11/8/13
View Logs: Dads S1 Episode 5
Episode Title: Oldfinger"Dads is recorded from a live studio audience"... no... more like a high studio audience. Seriously, only someone on drugs would laugh at jokes this unimaginative. But hey... once again... atleast they are jokes... I'll look forward to the day when this statement will no longer be acceptable. But at the moment... beggers can't be choosers I suppose...
I feel like I'm being lazy with this one. But really there isn't much to talk about with this episode. The same problems in this episode has been ranted about in the previous episode just to a lesser degree of severity. However, there is something that I haven't touched upon and that is Seth Green's character. You know, it really takes some seriously botched writing to make Seth Green a horrible awkward creep. I know he plays Chris is played by Seth Green in Family Guy but that's a little different. He was portraying a cartoon character so it doesn't factor in his body language and facial expressions when he acts. In live action? Seth Green is in a lot of comedies and light hearted movies because he's a guy that draws people in quite well. That's why he's often the loveable geek or the loveable pothead.
He's essentially the same type of character here but his lines are so devoid of charm that he just comes across as creepy. Now, I'm not saying that Seth can't play characters outside of his type. Maybe Seth can be great in a role where he's a very offputting awkward creep. However, the difference between a role like that and what Seth is doing here in Dads is that Dads isn't supposed to be that kind of role. Here's a great example about 5 minutes into the show.
Seth Green is being taken care of by a hot woman doctor:
Doctor: "temperature is... 98.6"
Seth: "98.6 oh my god we're already finishing each others' sentences I feel really good about this already."
Doctor: "Ok... I'm just going to put this in your mouth."
Seth: "Now you're stealing my lines!"
The Doctor smiles.
That is NOT FUCKING CHARMING. That is FUCKING creepy. This whole thing reminds me of a skit in the far superior comedy Louie where Louis C.K. stars in a really horrible sitcom but keeps pointing out the wholes and bad writing of it during the shoot. Actually Dad's is almost exactly that.
Seriously, just go watch that... it's Louie Season 2 Episode 7. You're welcome.
Also, speaking of pointing out holes... this entire episode's story made no sense. Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi both get up a physical... and apparently their Dads are in better health than they are... despite all these bad lifestyle choices like drinking all day and gorging yourself on chinese food. That... is... impossible... You know, part of what made Louie and The Office funny was how closely they can mirror real life situations and still be so exaggerated. The truth in exaggerated situations is what make realistic slice of life sitcoms funny. The story for the last episode was fine. This one? No. It broke my suspension of disbelief quickly...
Also there's a prostate exam scene that goes on for WAY too long.
"Harhar... prostate exam... harhar it's funny because finger in the butt... let's hold on this for LITERALLY 5 minutes. Then have him DIE and gets his finger stuck in Giovanni's butt!" God am I in a middle school?...
Next...
