Family Guy or The Simpsons?

**A face** · 26/01/2006, 3:18 PM

Has to be the Simpsons all the way !!

**aberharp** · 26/01/2006, 3:35 PM

family guy is good but i prefer the simpsons

**Raheny Red** · 26/01/2006, 7:31 PM

Simpsons!

**hamish** · 27/01/2006, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

MwC was awful and brilliant both at once. Simpsons went off the boil a decade ago now Hamish.

I read that series is for the chop. I had intended to watch it due to having Spiner but never got around to it.

Dead right about MwC PS. It's first couple of seasons were tame enough but then it became pretty outrageous - especially Peggy's naughty comments about Al's bedroom performances - very rude indeed. It's a sure sign when US comedies are beginning to flag that you see loads of guests stars added in. The two kids in the programme were good comic actors too especially when they slagged each other off.

Just heard this morning on radio 5 live that Threshold is being discontinued. It had potential but once I saw the girl from Jag brought in last week (and disappearing this week

) I knew there were problems.
Yeah, I watched it for Spiner too and he, the hefty African American leader and the randy dwarf really are carrying the show. The lead lady, while a reasonable actor, is a bit "pasty" for the role. This may sound sexist but I'd have put Riker (from Star Trex) in her place or maybe, Glenn Close if a lady was required.

Same thing happened with Fx channel's Canivale recently. It was scrapped mid way through it's third season in the US and it was finished up here at the end of series 2 - brutally cobbled together ending with loads of questions unanswered.

There's such a tendency now NOT to grow series. If they don't hit the ratings spot fairly quickly they're messed about with and if no immediate success after that, dropped very quickly. Remember the original Star Trek? - lasted three series in the 60s, dropped 'cos of poorish ratings, yet is still shown all over the world and making money.

Too many accountants running the entertainment industry nowadays.

Hardly ever watch the Simpsons now except for the occasional rerun.
Same thing is happening with young bands too.

That Guy summed up the Simpsons excellently above - as he said like MwCthe Simpsons ended up being a parody of themselves.
Wonder how the Rolling Stones are still getting away with it so LOL. The ultimate parody there.

**Ruairi** · 27/01/2006, 11:40 AM

Serious lack of mentions for futurama here.... my all time favourite cartoon..

carnivale was cancelled? that sucks.. everytime i saw it i was enthralled by it, even though i only caught the odd episode and they made very little if any sense..

**Hulsey** · 27/01/2006, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by Ruairi

Serious lack of mentions for futurama here.... my all time favourite cartoon..

Have to say I've only starting watching Futurama regulary over the last week on sky 1 and 2, but it is class alright, but not as good as Family Guy. One of my mates looks the spiitin' image of Peter. It's hilarious

**Dazzy** · 27/01/2006, 8:15 PM

Originally Posted by sirhamish

Too many accountants running the entertainment industry nowadays.

Too many lawyers you mean.

Anyway, Love Family Guy and Futurama, Seasons 4 & 5 of Family Guy are great and also American Dad makes you see the funny side of Bush's Right wing gun nuts

**hamish** · 27/01/2006, 8:32 PM

Originally Posted by Dazzy

Too many lawyers you mean.

Yep them too Dazzy

**Poor Student** · 27/01/2006, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by sirhamish

Dead right about MwC PS. It's first couple of seasons were tame enough but then it became pretty outrageous - especially Peggy's naughty comments about Al's bedroom performances - very rude indeed. It's a sure sign when US comedies are beginning to flag that you see loads of guests stars added in. The two kids in the programme were good comic actors too especially when they slagged each other off.

When Sky came back from its hiatus in the early (or was it mid?) 90's they had MwC after Star Trek:TNG at 6 I think. I used to watch it with my younger brother and my cousins and it just got more outrageous every week. I'd just want to crawl into a hole watching such innuendo in that company. It's great to watch now when it crops up on re-run in the day time graveyard shift.

Originally Posted by sirhamish

The lead lady, while a reasonable actor, is a bit "pasty" for the role. This may sound sexist but I'd have put Riker (from Star Trex) in her place or maybe, Glenn Close if a lady was required.

And old man like you is allowed to say these things Hamish. Tis a pity the show is getting canned, I'm sure the staff worked like blacks.

Seriously though, if you put Riker on the show he would have to have sex with all females in his vicinity.

Originally Posted by sirhamish

Same thing happened with Fx channel's Canivale recently. It was scrapped mid way through it's third season in the US and it was finished up here at the end of series 2 - brutally cobbled together ending with loads of questions unanswered.

What in the name of God is that Carnivale thing!? I was flicking through Croatian TV late one night in Slovenia and that show opened up with a possessed woman going down on some fat bird with a bird. All the while some naked 70 year old dude was crawling around outside at night.

*shivers* It looked like the weirdest thing I'd ever seen on TV.

Originally Posted by sirhamish

There's such a tendency now NOT to grow series. If they don't hit the ratings spot fairly quickly they're messed about with and if no immediate success after that, dropped very quickly. Remember the original Star Trek? - lasted three series in the 60s, dropped 'cos of poorish ratings, yet is still shown all over the world and making money.

