You're a real hero.
My theory: neurotic white guys make up a lot of writers in Hollywood.
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There are too many shows starring neurotic white guys
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You're a real hero.
My theory: neurotic white guys make up a lot of writers in Hollywood.
Lactose_Intolerant
Member
All you need to know about The Grinder
It was one of my favorites, then it got canceled.
It was one of my favorites, then it got canceled.
entremet
Member
Basically
Maybe. I should try to be open to criticisms I don't see myself though.
brianjones
Member
and 30 something dating shows.. I can't watch these things.. too uncomfortable
I've never seen it but how did that goofy looking dude land Gillian jacobs.. or is that not part of it
I've never seen it but how did that goofy looking dude land Gillian jacobs.. or is that not part of it
Team Alucard
Banned
Roseanne was the main character tho.
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
There aren't many. But we always have...
I think that's why Fresh Prince has endured with audiences for so long. Will is actually overconfident but he's still a nice guy trying to make his way in a new environment. Right off the bat he's a complete outsider that uses what he knows to help out the people around him. And even though the supporting cast all have quirks, they're still just put together people. I think a lot of writers would be tempted to play up the wackiness there and have Will be the dopey straight man. But instead it just lets the culture shock do the walking. The 90s were Black sitcom nirvana. What happened, man?
IISANDERII
Member
I really enjoy LOVE but I don't think I could watch another show like that.
ZackieChan
Member
Man, a handful of these characters on all of current TV? It's an epidemic!
old manatee
Banned
Eh, maybe there are too many white dudes, but there are never enough neurotics.
All you need to know about The Grinder
It was one of my favorites, then it got canceled.
Fuck, this was such a good show. The fact that so many people here never heard of it is so sad, since it all contributed to its early demise.
CountAntonius
Member
Sheldon would make this kind of thread.
There aren't many. But we always have...
I think that's why Fresh Prince has endured with audiences for so long. Will is actually overconfident but he's still a nice guy trying to make his way in a new environment. Right off the bat he's a complete outsider that uses what he knows to help out the people around him. And even though the supporting cast all have quirks, they're still just put together people. I think a lot of writers would be tempted to play up the wackiness there and have Will be the dopey straight man. But instead it just lets the culture shock do the walking. The 90s were Black sitcom nirvana. What happened, man?
Yeah that's a good example. I love that show.
Elegant Weapon
Member
What's really the difference from this post and someone else saying "There are too many shows/movies starring heroic white guys?"
It is the over saturation of white guys is mass media presented as the default human being the problem, or you just don't like all the shows that have white guys being portrayed as less than traditionally masculine but are cool with all the media that presents white guys as the main people who have their stories of truimping over adversity told again and again and again?
My point is, people don't randomly "trash" white males. It's that we live in a world where white maleness in mass media is presented as better than everyone else and lots of people that comprise of everyone else can & do call bullshit on it.
NoblesseOblige
Banned
Goro Majima
Kitty Genovese Member
Ted Mosby is my most hated sitcom character of all time.
Jim Halpert is a close second.
You might be onto something here. They're also both giant condescending assholes.
Kingpin Rogers
Member
People better fuck off dissing Dirk Gently. Just because you've never heard of it doesn't mean it's not a great show.
I think you're assuming a lot about me.
I also misinterpreted your initial point. I thought you felt my post about too many white neurotic guys was an arbitrary criticism because there is no merit to pointing out too many white people in TV, but it seems like your problem is that I wasn't broad enough... which, fair.
And I agree with your second point, white people (not just men) are over represented in media. Part of why I love Chidi so much in The Good Place is because he's a nerdy black guy like myself, AND he's well-written which is a shockingly rare combination. Seeing representation matters, I get that. My point about randomly "trashing" white males has more to do with a certain type of criticism that has grown a lot recently that takes an extreme stance on a nuanced issue like this one without elaborating on it. I wanted to qualify my thread by saying I didn't think white actors shouldn't be allowed to play certain characters, but that there are too many of them.
I didn't want to offend one crowd of posters, but in my effort to do that, I feel like I offended you. I'm sorry for that.
What the shit is a Google?
Whenever he gets serious it wasn't cheesy either. Loved the show as a kid but I'm understanding it a lot better now as an adult.There aren't many. But we always have...
