From: music@reg.triumf.ca (FRED W. BACH)
Subject: Re: WHATS WRONG WITH THE SHOW
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: TRIUMF: Tri-University Meson Facility
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 23:11:00 GMT

In article <mcirvin.715912921@husc8>, mcirvin@husc8.harvard.edu (Mcirvin) writes...
>music@erich.triumf.ca (FRED W. BACH) writes:
> 
>>       Generally I find
>>       the humor a problem on the Letterman show, however.  I think it
>>       is often too silly and aimed at a much more childish mind.
> 
>I have a friend who once described Chevy Chase's basic act as
>"pretending to be pretending to be pretending to be funny."  That's
>the way it is with Letterman's humor:  it's sophomoric stuff that
>seems to be, in some indefinable way, layered with about twelve
>levels of self-parody.  I find it almost unbearably hilarious most
>of the time.
> 
>The same friend was once a huge fan of Letterman and then suddenly
>declared him to be symptomatic of the general decline of society,
>and refused to watch the show any more.  I think he overdosed on
>irony, and decided that the loss of sincerity inherent in Dave's
>humor wasn't worth any comedic effect that might ensue.  I
>disagree.  Basically I think there's a need for outrageous
>slapstick and grade-school gags, at least for people like me,
>and if the only way we can self-respectingly get it is in an
>extremely self-conscious mode like "Late Night," so be it.

    Why is there a need for outrageous slapstick and grade-school
    gags??  Are you still in grade-school?  Just how does this benefit
    the world, and raise its mentality?  If one were religious one could
    say that God gave us a mind to *use*, not to *lose* or *abuse*.  Do
    you really think that watching a drunk or a brat is funny?  Those 
    who do must have nothing better to think about.  I mean, the way
    some children and drunks act is no way for a self-respecting (or 
    others-respecting, too) adult to act.  Unruly, rebellious,
    mindless youth!  I can understand the reaction of your friend
    and his statement about the show's displaying society's ills
    in general.  Some of Dave's humor is indeed well thought out.
    But a lot seems really off-the-cuff, or,  "I don't care if this
    stuff is top-quality of not".  As a matter of fact, I think 
    that some of Dave's humor is often really so stupid and tasteless
    that I have to quit watching.  The flying camera stuff is just crap.
    The "breaking window" sound effects are old, moldy and tiresome,
    and really not funny any more (does the word overused come to mind?). 
    Now if we can just keep the good stuff....

    (What a great thread I started here.....)

    This thread had some comments suggesting that my tastes in music
    crystalized about 30 or 40 years ago.  Well, not quite.  I played
    in a group doing modern and old time and country rock up to about
    1982.  I agree about Marsalis.  He is *very* good.  And I agree
    that Paul is *really* versatile.  (Silly, yes, but versatile!)

    But I want you to know that I'm not totally down on the show.  I
    watch it often, especially if I know he's got some good guests.

> 
>Besides, dammit, I demand to be entertained.
>
     As my daughter would say, "ME TOO!!! "

>-- 
>Matt McIrvin, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA 
>
 .... Fred


 Fred W. Bach ,    Operations Group        |  Internet: music@erich.triumf.ca
 TRIUMF (TRI-University Meson Facility)    |  Voice:  604-222-1047 loc 278/419
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 University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., CANADA   V6T 2A3

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 They do NOT necessarily reflect the views of my employer or fellow workers.
Newsgroups: alt.fan.letterman