Young people's awful taste in television

candlegrease · 31-10-2011 1:18pm #1

I've noticed a growing trend amongst young adults (say 18-25). They watch horrible, horrible tv programs. A lot of my friends in college watch stuff like Two and A Half Men, Entourage, The X-Factor, The Big Bang Theory (probably the best of this bunch), Gray's Anatomy. All these programs are terrible IMO.

I never saw Two and A Half Men before but decided to watch an episode because everybody was continuously banging on abut it. I was actually in shock when I saw it, it's like a kids program or something, the humour is pathetic.

Here's Two and A Half Men without the canned laughter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6adZU02alc

It's almost as if the crappy canned laughter is telling all the brainwashed idiots "you should find this funny" and so they laugh. Everybody seems to have the same kind of sense of humour from it as well.

Chips Lovell · 31-10-2011 1:21pm

How dare they

candlegrease · 31-10-2011 1:22pm

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

How date they

Quoted for fail.

hondasam · 31-10-2011 1:22pm

Two and a half men is pretty good tbh.

GarIT · 31-10-2011 1:23pm

Someone needs to make a counter thread on old peoples awful taste in television.

31-10-2011 1:24pm

bbt is very funny.
Can't stand 2.5 men at all

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 31-10-2011 1:24pm

We were once those people and our parents said the same thing and soon our kids will be looking at the generation after them with the same eyes....

soyawhatsup · 31-10-2011 1:25pm

How dare you include Entourage in that list

IHeartChemistry · 31-10-2011 1:25pm

Yea XFactor is shiiiite but TBBT, Two and a Half Men and Greys are damn good. Can't beat McDreamy and McSteamy :cool:

4leto · 31-10-2011 1:25pm

The big bang theory is the best comedy to come out of the states in years, just one word Sheldon,, need I say anything more.

To me its Moron TV or MTV I have no idea what is the appeal to them,,generation gap I suppose.

ejmaztec · 31-10-2011 1:25pm

The only funny thing about Two and a half men is the amount of money they get paid for writing and appearing in such sh1te.

biko · 31-10-2011 1:27pm

Here's another show with canned laughter letting people know when it's funny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-oH-TELcLE

Fluorescence · 31-10-2011 1:27pm

What are you on about? Big Bang Theory is amazing

candlegrease · 31-10-2011 1:29pm

biko wrote: »

Here's another show with canned laughter letting people know when it's funny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-oH-TELcLE

Except that show is actually funny and the laughter isn't forced down your throat as much.

Agricola · 31-10-2011 1:30pm

Can't comment on the Charlie Sheen thing, never saw it but The Big Bang Theory can be very funny. There are so many nods to geek culture its obvious that the scriptwriters know exactly what the characters are about, not what they think geeks should be about.

Its like its always been. Theres good writing and bad writing. Maybe nowadays the good stuff is harder to spot under an avalanche of reality tv rubbish

The King of Moo · 31-10-2011 1:30pm

I'm not sure this is such a big story: most people of all ages like crap TV.

Evidence: most TV is crap.

Turtyturd · 31-10-2011 1:31pm

Young peoples choice in TV is gone to sh*t...every time I have to watch 'In the night garden' with my 2 year old I ask myself where did I go wrong?

4zn76tysfajdxp · 31-10-2011 1:33pm

The Big Bang Theory is rubbish. Really really bad. It has no redeemable qualities. It's ****.

candlegrease · 31-10-2011 1:33pm

Ok, I concede on TBBT, maybe that's pretty good, but the others are still awful.

biko · 31-10-2011 1:33pm

I think this is another of those "XX was better when I was young" threads?

Fluorescence · 31-10-2011 1:34pm

Emmitt Straight Garlic wrote: »

The Big Bang Theory is rubbish. Really really bad. It has no redeemable qualities. It's ****.

Get out :eek:

recyclebin · 31-10-2011 1:36pm

back in my day ..........

SilverScreen · 31-10-2011 1:38pm

candlegrease wrote: »

I've noticed a growing trend amongst young adults (say 18-25). They watch horrible, horrible tv programs. A lot of my friends in college watch stuff like Two and A Half Men, Entourage, The X-Factor, The Big Bang Theory (probably the best of this bunch), Gray's Anatomy. All these programs are terrible IMO.

Yes because none of them can compare to the sheer quality and excellence of Fair City :rolleyes:

slimjimmc · 31-10-2011 1:38pm

candlegrease wrote: »

Except that show is actually funny and the laughter isn't forced down your throat as much.

In your opinion, after all that's what comedy is, a personal opinion, different people have difference tastes in humour.

If you dub that Fawlty Towers clip with the same intentionally down trodden dull backing music that was on that 2.5 men clip and remove the canned laughter I bet you'll feel it just as flat. How something is presented can have a huge impact.

