Thoughts: Indeed. Audiences love character driven humor. And, yes, it is a fine line.
Albeit, I have difficulty thinking of it as either/or as best.
As an audience member, the humor from a tv series, that often proves itself memorable for me is ‘blended’, or, at other times – is unexpected situational humor.
i.e:
The scene in SG1 where Teal’c was sitting in the audience at The Vagina Monologues with an audience of women was funny because he is a serious character in a funny situation.
No one would ever suspect someone like Teal’c to be at that particular show.
It was unexpected ‘situational’ humor.
The same could be applied to when he says “undomesticated equines could not remove me” when he and Jack O’Neill are in a serious/tense situation in Season 2. Again, unexpected “situational” humor.
In that same Season 2 episode: Message In A Bottle, … While it is true, we all love Jack O’Neill’s humorously sarcastic personality …. my mind would likely quickly dismiss it from memory if he said “Good morning campers” while passing his co-workers in a hallway. ( we expect him to say something like this and there is nothing particularly humorous or notable about the situation).
Albeit, When he is pinned to a wall by a pole in the gate room with an alien mind inside him, Teal’c uses a staff weapon momentarily killing Jack – allowing the alien mind in him to communicate. The alien commands Jacks eyes to open. Borrows from Jacks sarcastic personality, and says in its own alien voice: “Good morning Campers”.
‘This’ is memorably humorous because it is unexpected.
Yes, I can see it would be a balancing act getting just the right feel. Even with the older shows had misstep episodes (Columbo).
When I started watching ST Discovery and I was wowed by the special effects. Discovery has a great look! Unfortunately, I couldn’t bond with the characters because once I did, they would kill them off (S1). There was none of that jovial comradery that I loved in the other ST shows.
I’m five weeks post op and feel much better. Going to the YMCA tomorrow and start slowing building up with my swimming routine again. I hate being throttled. When I hit the six weeks mark, then I can go all out (at least, with swimming).
Oh and Lucy has completely recovered. She’s down three lives and we have a few more gray hairs. We’ve cut out all her treats (I think the treats triggered her last bout of pancreatitis). I’ll box up all her treats and gift them to my mom’s cat (Monster Boy, as I call him).
I loved the humor in Xena, the great cast and crew did a terrific job and I recall being heart sick over Xena’s many travails including that unforgettable crucifixion. Even Joxer got angst but was still so fun.
Insanely great theme song and sword fights, and so much wandering plus Carl Urban and Bruce Campbell, it all made Xena work so well.
I never watched Xena but I remember it was a phenomenon back in the day. We’ve had a few “sword and sandals” dramas recently that show that a serious interpretation can work. Game Of Thrones being the prime example.
You’re right, though, the humour can be pushed too far and you enter the realms of Sitcom. I love a good sitcom, I’m re-watching The IT Crowd at the moment and it’s the funniest show ever made, but it’s ludicrous and zero-stakes. You can’t go that far in something that you want to have some drama.
If you take the recent Star Trek outings as an example:
Discovery – Far too self-important. Almost zero humour. I hated it.
Strange New Worlds – Tons of humour. High stakes but never takes itself too seriously. Loved it!
Starfleet Academy – Not as serious as Discovery but still pretty serious. I didn’t hate it enough to stop watching but I’m not disappointed that they cancelled it.
I would love to see the new stargate show go on some crazy adventures, that combine all 3 shows. Something that pulls them all together and explores more of the different races that SG-1 encountered in the early show. Have some sort of knowledge gain from the ancient database allowing humanity to partially recharge ZPM’s, maybe they even create a galaxy wide congress and send other societies to destiny.
You are right. One of the greatest things in SGA and SG1 was the humor.
Thoughts: Indeed. Audiences love character driven humor. And, yes, it is a fine line.
Albeit, I have difficulty thinking of it as either/or as best.
As an audience member, the humor from a tv series, that often proves itself memorable for me is ‘blended’, or, at other times – is unexpected situational humor.
i.e:
The scene in SG1 where Teal’c was sitting in the audience at The Vagina Monologues with an audience of women was funny because he is a serious character in a funny situation.
No one would ever suspect someone like Teal’c to be at that particular show.
It was unexpected ‘situational’ humor.
The same could be applied to when he says “undomesticated equines could not remove me” when he and Jack O’Neill are in a serious/tense situation in Season 2. Again, unexpected “situational” humor.
In that same Season 2 episode: Message In A Bottle, … While it is true, we all love Jack O’Neill’s humorously sarcastic personality …. my mind would likely quickly dismiss it from memory if he said “Good morning campers” while passing his co-workers in a hallway. ( we expect him to say something like this and there is nothing particularly humorous or notable about the situation).
Albeit, When he is pinned to a wall by a pole in the gate room with an alien mind inside him, Teal’c uses a staff weapon momentarily killing Jack – allowing the alien mind in him to communicate. The alien commands Jacks eyes to open. Borrows from Jacks sarcastic personality, and says in its own alien voice: “Good morning Campers”.
‘This’ is memorably humorous because it is unexpected.
Yes, I can see it would be a balancing act getting just the right feel. Even with the older shows had misstep episodes (Columbo).
When I started watching ST Discovery and I was wowed by the special effects. Discovery has a great look! Unfortunately, I couldn’t bond with the characters because once I did, they would kill them off (S1). There was none of that jovial comradery that I loved in the other ST shows.
I’m five weeks post op and feel much better. Going to the YMCA tomorrow and start slowing building up with my swimming routine again. I hate being throttled. When I hit the six weeks mark, then I can go all out (at least, with swimming).
Oh and Lucy has completely recovered. She’s down three lives and we have a few more gray hairs. We’ve cut out all her treats (I think the treats triggered her last bout of pancreatitis). I’ll box up all her treats and gift them to my mom’s cat (Monster Boy, as I call him).
Has anyone heard from @Ponytail? Is she doing okay?
I loved the humor in Xena, the great cast and crew did a terrific job and I recall being heart sick over Xena’s many travails including that unforgettable crucifixion. Even Joxer got angst but was still so fun.
Insanely great theme song and sword fights, and so much wandering plus Carl Urban and Bruce Campbell, it all made Xena work so well.
I think you’re spot on.
I never watched Xena but I remember it was a phenomenon back in the day. We’ve had a few “sword and sandals” dramas recently that show that a serious interpretation can work. Game Of Thrones being the prime example.
You’re right, though, the humour can be pushed too far and you enter the realms of Sitcom. I love a good sitcom, I’m re-watching The IT Crowd at the moment and it’s the funniest show ever made, but it’s ludicrous and zero-stakes. You can’t go that far in something that you want to have some drama.
If you take the recent Star Trek outings as an example:
Discovery – Far too self-important. Almost zero humour. I hated it.
Strange New Worlds – Tons of humour. High stakes but never takes itself too seriously. Loved it!
Starfleet Academy – Not as serious as Discovery but still pretty serious. I didn’t hate it enough to stop watching but I’m not disappointed that they cancelled it.
I would love to see the new stargate show go on some crazy adventures, that combine all 3 shows. Something that pulls them all together and explores more of the different races that SG-1 encountered in the early show. Have some sort of knowledge gain from the ancient database allowing humanity to partially recharge ZPM’s, maybe they even create a galaxy wide congress and send other societies to destiny.