Saw an episode of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

OK, now I’m going to show my age. But what in the world is with everything My Little Pony? I can’t go anywhere on the internet without being bombarded by this weirdness. I mean, I don’t get it. What am I missing that everybody thinks is so awesome and I’m thinking, “Good gog! This sucks worse than the original series from my childhood!”

I watched some Iris because 1) it’s apparently great, and 2) it’s Korean. Well, so far both those things are true, but I was kind of surprised when it turned out the contract killer guy is TOP of Big Bang fame. Now there’s just no way to separate the skinny Korean pop artist rapping about Galliano and hangovers and the psychopath with a gun in my mind.

@Wulf – While I’ll admit to only having seen relatively little of the original series (any of the multiple ones), I can certainly say that the current series at least looks better. And while it is mostly a guilty pleasure for me, it’s something that has given me more joy than pretty much anything else I’ve ever seen. (not just mild entertainment, but I think I can honestly say “joy”) The characters are funny (I disagree with Soupnazi pretty strongly on this one—the show isn’t focused on being a comedy show, but I think there’s still a lot of humor in it), the stories are fairly interesting (at least moreso than many animated shows are, even ones I like), and the messages are wholesome and generally pretty good. So as for why a person could find the show enjoyable… that’s what I think it boils down to, more or less.

As for why I genuinely love the show, as opposed to simply thinking it’s enjoyable to watch… that’s harder to pin down. Part of it is because I appreciate that it’s not, well, as nonsensical as a lot of kids’ shows. Part of it is because it’s just plain interesting: there’s a wide variety of characters, all of whom are at least interesting. Soupnazi is correct in that they tend to stick to their predefined role/traits, but these roles and traits are wide-ranging; no two of the main characters are really alike. And their characterizations aren’t really things like “the dumb best friend”, it’s things like “serious hard-working farmer who likes competition” and “silly partying pastry chef who struggles with responsibility”. I also genuinely like the stories; most are fairly original and interesting. When’s the last time a thoroughly girly show had an episode about fighting a dragon (and ultimately defeating it, not through loving it or something, but by berating it), after all? The writing and voice acting are also a step above many shows.

And I’ll admit that part of it is because it occasionally references things I like, such as Star Trek or Star Wars. Or I Love Lucy. Or Yakkety Sax.

But I know it’s not for everyone, and the unabashed girliness/relatively low stakes or lack of particularly complex or layered plots is probably going to turn most people off it. That’s fine. Or they won’t like the characters or plots, which is also fine, because there’s plenty of other shows/books/movies I just don’t like the premise of either. Or someone might not like animated shows in general, and that’s understandable too. Some of the more fanatical elements of the MLP:FiM fandom would be like “IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT YOU MUST BE STUPID”, but that’s as silly as saying sansa’s right in burning people at the stake for not liking The Wire.

OMG THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER IT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND” fans kind of ruined it for me

I think that’s a lot of my problem. I have trouble understanding how people who are twenty years old can get so worked up over a kid’s show.

When’s the last time a thoroughly girly show had an episode about fighting a dragon (and ultimately defeating it, not through loving it or something, but by berating it), after all?

That is probably the best reason I have ever heard for watching the show. If I have to watch one more show/read one more story where the monster is defeated through love and huggles, I will kick a kitten.

And I’ll admit that part of it is because it occasionally references things I like, such as Star Trek or Star Wars. Or I Love Lucy. Or Yakkety Sax.

OK, so am I right in guessing it’s kind of like Power Puff Girls? A smart cartoon that is intended for an audience besides just children? If that’s the case, then I can understand the interest in it. I just saw a little bit of an episode and thought it was an updated version of the original My Little Ponies, rolled my eyes and then clicked off of YouTube.

something they can enjoy without any kind of cynicism or irony

This is so refreshing it almost chokes me up. Don’t you just love things you can enjoy without having to pretend to be an adult or a jaded consumer or 1337? It’s like a breath of pure air.

Regarding MLP’s fandom, I think a large part of the internet embraced it because it’s something they can enjoy without any kind of cynicism or irony, and to that segment of the internet, enjoying something in that way is pretty rare.

+1

OK, so am I right in guessing it’s kind of like Power Puff Girls? A smart cartoon that is intended for an audience besides just children?