Conall Cernach · 31-10-2011 1:39pm

biko wrote: »

Here's another show with canned laughter letting people know when it's funny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-oH-TELcLE

Is that "canned" or is it in front of a studio audience which would mean that it is real laughter. Many comedy shows (even American ones) are film before an audience and so when th audience laughs that is when they have found something funny. If you don't laugh when the studio audience does then rest assured that they are probably morons.

candlegrease · 31-10-2011 1:40pm

slimjimmc wrote: »

In your opinion, after all that's what comedy is, a personal opinion, different people have difference tastes in humour.

If you dub that Fawlty Towers clip with the same intentionally down trodden dull backing music that was on that 2.5 men clip and remove the canned laughter I bet you'll feel it just as flat.

Yes, I know its an opinion.

I'm complaining about the facts that most people's opinions are so goddamn retarded.

candlegrease · 31-10-2011 1:40pm

Conall Cernach wrote: »

Is that "canned" or is it in front of a studio audience which would mean that it is real laughter. Many comedy shows (even American ones) are film before an audience and so when th audience laughs that is when they have found something funny. If you don't laugh when the studio audience does then rest assured that they are probably morons.

Meant to say this, that's not canned. Its just laughter.

Kitty-kitty · 31-10-2011 1:41pm

Agricola wrote: »

There are so many nods to geek culture its obvious that the scriptwriters know exactly what the characters are about, not what they think geeks should be about.

It's not hard to spend five minutes with google to make references - but using BBT as a cross-section of the geek community is horribly, horribly wrong. Only the main character can even function socially. This is not what geeks are "about".

That said I watch the show religiously - but it's the only one out of this list I'd touch with yours.

There's a few videos out there with the laugh track / audience laughter (because it is filmed in front of an audience but of course if the audience don't find certain gags funny they're going to add in some canned laughter) removed on TBBT. It suddenly becomes slightly uncomfortable to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmLQaTcViOA

Samba · 31-10-2011 1:41pm

Yawn.

Young people's awful taste in x, insert whatever you think is appropriate for x and enjoy a good auld moan.

candlegrease · 31-10-2011 1:42pm

Zero1986 wrote: »

Yes because none of them can compare to the sheer quality and excellence of Fair City :rolleyes:

Fair City is worse than all those shows combined. I never said it was good.

Nice try though.

old hippy · 31-10-2011 1:43pm

Personally, I think The Story of Cinema is the best thing on the telly at the moment.

Fawlty Towers was good in its day but the jokes at the expense of the Germans, the French and the Irish have kind of grown a bit tired now.

Dotrel · 31-10-2011 1:43pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saPhxZZQCWk

candlegrease · 31-10-2011 1:43pm

biko wrote: »

I think this is another of those "XX was better when I was young" threads?

I'm 20.

Nice try though.

recyclebin wrote: »

back in my day ..........

See above.

candlegrease · 31-10-2011 1:44pm

Dotrel wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saPhxZZQCWk

See above.

John Doe1 · 31-10-2011 1:45pm

Kill the young!!:mad:

Dotrel · 31-10-2011 1:45pm

Plus it's not to take away the point that the stuff today is garbage. It is. But was whatever you liked way back when. You just didn't realise it.

Carlos Orange · 31-10-2011 1:46pm

candlegrease wrote: »

I've noticed a growing trend amongst young adults (say 18-25). They watch horrible, horrible tv programs. A lot of my friends in college watch stuff like Two and A Half Men, Entourage, The X-Factor, The Big Bang Theory (probably the best of this bunch), Gray's Anatomy. All these programs are terrible IMO.

Your idea of horrible shows seems a bit hit and miss. What shows do you think are good?

ejmaztec · 31-10-2011 1:46pm

Conall Cernach wrote: »

Is that "canned" or is it in front of a studio audience which would mean that it is real laughter. Many comedy shows (even American ones) are film before an audience and so when th audience laughs that is when they have found something funny. If you don't laugh when the studio audience does then rest assured that they are probably morons.

A friend of mine was in the studio audience when some BBC comedy episode was being filmed, and he thinks that the laughter track was replaced before the programme aired. He said that some guy had a really distinctive laugh in the audience, but that wasn't heard when the programme was shown on TV.

old hippy · 31-10-2011 1:47pm

candlegrease wrote: »

Fair City is worse than all those shows combined. I never said it was good.

Nice try though.

I actually watched the entire first series of FC. Magnificent cast, including the late Tony Doyle but excreable plotting and pacing. I'm amazed it's still going

mike65 · 31-10-2011 2:00pm

biko wrote: »

Here's another show with canned laughter letting people know when it's funny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-oH-TELcLE

candlegrease wrote: »

Except that show is actually funny and the laughter isn't forced down your throat as much.

Conall Cernach wrote: »

Is that "canned" or is it in front of a studio audience which would mean that it is real laughter. Many comedy shows (even American ones) are film before an audience and so when th audience laughs that is when they have found something funny. If you don't laugh when the studio audience does then rest assured that they are probably morons.

