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tv This is going to seem weird...
- Thread starter sfoster
- Start date
I've scrolled past "Nathan for You," and "The Rehersal" many times, assuming they were just more reality TV shows, and these things--brats, housewives, naked people, whatever--are, IMO, just vast wasteland junk. And worse: boring. But I did see a trailer, for Nathan, on some other show, and it caught my eye, a bit from the sully thing, and thought: WTF? So I've dipped into Nathan and am now kind of a fan. One you tube guy (Thomas Flight) described him as deconstructing reality TV, going too far, and deconstructing reality itself. Cool, smart, and genuinely funny.
Another vast wasteland, for me, IMO, is stand-up comedy specials. The A-list guys and gals, are, IMO, just not funny. Same for the seemingly hundreds of B and C listers as well. And I've thought that the genre might be, finally, worn out. And then another surprise: Alex Edelman's "Just for Us," on HBO (fine MAX). So yea, comedy can still be cool, creative, and funny after all.
Another vast wasteland, for me, IMO, is stand-up comedy specials. The A-list guys and gals, are, IMO, just not funny. Same for the seemingly hundreds of B and C listers as well. And I've thought that the genre might be, finally, worn out. And then another surprise: Alex Edelman's "Just for Us," on HBO (fine MAX). So yea, comedy can still be cool, creative, and funny after all.
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I'm happy to hear you're becoming a fan of Nathan Fielder - he's my favorite comedic producer for over a decade now.
Nathan for You is the most intelligent comedy show I've seen, nearly every episode is gold.
Do you know Bennie Safdie? He directed Uncut Gems and Good Time (amazing robert pattinson film)
That's Bennie on the right.
The Curse was my favorite performance by Emma Stone
Technically it's Nathan Fielder's debut as a director, but clearly Bennie had a guiding hand, it's an incredibly singular show, they took some huge swings with this one, especially in the final episode. It was a very divisive ending to say the least, but I loved it. Big swings.
I'll have to check out that comedy bit you recommended. I love a good standup.
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OK. Watched the first season of "The Rehersal," except the last episode, which, maybe for some reason I can't explain, I am reluctant to do. I will, of course, eventually watch it--when I think I'm up to it. And this, reading the Rotten Tom page on this season, isn't an unusual take. People, myself included, find it admirable in its uniqueness, hence its high tomotometer, but also a bit unsettling it itself. I could try to explain, and maybe will, later. Nathan is in some post-modern space that may, or may not, have significance, that is difficult to exactly pin down, and that invites somewhat esoteric discussion about reality itself. Yipe. Anyway.
One of the things that is almost unbelievable is what sfoster noted above--that this got greenlit by HBO. And, in addition, they seem to have given this strange little Canadian their credit card!--with carte blanche, it seems, to build or to do anything!
Anyway (in another not unusual response) what a surprise to find, after x-ty x years of watching television, something different. Thanks, sfoster, for the heads up.
One of the things that is almost unbelievable is what sfoster noted above--that this got greenlit by HBO. And, in addition, they seem to have given this strange little Canadian their credit card!--with carte blanche, it seems, to build or to do anything!
Anyway (in another not unusual response) what a surprise to find, after x-ty x years of watching television, something different. Thanks, sfoster, for the heads up.
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Re. The Curse:
Yup, I agree--big swings. I've done the first few episodes, and am still kind of knocked out by Nathan and Co., for doing something that is well-made, smart, interesting, entertaining, and, again, different. I'll probably have more to say once I'm through the whole thing.
As far as Nathan for You, a lot of them are really funny, frequently just for the idea: (like helping the guy find employees for his moving business by getting people to think it's an exercise program, which includes finding a charismatic exercise guru, which includes having said guru write a book, to get local news attention, which includes hiring a ghost-writer off Craig's List to write the book, which includes inspiring stories like the guru being childhood friends with Steve Jobs, and doing chartable work with "Jungle Children."--LOL WTF ETC.
The Nathan for You shows are sometimes closer to Sasha Baron Cohen, sometimes finding ridiculous people and making them look ridiculous, But still, funny and I think not mean spirited.
Yup, I agree--big swings. I've done the first few episodes, and am still kind of knocked out by Nathan and Co., for doing something that is well-made, smart, interesting, entertaining, and, again, different. I'll probably have more to say once I'm through the whole thing.
As far as Nathan for You, a lot of them are really funny, frequently just for the idea: (like helping the guy find employees for his moving business by getting people to think it's an exercise program, which includes finding a charismatic exercise guru, which includes having said guru write a book, to get local news attention, which includes hiring a ghost-writer off Craig's List to write the book, which includes inspiring stories like the guru being childhood friends with Steve Jobs, and doing chartable work with "Jungle Children."--LOL WTF ETC.
The Nathan for You shows are sometimes closer to Sasha Baron Cohen, sometimes finding ridiculous people and making them look ridiculous, But still, funny and I think not mean spirited.
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Re. The Curse:
Yup, I agree--big swings. I've done the first few episodes, and am still kind of knocked out by Nathan and Co., for doing something that is well-made, smart, interesting, entertaining, and, again, different. I'll probably have more to say once I'm through the whole thing.
As far as Nathan for You, a lot of them are really funny, frequently just for the idea: (like helping the guy find employees for his moving business by getting people to think it's an exercise program, which includes finding a charismatic exercise guru, which includes having said guru write a book, to get local news attention, which includes hiring a ghost-writer off Craig's List to write the book, which includes inspiring stories like the guru being childhood friends with Steve Jobs, and doing chartable work with "Jungle Children."--LOL WTF ETC.
The Nathan for You shows are sometimes closer to Sasha Baron Cohen, sometimes finding ridiculous people and making them look ridiculous, But still, funny and I think not mean spirited.
Happy to hear you're enjoying the journey.
The very final episode of Nathan for You breaks from the formula, it's a long format documentary, reflecting on regrets that bubble to the surface at the end of a long life.
lol jungle children. There's a few golden moments in the show where the people are so ridiculous it makes Nathan break character.