Precisely! Lauren Faust has spoken/written a great deal about this, actually, saying that while the cartoon is obviously pitched toward children, she tried to make it something that anyone could enjoy. I can’t remember her exact words, but she once said something to the effect of not wanting to make the kind of show parents turn on for their kids and run out the door because it’s so mind-numbingly boring—she wanted to make a show that parents might actually want to sit down and watch with their children.

The first show I will intentionally watch with my future children will be Avatar, and if they don’t like it, I will put them up for adoption.

TV-related: While pining for Community’s return I’ve watched all the DVD commentaries, and have thus developed a new nerdcrush for Gillian Jacobs. It’s nothing compared to my intense love for Alison Brie, but it’s still going to be weird with both of them on the same show. I assume that when it comes back(AND IT WILL GODDAMMIT DON’T BE DICKS NBC) I will forget all about Gillian every time Alison is onscreen, though.

Whoa, swenson, you gave me major deja vu for Word Girl.

Remember, guys, PBS is where it’s at for kids shows. Major charm out of the roof.

Also, what’s everyone’s opinions on Parks and Recreation? Community gets all the hipster cred, and so Parks and Rec gets left in its shadow, even though it’s also doing poor ratings-wise.

Word Girl is great. And yes, her transformation scenes are always clever and hilarious.

The only line I can remember now is when, after Mr. Big brainwashes all of the parents into thinking every day is their kids’ birthday (don’t question it!), Word Girl fixes all of that and says that it’s not anyone’s birthday today, and then it’s actually a girl’s birthday and she says “for reals”. Yes, somebody says “for reals” in a kids show.

And yes, I am terrible at setting up jokes and telling stories.

It’s especially odd since, from what I can gather, Parks and Rec is similar enough to The Office that I’d think it’d get some crossover from that. I guess people just wrote it off as an Office knockoff and didn’t bother.

. . . I really don’t remember the first season. XD

Big Bang can suckit

Words to live by, amigo.

Even when P&R isn’t funny, it exudes charm and happiness—that’s why it’s my favorite sitcom, even thought Happy Endings makes me laugh more.

Seasons 1 – 4 awesome but 4 might be starting to get too silly, 5 still good but getting sillier, 6 iffy with some pretty good stuff like the musical, 7 way too silly not enough funny what the hell happened thank god for the writers strike cutting it short and giving it season 8, 8 had a weird darker tone to the humor and wasnt too funny but brought it a bit back to its roots and i enjoyed it especially the finale. There is no 9th season. It does not exist okay?

YES!

Yeah, Amy’s only slightly better than Rose to me. My favorite is Donna (perhaps because she was never in love with the Doctor, but probably because she was the most average person, and I liked that). I liked Martha too, and she was the least bitchy (not really bitchy at all, actually).

Late, but I love Donna. She was the best.

I like Amy ok. She’s hot. And at least she isn’t Rose.

Iris. I am on episode 14, and it is awesome. And after watching a horrific amount of Korean TV that makes the female characters weak and helpless, Choi Sung Hee is a welcome departure. I love her to bits. :D

Saw a picture, somewhere around, of Gus Fring (well, Esposito, the actor) as a camp counselor and with Big Bird.

May not be news to anybody else, him once being on Sesame Street, but that right there shattered my world.

Watched the premiere of Smash last night. It was… good. Had a very unique feel to it; even if I don’t keep watching, I hope it does well.

Why didn’t anybody tell me how cool Archer was?

Why didn’t anybody tell me how cool Archer was?

I’m… I’m sorry. I failed you, my friend.

On the upside, you know how cool it is now.

I’m honestly pretty out of the loop with advertising (at least that’s how it seems), as I only seem to see the normal amount of ads for the show.

It’s been pushed ridiculously hard on Sunday Night Football for the past couple months, as well as during the Thursday comedy block. I’m just annoyed, since they rarely advertised Community and even though it held relatively steady against Idol and BBT they benched it anyway.

/bitter

Guess I’ll give that a look.

DO IT GODDAMMIT

It’s been pushed ridiculously hard on Sunday Night Football for the past couple months, as well as during the Thursday comedy block. I’m just annoyed, since they rarely advertised Community and even though it held relatively steady against Idol and BBT they benched it anyway.

