Random reflections on culture, life and the Universe.
Warning: will regularly include Scottish actors.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Gentle comedy
You know what, I rather like the good-hearted nature of My Name is Earl. I know I've mentioned before how I enjoyed it, but it is so sweet-natured at heart that I really just wanted to say it again.
The show's success is very much dependent on the quality of it's cast, who are all uniformly brilliant. It's well paced, with bags of Wonder Years 'after-school special' good natured moralising, and as Anna says over on her blog it makes for some of the best Friday night telly in years. I gotta say I don't think the writing is always super sharp, and the reference points (Smokey & The Bandit, A-Team etc) are pretty standard, but in some respects this is all part of it's laid back charm - they make it look like they ain't even trying, and that's refreshing. I'm even cultivating an Earl-style 'tash. It's rubbish.
Clare: 'Very Northern Exposure.' YES YES YES! What a show. 'Earl' is indeed a worthy successor to one of the truly great cult US comedy dramas. Oh, man. I miss Northern Exposure so much.
The show's success is very much dependent on the quality of it's cast, who are all uniformly brilliant. It's well paced, with bags of Wonder Years 'after-school special' good natured moralising, and as Anna says over on her blog it makes for some of the best Friday night telly in years. I gotta say I don't think the writing is always super sharp, and the reference points (Smokey & The Bandit, A-Team etc) are pretty standard, but in some respects this is all part of it's laid back charm - they make it look like they ain't even trying, and that's refreshing. I'm even cultivating an Earl-style 'tash. It's rubbish.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, it's great. Very Northern Exposure.
ReplyDeleteIT Crowd is also great. IMHO. Friday nights are fun again, at any rate.
Good to see Jason Lee doing stuff too. A very watchable actor.
ReplyDeleteHe *really* is, isn't he? I literally could watch him all day. Maybe not literally.
Clare: 'Very Northern Exposure.'
ReplyDeleteYES YES YES! What a show. 'Earl' is indeed a worthy successor to one of the truly great cult US comedy dramas. Oh, man. I miss Northern Exposure so much.