British TV doesn't use canned laughter (except when mocking US comedy tv), be it filmed in front of a live audience or shot on location with film its always shown first to an audience for an actual human response.

pappyodaniel · 31-10-2011 2:17pm

After 2 years of living on own I started sharing a house with an old friend of mine. She is about 4 years younger than I but our tastes in music and TV/film couldn't be more different.

She comes home from work, turns on the telly and watches shows like 2.5 Men, TBBT, Friends etc whereas I prefer to download tv shows like Breaking Bad, Louie or Boardwalk Empire and watch them at my leisure.

I usually call into the sitting room to be sociable and have a chat most days but the lame humour and canned laughter irritate me no end so I usually end up leaving after about half an hour.

That being said, we get on quite well besides our differences in taste.

dsmythy · 31-10-2011 2:26pm

TV seemed less crap before because there were less channels on which to put crap on.

31-10-2011 2:28pm

pappyodaniel wrote: »

She is about 4 years younger than I but our tastes in music and TV/film couldn't be more different.

I would suggest that your differences in taste are more to do with you both being different people rather than the huge influence of a 4 year gap.

I love the Big Bang Theory, I don't see what's so wrong with a few laughter cues or obvious jokes, if it's funny it's funny. I don't think that enjoying TV needs to be justified with conditions like "it must be intellectually stimulating". Things can be stupid and funny and that's fine.

What's with old people's taste in TV? I mean for example, televised golf, now what's all that about???

The only thing worse than the golf is the fact that for some reason it always has to be turned up to the highest volume possible.

fruvai · 31-10-2011 2:57pm

old hippy wrote: »

Fawlty Towers was good in its day but the jokes at the expense of the Germans, the French and the Irish have kind of grown a bit tired now.

It's still one of the best comedies ever made - and they were never any jokes made at the expense of the Germans etc. The joke was always on Basil - the show satirised his idiotic and bigoted views - looking down at the working class, his sexual conservatism,his cheapness......

fruvai · 31-10-2011 3:06pm

4leto wrote: »

The big bang theory is the best comedy to come out of the states in years, just one word Sheldon,, need I say anything more.

30 Rock and Modern Family are far superior

Chuck Lorre is a ****ing hack - look at the all the sitcoms he's been heavily involved with:

Roseanne
Grace Under Fire
Cybill
Dharma & Greg
Two and a Half Men
The Big Bang Theory
Mike & Molly

hooradiation · 31-10-2011 3:11pm

candlegrease wrote: »

I've noticed a growing trend amongst young adults (say 18-25). They watch horrible, horrible tv programs. A lot of my friends in college watch stuff like Two and A Half Men, Entourage, The X-Factor, The Big Bang Theory (probably the best of this bunch), Gray's Anatomy. All these programs are terrible IMO.

I never saw Two and A Half Men before but decided to watch an episode because everybody was continuously banging on abut it. I was actually in shock when I saw it, it's like a kids program or something, the humour is pathetic.

Here's Two and A Half Men without the canned laughter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6adZU02alc

It's almost as if the crappy canned laughter is telling all the brainwashed idiots "you should find this funny" and so they laugh. Everybody seems to have the same kind of sense of humour from it as well.

Try not to flip the fuck out and just let people watch whatever they like, because, guess what, you watch awful shit as well.

Fighting Irish · 31-10-2011 3:38pm

First of all, Entourage is quality, well it was but went downhill in the last couple of seasons. Just so i know what i'm dealing with, what TV shows do you like?

candlegrease wrote: »

I've noticed a growing trend amongst young adults (say 18-25). They watch horrible, horrible tv programs. A lot of my friends in college watch stuff like Two and A Half Men, Entourage, The X-Factor, The Big Bang Theory (probably the best of this bunch), Gray's Anatomy. All these programs are terrible IMO.

I never saw Two and A Half Men before but decided to watch an episode because everybody was continuously banging on abut it. I was actually in shock when I saw it, it's like a kids program or something, the humour is pathetic.

Here's Two and A Half Men without the canned laughter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6adZU02alc

It's almost as if the crappy canned laughter is telling all the brainwashed idiots "you should find this funny" and so they laugh. Everybody seems to have the same kind of sense of humour from it as well.

mickydoomsux · 31-10-2011 3:44pm

American sitcoms, all sitcoms in fact, are usually utter ****e regardless of when they were on. Tame humour with laugh tracks inserted to remind you what's supposed to be "funny".

The problem is that there are tons more of them now because they are cheap to produce, you can pretty much reuse scripts from other ones you've written and just change the names (How I Met Yore Ma is literally just Friends with different named characters) and they get massive ratings.

Dotrel · 31-10-2011 3:45pm

They'd probably try a bit harder if they thought anyone with youth and intelligence was even watching tv anymore.

Jesus Wept · 31-10-2011 3:47pm

^lol, old peoples.

Conor108 · 31-10-2011 3:54pm

Community is way better than BBT imo and theres no laugh track thank jaysus.

Young people's awful taste in television

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