----
Grace: Ok, here's the Thanksgiving menu so far: apple pie, pumpkin pie, blueberry tart, and ice-cream roll. What am I missing?... Cake. We need cake.
Will: Did you take a bong hit before you wrote that?
----
Karen: Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm devastated, too.
Jack: Mmm, it does, thanks.
The thing is, it is funny. The awful stereotyping of homosexuality (a male homosexual is either interested in "the arts, dontcha know", or a squealing camp clown like Jack, yup, or remember that episode with the fat, blousy lesbians, boy that one was a hoot!), the gratingly dumbed down plot lines; the obnoxious character of Karen.
And it's just. Funny.
I console myself with the thought that poking fun at stereotypes and deluded neurotic people (don't say it!) IS the way humour works. And so actually, by liking Will and Grace, I exhibit an ability to lighten up and appreciate true comedy - the kind that comes out of tragedy. Because if you can't just cry and cry, so why not laugh.
Right?
Well, good comedy or not, my hate for the over-use of canned laughter remains. Maybe that's a good mechanism for preventing a Will & Grace overdose. There's just that point where you can't watch any more of it.
Not so, with the most addictive program of all; the part where your seduction had reached its climax.
America's Next Top Model is so hideously addictive, so unbelievably dumb, so deliciously bitchy - that not only do I watch it regularly; I must not miss an episode. I've occasionally even watched reruns.
What makes it so?
Well, first of all, I used to work with models, photographers and fashionistas. I know that world. In the end, I tried to avoid fashion shoots and preferred working on film and TV productions because I came to realise that the superficial, air-headed, totally narcissistic and (rather obviously) appearance-obsessed world just didn't like me and I didn't like it. Not that film and TV didn't have the flaws of fashion. It's just that they were presented in a different package - and most crucially, as a make-up artist on a film set, you're crew. Crew gets to look normal, even scruffy. Crew is a team, or at least a good crew is. In the fashion world, everyone, even people working "backstage" have to fit in to the high fashion world.
I wasn't edgy enough to be a make-up artist in the fashion gang. I wasn't a guy for starters. Bummer. Nor was I stick thin, from a famous family, or outrageous. I just did really good make-up.
Article comments
1 - Warren
So the US got Monty Python, and we send you Will and Grace? Talk about ingratitude. You guys got the short end of that deal.
2 - Christopher Rose
especially as it took about 30 years...
3 - Nukapai
Ah, but we also got Scrubs, Desperate Housewifes, Weeds and so on from you lot. So not terrible, on balance. Although you did also bless us with Seinfeld. Yeah...
4 - Bennett
Wait till we send "My Name Is Earl". That one will make up for just about everything we've done wrong. And at about episode four you wonderful folks are going to be in debt.
Wait, no, we still owe you BIG time for Wallace and Grommit.
5 - Nukapai
As long as nobody mentions Simpsons and Futurama, this should be clean sailing... :p
6 - Bennett
Nukapai - I'm glad that Seinfeld translates culturally. Yep, we're proud of that nonsense. A great show.
But, "Earl" blows my mind with every new show.
"Wait! Twenty years ago, now WAY they'd show that. Let alone be creative enough to conceive of it!"
It's that good.
The first episode is so good that you become afraid that all the rest will disappoint. Subsequent episodes are good, but right about #4 or 5 you get "I Ruined Joy's Wedding" and after visiting the hospital for stitches (busted gut) you realize that they've got more to give.
A beautiful thing.
7 - Christopher Rose
NUKAPAI:
Homer (sung to the Flintstones song): Simpson! Homer Simpson! He's the greatest guy in history. From the, Town of Springfield! He's about to hit a chestnut tree! Hits tree.
Bender: This is the worst kind of discrimination. The kind against me.
8 - reggie
Great read Nakupai--loved it.
I happen to be one of the people who watch Charmed, Will & Grace and i'm ashamed to admit....America's next top model.
WAIT!!! I can explain...when i first started watching this show, it happened to be Naima and what's-her-name strutting on that catwalk in threadlike attire....and did i mention it was raining, and that they were soaking wet? Surely you understand why i couldn't resist it the follownig week. ;-)
I think this British living tv thingy is of great taste. Too bad none of the shows is theirs (british).
Whats this you say about Britains next top model? I wonder who the host will be...perhaps Tyra has a hand in all this?
They chose Nicole as the next top model yesterday....pity. I always saw Nik as the better of the two and i thought that the judges felt the same way. I came to realise that the final decision isn't really the judges, its the network.
9 - Nukapai
Bender is my hero. Well, not exactly; as in - I wouldn't want to be so nihilistic in real life - it's just a wonderful, wonderful dream...
10 - Nukapai
Reggie: aagh, way to give the ending away! That cycle hasn't hit Britain yet! :o
11 - Nukapai
Bennett: as you can see from above, you're not the only person to have sold "Earl" up quite high, so now I really am curious! Let's hope we get it here soon!
12 - Alisha Karabinus
I'm somewhat surprised Warren is more upset over Will and Grace than over Charmed. Charmed makes me want to toss my TV through the window.
Now, if we sent Buffy and Firefly, then we're doing something right. Joss Whedon! Joss Whedon! Yay!
13 - Christopher Rose
Nuka: I feel exactly the same way about Bender! But have been like that many times, mostly in the past! muahahaha
14 - Nukapai
Christopher, may I kiss your shiny, metal ass?
Alisha - yay for Buffy and Firefly! Yes, they certainly came over and yes, they were definitely appreciated! Although Angel, not so much. Not by me anyway. Only the first series of Angel was fun for me, after that it became irritating.
15 - Christopher Rose
Nuka: the Bender in me wants to say "if I can kiss yours!" but I'm trying not to give in to it.
God: Bender, being God isn't easy. If you do too much, people get dependent on you. And if you do nothing, they lose hope. You have to use a light touch, like a safecracker or a pickpocket.
Bender: Or a guy who burns down a bar for the insurance money.
God: Yes, if he makes it look like an electrical thing. If you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all.
16 - Nukapai
Interesting proposition, but sadly, that education video scarred me for life. Robots and humans = No Thanks! :D
17 - reggie von woic
OMG!!
I'm so sorry Nukapai, i had no idea....you can remove the comment can't you?
Please do if you can. It wasn't my intention to ruin it for anyone and i apologise for that again.
I'll try to be more carefull next time.
And who is this Bender you speak of...the one in futurama?
18 - Alisha Karabinus
DEFINITELY not so much Angel. I don't really care for David-whatshisname anyway, and that show's storylines went all kinds of off-kilter.
19 - Nukapai
Reggie, alas, I don't have comment editing powers, but anyway: I will try my best to forget what you posted... :p
Alisha: uhu, in agreement. David-whatshisname has one expression that sort of works (the "I'm tormented and brooding"), but anything else just looks wrong somehow. Plus I think I preferred him when he turned bad.
20 - linda+iris tansley
i reilly enjoyed charmed for eight years i will miss it
21 - iris linda tansley
i reilly enjoyed charmed for eight years i will miss it can we have some free thing from charmed [Personal contact info deleted]