Joan fangirl and therefore my opinion matters little anyway, but it is my personal belief that the first episode of Joan was so much better written than Wonderfalls' first episode.

I'm not giving up on this show yet though because I think it has potential and I do love shows about cynical people. I'm hoping it gets a lot better from now on. This week looks like it might be an improvement. Either way, it's the best show Fox has besides 24. And that makes me want to give it a chance already.

Joan: "If you're God, show me a miracle."
They walk and stand in front of a tree.
Joan to God: "It's just a tree."
God to Joan: "I'd like to see you make one."

"'Vengeance is mine', saith I."-God on Joan of Arcadia

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 9:14 PM

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Thursday, March 18, 2004 3:35 AM

CANTTAKESKY

SouthernMerc,

CaptainCDC summarized the show very well in this thread:
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=4321

I would recommend Wonderfalls to anyone who likes stories about how chance events and insignificant coincidences can or cannot make a difference in one's life and destiny. Now there have been many shows that have sent some reluctant rescuer around changing other people's lives by changing a pivotal moment such as Quantum Leap or Early Edition or Tru Calling or Joan of Arcadia. But Wonderfalls is the only one where the "rescuer" is not a sweet good person, but a dry, deadpan, cynical misanthrope. Also unique in this show is the rescuer has no idea what will happen after she does what she is told to do. In all the other shows, the rescuer has some external information about the future and they have some idea what kind of changes they are trying to achieve. Or at least they have some faith in God that the results will be good and desirable. Jaye in Wonderfalls has no idea what would happen if she chases a quarter that is rolling down sidewalk.

I sort of see it a contrast to popular feel-good shows such as what Firefly is to Star Trek and Malcolm in the Middle is to The Cosby Show. Wonderfalls is a comedic contrast to all the popular feel-good destiny-changing shows we've ever seen.

Can't Take My Gorram Sky

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Thursday, March 18, 2004 4:13 AM

CONNORFLYNN

Hehe.. I just can't seem to make myself give Fox another chance at anything new. (The Simpsons still rock).

The premise of "Wonderfalls" does seem alil interesting, though the similarities (the whole spiritual theme, god, in various forms,talks to girl and girl does things he/she asks her to do) make me ask why bother?. I guess I just prefer "Joan of Arcadia", because it is a feel good show in a non cheesy way and the network is unlikely to cancel it anytime soon. Afterall, Fox has no loyalty to shows it produces and has the attention span of a 3 year old. I actually like "JoA". So, I figure I don't need to watch a copycat show that really only has the chance of maybe staying on the air for 5 episodes hehe.

It's kind of like "CSI" (awesome show) and "CSI:Miami" (why?...why?...why?! isn't one CSI good enough?)

One of my favorite quotes from "JoA"

Joan: I'm Humble!..really
God: Humility is only humility, Joan, if your good enough at something to be humble about it.

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Thursday, March 18, 2004 11:05 AM

TALLGRRL

Quote:
Originally posted by meleaux:
Quote:
Originally posted by Succatash:

I totally agree with Meleaux.

Meleaux is a smart, beautiful person who has posted on this board for a long time and she is such a great Browncoat. I think I offended her once, a long time ago, and I deeply regret upsetting her in any way. In a sense, I love her very much.

Meleaux, I truly, deeply think fondly of you, and I respect you greatly.

I will post more about this later. Right now, my stomach hurts and I have to go take a dump.

I love you too and you made me laugh out loud... bathroom humour apparently can be funny

She understands, she doesn't comprehend

hey mel,
i hope you don't think i was being mean or implying (sp?) that you're repressed and whatnot. i was just a little...i don't know...surprised that someone would find the word "tampon" ...well...offensive.
on that note: one of my girlfriends once told me that the easiest way to clear a path in a crowd was to take a tampon out of your purse and wield it in front of you like a wand or a sword. watch hi-larity ensue as people run!
anyway, hey, everyone has their "comfort level" as it were.
i, myself, find excessive swearing annoying. not offensive, just annoying.
unless it's silent bob's pal jay.

i, too, enjoy the classic movies, but the Hayes Code was as annoying as snot.

"Take me, sir. Take me hard."

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Friday, March 19, 2004 5:46 PM

LINDLEY

Well, I enjoyed the second episode as well, although not quite as much.

That settles it; the show is doomed.

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