A genuine critisism of the Roaring Twenties

jimmyvalon

I understand that there has been a lot of easy digs at the show - but I'm not posting for that reason. Instead I offer a criticism of the series now that it's complete for the purposes of debate.

Rather than break down every single reason why the show didn't work I'm going to dissect the last gag in the series as it provides a clear example of all of the logic that went into the shows writing.

The last joke of this series is the line "That didn't make a lick of sense."
This is the line that was chosen as the "button" for the show.

The problems with this line are....

1) It's stolen from the Simpsons.

2) The line is "Old Timey American Slang". It fits an American show. It does not fit an Irish one.

3) The joke worked in The Simpsons because it came at the end of an especially weird episode of a television show with a ten year plus history, five years of which were written in a somewhat conventional narrative. With that history behind it the line as it appears in The Simpsons is the show poking fun at itself. In the context of The Roaring Twenties the line is little more than an admission of failure.


The three problems with that one joke can be said for almost any scene in this show.....
1) - Joke stolen
2) - Joke has an American sensibility
3) - Joke could have been funny if the scene was built with a different context.


I break it down here because elsewhere I've read how little time went into the script development and shooting of the show.
My point, essentially, is that it wouldn't have mattered if the team had several months to put the show together - that would have only led to the same script being packed with more of the same type of humour.

afatbollix

so you opened a new account new thread just for that....

Mossy Monk

Yes he did. I have read worst first posts.

jimmyvalon

I had to get the venom out somewhere - it was this or kick my cat in the face.

Mossy Monk

Unless your cat was involved in the making of the Roaring Twenties then kicking it in the face wouldn't be very nice.

Havermeyer

I disagree with your 'Americanised comedy doesn't fit in with Irish comedy' remark. Lot's of American comedy succeeds this side of the pond, so I do believe it is possible to incorporate it in Irish comedy. This show did not work. It was too stupid. Trying to be wired and funny, but did not have the funniness. We, like the creators of this show, should move on and get over it.

Bounty Hunter

I would wonder if despite it being horrible (just my opinion) it got decent ratings cos it definitley seems like enough people that post on boards.ie saw it. afterall it was only a 2part pilot and ratings are the key to it getting commisioned not reviews.

lodgepole

I think the major failing was the editing*. There were a lot of off beats that ruined what could have been funny moments. Particularly in the climax of the second episode, which was supposed to be manic. Personally i'd like to see it commissioned for six episodes and see what the lads can do with this experience behind them. Just bring it to the editors in RTE or hire a freelance with some experience.

* obviously there were other things that weren't great, but the most glaring was the editing.

SEPT 23 1989

better off putting on an episode of HANDS much better script and funnier gags

humanji

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

better off putting on an episode of HANDS much better script and funnier gags

You going to use that joke in all your posts?

SEPT 23 1989

afraid so