Star Trek being cancelled was a big fcuk up. It was not getting that great an overall rating but it was cracking the young demographics channels wanted to at the time. The third series was also moved to a graveyard slot for some reason. Rodenberry didn't even work on the third series as he resigned in protest. As soon as it went into syndication it did great and the rest as they say is history.

Originally Posted by sirhamish

Too many accountants running the entertainment industry nowadays.

You bet. Plus the American TV market is crammed with too many channels and programmes. It's annoying to know that our TV shows sit at the whim of American TV trends and audiences but they do make our shows.

**hamish** · 28/01/2006, 1:11 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

When Sky came back from its hiatus in the early (or was it mid?) 90's they had MwC after Star Trek:TNG at 6 I think. I used to watch it with my younger brother and my cousins and it just got more outrageous every week. I'd just want to crawl into a hole watching such innuendo in that company. It's great to watch now when it crops up on re-run in the day time graveyard shift.

I found the blonde "daughter" - Christina Applegate - could be hilarious. The put downs she shared with her "brother" were really under the belt.- in every sense of the term.

And old man like you is allowed to say these things Hamish. Tis a pity the show is getting canned, I'm sure the staff worked like blacks.

Seriously though, if you put Riker on the show he would have to have sex with all females in his vicinity.

Yeah, but how long will I get away with it PS?? Yep, Riker would have to suffer for his art. LOL

What in the name of God is that Carnivale thing!? I was flicking through Croatian TV late one night in Slovenia and that show opened up with a possessed woman going down on some fat bird with a bird. All the while some naked 70 year old dude was crawling around outside at night.

*shivers* It looked like the weirdest thing I'd ever seen on TV.

Very strange series was Carnivale. I watched it from the beginning and stuck with it but it seemed to be a combination of a 1930s X files, Amityville Horror and anything else that could be thrown into the mix. Totally overstretched itself plotwise and ended up a bit of a mess.

Star Trek being cancelled was a big fcuk up. It was not getting that great an overall rating but it was cracking the young demographics channels wanted to at the time. The third series was also moved to a graveyard slot for some reason. Rodenberry didn't even work on the third series as he resigned in protest. As soon as it went into syndication it did great and the rest as they say is history.

At least in the 60s they didn't end it after a few programmes. Some series seem to need a good few runs to get a bit of a shape to them. Sadly, the ratings wars mean if they don't score after a few programmes they're dumped.

You bet. Plus the American TV market is crammed with too many channels and programmes. It's annoying to know that our TV shows sit at the whim of American TV trends and audiences but they do make our shows.

Another annoying thing is that once a programme format is successful, other networks then immediately try to make poorly disguised copies. This happened with the X Files. I see Sky, too, is aping the US adverts system with six minute adverts dotted into each programme. Thank God for Tivo.

**Poor Student** · 28/01/2006, 6:21 PM

Originally Posted by sirhamish

Yeah, but how long will I get away with it PS?? Yep, Riker would have to suffer for his art. LOL

Hamish, you have immunity as the board's dirty old man, you even get your personal avatar and rank.

Originally Posted by sirhamish

Yep, Riker would have to suffer for his art. LOL

He had a great knack of getting to show female guest around the Enterprise, last stop being his quarters.

Originally Posted by sirhamish

Very strange series was Carnivale. I watched it from the beginning and stuck with it but it seemed to be a combination of a 1930s X files, Amityville Horror and anything else that could be thrown into the mix. Totally overstretched itself plotwise and ended up a bit of a mess.

What was it about? Care to explain the bearded lady? Thar scene gave a whole new meaning to "unshaved" in that context.

Originally Posted by sirhamish

At least in the 60s they didn't end it after a few programmes. Some series seem to need a good few runs to get a bit of a shape to them. Sadly, the ratings wars mean if they don't score after a few programmes they're dumped.

Speaking of Star Trek, they didn't give its lateest spin off Enterprise much of a chance. Despite not performing near as well as previous spin offs it was still doing better than rival sci-fi but was sent to the knacker's yard. It was decided it would be pulled before they even took a look at the ratings of the improved final season.

Originally Posted by sirhamish

Another annoying thing is that once a programme format is successful, other networks then immediately try to make poorly disguised copies. This happened with the X Files. I see Sky, too, is aping the US adverts system with six minute adverts dotted into each programme. Thank God for Tivo.

I absolutely abhorr how many ads they cram in across the Atlantic. Talk about taking liberties, it's astoundingly shocking. What's Tivo?

**superfrank** · 28/01/2006, 6:55 PM

Family Guy is better but the Simpsons is still good.

**hamish** · 29/01/2006, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

What was it about? Care to explain the bearded lady? Thar scene gave a whole new meaning to "unshaved" in that context.

She was one of the "freaks" in the freakshow, I suppose. Basically, Carnivale was a travelling.....er......carnival of sorts who picked up a young lad who developed special healing powers as the series continued and who would eventually take on a demon disguised as a preacher. I think it overstretched itself TBH and wandered a bit plotwise but a brave effort. A kind of X Files with the US depression as the background.

A Tivo is, like Sky+, a box that can record two programmes at the same time and can automatically record your favourite programmes indefinitely. When it works you can pause a live programme when the 'phone rings or you want to make a cup of tea.