The Goode Family sucks and so does Mike Judge
(not Old Smoke Mike Judge, the biker poet!)
I didn't watch ABC's The Goode Family. Contrary to common opinion, I don't need to watch a show to write a review about how and why it sux and shouldn't be watched.
As much as I think Idiocracy is funny, Mike Judge is known for promoting rightwing ideology in his work. Is The Goode Family another shoddy attempt at that?
It isn't a matter of The Goode Family being offensive to radicals, liberals, and/or vegans. As much as the rightwingers want humorless liberals to cry about the show, the real problem is that it is so out-of-touch.
Videogum wrote a very insightful review of the show:
Sure. Lord knows there is plenty of hay to be made with the left. The best intentions often sound silly and naive when explained or embraced by someone who doesn't really understand what they're talking about.
But these jokes fall flat. For one, they're totally dated. People recycle now, Mike Judge. People also drive hybrid cars. Neither of those things are inherently silly or make a good wink-wink nudge-nudge punchline. People shop at Whole Foods and they use reusable shopping bags. Lots of people.
But all of this really takes us back to the question of who this show is for, because if it's for people who don't know about urbane, pretentious, liberal living, then these broad stereotypes are probably hilarious, or at least reinforcing of previously held misconceptions. But with an audience like that, you don't need to get as specific as this show does. Jokes about organic produce and Al Gore are probably enough. The wealth of detailed, highly targeted jokes on this show actually requires an audience of the people it's making fun of, which as I already mentioned is not impossible, but then you have to actually get it right.
I didn't watch ABC's The Goode Family. Contrary to common opinion, I don't need to watch a show to write a review about how and why it sux and shouldn't be watched.
As much as I think Idiocracy is funny, Mike Judge is known for promoting rightwing ideology in his work. Is The Goode Family another shoddy attempt at that?
It isn't a matter of The Goode Family being offensive to radicals, liberals, and/or vegans. As much as the rightwingers want humorless liberals to cry about the show, the real problem is that it is so out-of-touch.
Videogum wrote a very insightful review of the show:
Sure. Lord knows there is plenty of hay to be made with the left. The best intentions often sound silly and naive when explained or embraced by someone who doesn't really understand what they're talking about.
But these jokes fall flat. For one, they're totally dated. People recycle now, Mike Judge. People also drive hybrid cars. Neither of those things are inherently silly or make a good wink-wink nudge-nudge punchline. People shop at Whole Foods and they use reusable shopping bags. Lots of people.
But all of this really takes us back to the question of who this show is for, because if it's for people who don't know about urbane, pretentious, liberal living, then these broad stereotypes are probably hilarious, or at least reinforcing of previously held misconceptions. But with an audience like that, you don't need to get as specific as this show does. Jokes about organic produce and Al Gore are probably enough. The wealth of detailed, highly targeted jokes on this show actually requires an audience of the people it's making fun of, which as I already mentioned is not impossible, but then you have to actually get it right.
posted by shane at 11:50 AM
4 Comments:
I remember when Mike Judge used to say awesome things:
I think back to the things i've said
and i thought that i was right at the time
i look back at the things i've done
in times when compassion was so hard to find
now i'm stronger, so much stronger
and i'll confront myself
i'll live and learn and love it
i'm not afraid to change myself
no apologies, an acknowledgement
i don't need you to point out my mistakes
you're so righteous, you're so high up
but who put you there, not me
it's so funny you think i care
about your ideas of right and wrong
i got music and i got friends
whether you like it or not
this is where i belong
it's easy, so easy
to sit back and tell me that i fucked up
you're telling stories
i'm talking the truth
i gave you too much credit
i thought you'd listen
never opened my mouth
but you drew a conclusion
from what you heard
you think it's funny? i think it's sad
you feel your job in life is to distort my words
Love Lucas
I REMEMBER WHEN WHAT WE SAID MADE A DIFFERENCE
AND LOOKS WEREN'T THAT IMPORTANT
RUMOURS HAD NO PLACE HERE
A FRIEND STAYED TRUE
YOU COULD LAUGH AND JOKE BECAUSE HE CARED
CHORUS:
TIMES HAD TO CHANGE
AND I ACCEPT IT
THE PAST STAYS THE PAST
BUT DON'T TELL ME TO FORGET
REMEMBER YOU BELIEVED AS STRONG AS ME
I LOOK AHEAD AS TO WHAT'S TO COME
AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY I'M EXCITED
YOU TURN AWAY LIKE IT'S THE END OF A BOOK
WELL I TELL YOU I'M GONNA REWRITE IT
'CUZ THERE'S A YOUNGER KID
AND HE'S JUST LIKE ME
AND FOR HIM I'M GONNA FIGHT IT
AND GIVE HIM EVERY CHANCE
THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME
AND MAKE SURE HE'S NEVER SILENCED
CHORUS:
YOU-LET-ME-DOWN
I'M HOLDING ON
I had a hard time deciding between those two songs. I even initially posted the one you did. they both contain some of my favorite hardcore lyrics ever, specifically:
"Whether you like it or not, this is where I belong." (Every time i go to a show, these words ring in my head, for the last 15 years)
"There's a younger kid and he's just like me and for him I'm gonna fight it! Give him every chance that was given to me and make sure he's never silenced." (This is what hardcore is to me. If I hadn't gotten into punk, if there weren't awesome people who embraced me when I came out, if I hadn't been introduced to so many new ideas, who knows where the fuck i'd be. And i want that to still be alive for kids going to their first shows. Punk probably saved my life; it may save someone else's.)
Lucas
Yeah amd those hybrids are made from car companies which also produce less effeicient cars.
Do you not realize that your whole enviornmentally conscious livivng is just for the benefit of someone else?(like the companies that make green products) Liberals are dumb, self-righteous and think their better then you because they consider themselves independent and intelligent.
This show rocks and is so funny I hope they make more episodes about racial stereotypes. Like make an episode about real-men, like Russians or something :D
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