I think that's why Fresh Prince has endured with audiences for so long. Will is actually overconfident but he's still a nice guy trying to make his way in a new environment. Right off the bat he's a complete outsider that uses what he knows to help out the people around him. And even though the supporting cast all have quirks, they're still just put together people. I think a lot of writers would be tempted to play up the wackiness there and have Will be the dopey straight man. But instead it just lets the culture shock do the walking. The 90s were Black sitcom nirvana. What happened, man?
Same. He's so fucking creepy too.
Just_myles
Member
lol /thread
Elegant Weapon
Member
The only thing I disagreed with in the OP is the "arbitrary bashing of white males from certain corners of the internet" thing, whereas I'm sure someone could take this post as just that. That line made me think you probably think "everyone is dumping on white guys these days, what's up with that?" Like out of the blue people just decided to hate on white guys
SandwichMeat
Member
Paul Rust rules
Mike "Spoonman" Mitchell rules
Doughboys rules
Love rules
Mike "Spoonman" Mitchell rules
Doughboys rules
Love rules
Messofanego
Banned
You can blame Woody Allen's influence
It's mainly because the shows are written by neurotic white guys. I understand that the best material comes from writing what you know but I am totally there with you about there being too many neurotic white guys on TV, OP.
I still enjoy Love and Silicon Valley but holy shit do the leads on those shows just make me cringe every time they speak. But I understand, that's their "thing," it's just that TV shows need a new thing. Hopefully it'll pass but it's a good go-to character since it's based on one (or many) of the writing staff.
I still enjoy Love and Silicon Valley but holy shit do the leads on those shows just make me cringe every time they speak. But I understand, that's their "thing," it's just that TV shows need a new thing. Hopefully it'll pass but it's a good go-to character since it's based on one (or many) of the writing staff.
SmackDaddy
Member
Dierks Gently, the country singer?
Oh, fuck no. I really dislike it when people do that. White victimhood is a pet peeve of mine. I just didn't want people to accuse me of being intellectually lazy. It's bad that there's too many white characters in TV, but I wanted to go further and say that it leads to very similar, repetitive characters. I stated that this is an issue with "author self-insert" because I wanted to make the point that TV writers are disproportionately white.
Hell everyone should stop making sitcoms.
Seinfeld and Curb are the greatest sitcoms ever made so no point in trying to out do them.
hey_monkey
Banned
I'm gonna respond to this one, though lots of others have said it. The problem isn't starting with the idea of writing what you know. The problem comes with assuming it's fresh and new forever (or, on the other side, standard, which is its own problem).
But until writers rooms diversify more it'll probably stay this way.
TheRedSnifit
Member
I think there was a "shift" in sitcoms from focusing on dumb middle-age family men to neurotic white guys after the success of Seinfield and Frasier. Except you're supposed to see the neurotic guy as sympathetic in these shows, whereas in Seinfeld and Frasier you were supposed to see them as unrelatable weirdos (although Frasier made them a bit more likeable).
Monk was a great show though.
Monk was a great show though.
She is the star, but the point of view character is her husband. Most of the show and its storylines revolve around his reaction/adjustment to Barrymore. Olyphant dominated the show despite the fact that Barrymore was the one that went through a crazy change.
Girls fawn all over him, he doesn't just get Gillian Jacobs, he gets a ridiculously hot side girl and propositioned by 2 twins for a threesome. His looks were never brought up in S1.
It's kind of like the lack of awareness with Woody Allen always getting beautiful women in his films only multiplied.
afternoon delight
Member
Before you blame TV writers you best believe there are marching orders delivered from on high.
There's too much media in general about neurotic whining white people but there is an obscenely large market for 'kitchen sink dramas and comedies'. Like, what's so fucking funny about office life anywhere? Oh that's right, a large portion of the consuming public works in an office.
There's too much media in general about neurotic whining white people but there is an obscenely large market for 'kitchen sink dramas and comedies'. Like, what's so fucking funny about office life anywhere? Oh that's right, a large portion of the consuming public works in an office.
Good way of looking at it too. I wonder where the success of reality programs in the 00's factors in as well.
Escape Goat
Member
I heard you were giving away medals in here.
hey_monkey
Banned
It's such a chicken-and-egg problem, though. The money would rather bank on proven concepts so we get stale, recycled shit because it's less risky and then people watch it because it's mindless so we get more stale, recycled shit... better shows are a risk, but once something more unique takes off, we get knockoffs so it turns into stale, recycled shit...
SandwichMeat
Member
bro Paul Rust is cool. Great on Comedy Bang Bang, great on any podcast. He's super funny
New No No's is the kind of envelope pushing podcast segment Bill Maher wishes he could do
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91c8dt08jrg
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