It seems like only yesterday that most of us were able to get on with our lives thanks to the writer’s strike settlement. Hopefully, you are all pleased with your favorite shows returning in full splendor.
“Boston Legal” was an amusing show until about two weeks ago when David Spader hectored the U.S. Supreme Court while defending a retarded murderer from receiving the death penalty (good luck kid, your high minded lawyer just tweaked the nose of your last chance). Denny Crane added to the absurdity by ripping one during the proceedings. This show has truly left the cliff and is heading for the rocks below. It reminds me when “MASH” was a great show, before everyone became good buddies and each episode delivered one pious sermon after another.
Today’s comedies need to use shock, sex, or something gross to get the laughs. They use everything but good writing. It’s just not that funny.*
Something happened the other night while watching TV. My kids looked at me very puzzled. When I asked what was the matter they both responded, “Dad, you are laughing out loud-you never do that when you watch TV.”
Now, I love to laugh but had to admit it doesn’t happen when watching comedies. What was I watching? The classic “Beverly Hillbillies.”
“The Beverly Hillbillies” is just laugh out loud funny, even to this day. What is great about the show is it never really makes fun of Jed and his kin. They are just good-hearted mountain folk that are in a culture clash in a strange land and trying to make sense of it all. They have great riches but never loose their center. That is, they never loose site of who they are in spite of a great reversal of fortune.
Those supposedly much smarter city slickers who try to swindle money from them always end up trying to escape from the Clampett’s overzealous generosity. The Clampetts never would think of giving money to someone when they could teach them how to plow, cook possum, or have some of Granny’s free doctor’n.
When working the Appalachia region of Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia, I found the folks there to be trusting, generous, and friendly. So, the real story behind the show is the joke may have been on us city folk all along.
* Admittedly, I laugh out loud watching “The Simpsons” but, hopefully, the kids aren’t around to watch me, while I’m watching that.