Ah, see, I don’t watch football and I only watch Parks and Rec and 30 Rock. So that would explain it.

And now 30 Rock is doing just a poorly as Community and ALL OF THE GOOD SHOWS ARE GOING TO BE CANCELLED. (Except for ABC’s Wednesdays, thank goodness.)

Um. I’ve heard that many people find the main two characters attractive?

(I’ve never watched the show myself.)

^^ Good stuff, isn’t it?

Watched my first episode of Community.

Eh.

Yeah, the pilot episode was kind of meh. The first episode of Community I ever saw was Modern Warfare. Just stick through it, Sen. It’s well worth the wait.

The first episode of Community I ever saw was Modern Warfare

I’m never sure if I should tell people to watch this episode if they’re on the fence or not. I mean, if they see it, they’re bound to be amazed and give the show a try.

On the other hand, the experience of watching the episode is something else if you don’t know it’s coming. Watching that episode live when it first aired is probably the single most amazing experience I’ve had watching a TV show, one that beats out any number of the great moments given to me by The Wire, Breaking Bad, Futurama, The Shield, and so forth.

It’s not even my favorite episode, and at this point I’m not even sure it squeezes into my top 5, but it utterly blew me away the first time I saw it. If it’s the only way to get someone to watch it, I’m okay with recommending it first, but otherwise I’d like to preserve as much of that feeling I got as I can for anybody giving the show a chance.

Lol, okay. Honestly, though I’m not very tempted to.

You have to trust us.

Gus Fring is going to be guest-starring in a Community episode when it comes back. NBC needs to cut this shit out already and make some space.

Don’t tell me there’s like 8 or 9 to this thing.

Only in my dream world where we get to have nice things.

It’ll presumably be somewhere in the back half of Season 3 once NBC decides its other shows are mostly awful and takes Community off hiatus. I’ll let you know when I hear more.

Something called Terra Nova started showing recently. I was so wrong to have high expectations for that one.

Terra Nova kind of sucks.

C’mon, you make it too easy.

Dinosaurs, yes. I have no idea if it has an ex-porn star.

And I agree about it kind of sucking.

^With Benedict Cumberbatch?

I don’t really know anything about that guy besides thinking his face looks creepy, but he did inspire my favorite Sean O’Neal line this year with “Benedict Cumberbatch who, in addition to being a shy hedgehog who stumbled into a grand adventure outside his garden one day, also stars in the BBC’s Sherlock.”

@SWQ: Yes, his name is indeed awesome. :D

I love Sherlock. Both the lead and the show.

Okay, the last episode (Hound of Baskervilles) had me clutching my mum, scared out of my wits. Damn, that was awesome. Also, I want Sherlock’s coat. It’s long, flappy, and it can do the cool collar-flippy thing. XD

Basketville is where Charles Barkley lives, right? Did Sherlock go there to practice how to slam and jam at the same time?

And now all I can think of is Barkley, Shut Up and Jam! Gaiden, and how awesome that was.

“Barkley, that’s not a three pointer… that’s a FOUR pointer!”

I love both fictional Chuck Barkley and actual Chuck Barkley. I’d vote that man for president.

So there’s this channel that became available on satellite television a while ago over here, Comedy Central, and … it’s actually pretty dumb.

What, no love for the Colbert Report?

Watching repeats of Law and Order: SVU. It’s still good.

@SANSA

Somebody was talking to me about Bones. Might take a look at it. She makes it sound good…

So apparently Community actually got good-ish ratings yesterday.

I wouldn’t call it dumbed down by any stretch, but it was a “normal” episode, certainly. I can’t call any episode with something as clever as the “Troy wants to go back to being weird because he hears the AC blowing rather than seeing a monkey pop out of a vent” bit as dumbed down.

So apparently Community actually got good-ish ratings yesterday.

Yeah, holy shit. I just looked it up and apparently it beat Idol in the 18-34 demo in the overnights. I hope some of those people stick around next week.

Community sucks. Yeah, I said it. DO SOMETHING.

You are wrong.

From what I’ve seen of Community, I think there are funnier shows. But to say it sucks is outright wrong; it is at least good.