From: joe.siegler@satalink.com (Joe Siegler) 
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: Married With Children... New life?
Date: 3 Oct 92 15:10:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Datamax/Satalink Connection * Ivyland, PA (215) 443-9434
Reply-To: joe.siegler@satalink.com (Joe Siegler) 

To: dnadams@nyx.cs.du.edu

DA|I just think they could have found an idea *better* than "Married With
  |(more) Children".  Stay tuned, because on Sunday you will see the SECOND
  |"new idea" they have for this season.  I wasn't particularly enthralled,

That would be Al as the bartender, wouldn't it?

DA|Obviously I agree, and that has been perhaps the primary
  |foundation for most of my complaints.

Which is what I say.   I think the "concept" of Seven could work if 
only they had a kid who could act in there.

DA|It's a thought, and some of it could be funny (for a while at least),
  |but the problem is that Al's never having any money is pretty much the
  |cornerstone of the show and his whole character.

What I thought was funny as a one shot was the episode where women 
wanted Al, and he bought the leopard underwear.   That was good as a 
one shot gag, as it was totally against the regular character (same 
reason I like the "It's a Bundyful Life" episode.. Whoa Jablonsky!).
The idea of Al being rich would probably work for awhile, but I think 
I agree now, thinking back, as it wouldn't hold up permantely. (sp?)

DA|In theatres?   Wow, I never saw or heard that they did that.

I'm surprised you never saw it.   If you need a timeframe reference, I 
saw it in front of "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane" (I think I was 
one of 6 people to see it in the theatres).   There was a couple of 
typical Bundy lines.   Marcy comes walking into the house with a can, 
saying she's collecting for something, and Al wasn't going to give 
anything, but capitulated, and said, "I'm in for a 10 spot", and drops 
a dime in there.  (With a LOUD clang).   Peggy then puts in the "Yet 
another thing you start that I have to finish" line, and puts in some 
money.    There were Bud & Kelly lines, but I don't remember what they 
are now.

DA|BUT, saying "I like all the stuff", to me at least would seem to also
  |include something like "jefferson is just as funny as Steve", or "Seven
  |is a good character".

Alright, that was a bad choice of words on my part.   I don't mean to 
imply that Jefferson is as funny as Steve (hardly).   What would be 
more appropriate would be that I've liked just about everything 
they've done, looked at it on it's own merits.    Obviously, some 
things will be funnier than others, but there has been very LITTLE 
that I don't like in MWC.   With me, I tend to find something really 
small that I like in something that's generally bad.    Offhand, I 
can't think of a good example, but I think you get the idea.    As for 
Seven, I think the character is fine, it's the kid that's the problem.
As long as Seven doesn't "take over" screen time, I have no problem 
with him being there.   If he became the focus TOO Much, then I'd 
probably object.    We've had 3 episodes (well, most of us anyway) so 
far this season.   The first one had to deal with him, and the 2nd 
had one small scene (which I thought was funny).   The 3rd episode 
dealt with him in the beginning, but he didn't have a whole lot to say.
I rather liked the end scene with him and the Pinata, and "I'm proud 
to call that pig (was it pig) my daddy."   I liked it, and while I 
didn't exactly LAUGH out loud at it, I did enjoy it.

DA|one VERY specific area.  Also, the "REAL fan" comment was addressing the
  |idea of making the Bundys act more like a "real family" (aka cosbys).
  |IMHO, that does not sound like someone who is much of a "real fan" of
  |the show the producers called "NOT the cosbys"...

Well, "real fan" is a bit ambiguous a term to use, and in an 
electronic medium, it's probably not the best word to use.  :) 
However, using this definition above, then I would agree.   It's not 
cool to make 'em like the Cosbys.   However, some change has to be 
undertaken after so long, or else they become stale.    What I think 
is stale now on the show is Marcy and Jefferson.   They're pretty much 
cardboard anymore.   They have good lines, but I didn't get this feel 
with her & Steve.   I think part of the problem with Marcy & Jefferson 
is that they don't seem to interact all that well with each other, or 
at least not as well as she and Steve did.    DAMMNIT, why did Steve 
have to leave?  :)

 >Dean won't notice it since he's so against the character.
DA|Come on, that is useless "personal" talk...

True.  It is.  I wasn't in the best of moods when I wrote that.  It 
just seemed to me (at the time) that you were Seven-Bashing, and I 
took it out on the network.   Sorry bout that.  :(

DA|I have a feeling that the large majority of the reaction to this character
  |is *negative*, so perhaps the producers will try and do something about it.
  |After all, they did NOT put him into the opening credits...

That's what I was thinking myself.  With him not in the opening 
credits, then they haven't totally comitted to it.   I think the 
bottom line is that I'm not against Seven the character, I'm against 
Seven the kid.
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 . 1st 1.01 #1051s . Ronald Reagan's Autobiography - "What Book?"
           
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