FOTC love on CBS Sunday morning

**Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:23 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7zPB5xpG14

"Idiot nobility" - I like it. However, I'm not so keen on Jemaine being described, yet again, as "simian."

**Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:04 pm

Its the "semi-grotesque" call in the same sentence that bothers me....

You know at the beginning of this clip where he says "When something is funny, its hard to say why. And When someone tries to explain it you, you tend to want to punch them." He's right... especially about his sad, pseudo-intellectual, try-to-be-witty attempt to explain the FOTC to the masses.

**Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:12 pm

You know, that gave me the creeps. I agree that the "humour in mundanity" that he mentioned is a big aspect of the Conchords, but the smug, overcrafted delivery was just too much of a distraction. And I'm really not comfortable with his physical description of Jemaine. That is bordering on some stuff that I don't like.

**Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:20 pm

Well said both of you and I agree completely. Also, had I never heard of FOTC I don't think that piece would make me particularly interested in them.

BTW it was my cousin who informed me that that piece had been on CBS so I went hunting for it. She's not a fan of FOTC but thought the piece was funny.

And poor Jemaine. He's not at all semi-grotesque. :hrmpf:

He's lovely. :nod:

**Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:29 pm

prettyrobyngirl wrote:

Its the "semi-grotesque" call in the same sentence that bothers me....

You know at the beginning of this clip where he says "When something is funny, its hard to say why. And When someone tries to explain it you, you tend to want to punch them." He's right... especially about his sad, pseudo-intellectual, try-to-be-witty attempt to explain the FOTC to the masses.

I remember when this aired... I was kinda peed at that description too... Actually I didn't like the reporter or his style at all. :tsk:

**Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:33 pm

Definitely, SheWolf - don't think he'd have sold them to me, either :hrm:

Fortunately that job has already been done very well indeed

Thanks for the link, though - tis interesting to see his take on the humour.

**Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:14 pm

I ranted a bit about the description of Jemaine a bit on another board. That reporter annoyed the hell out of me. Insulting someone's looks (even if you're trying to be clever) is not necessary. Ever. Also, how his looks are in any way relevant to the show, the humor or the Conchords as an act is lost on me.

K, end rant.

**Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:53 pm

Someone once described his looks as a mix of David Cross and someone very handsome - I like that, particularly coz Cross isn't unattractive (though I believe that was the implication), I believe the comparison is more to do with the glasses and bubbly noses that they have in common.

Just to play devil's advocate, they have made mention of his looks once in each season (so far) so perhaps I guess it could be something worthy of note. :dunno:

I don't think that any comment not entirely enthusiastic is "bodysnarking" nor do I enjoy hearing others being reprimanded for such so I'm not going to fault the guy for having an opinion and expressing it. I'll just say that I disagree.

**Joined:** Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:12 am **Posts:** 64

i just don't like how the reporter sounds like he's talking to a classroom full of 4 year olds.

**Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2009 3:37 pm

not of fan of this either. to describe jemaine in that way is borderline insulting.
this 'journalist' seems to be peppering his report with personal feelings.
i'm guessing he's just JEALOUS! :wink:

**Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:29 pm

You know - it all sounded like one big backhanded compliment to me.

He was complimenting them with things that sounded more like insults.

**Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:16 pm

What's the problem, ladies ? He liked it, didn't he ?

**Joined:** Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:57 am **Posts:** 4463

Did his expression change at all during that speech :lol:

And yeah, he liked it. But he made it sound so, not funny. I'd rather have read that than heard it said. Would have sounded better in my head :hrm:

**Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:13 pm

The only time I've ever seen this show is when I'm visiting my Mom. She LOVES it. She's in her 80's and swears she's not old--but she is. You should see how she is around my teenage neices. She has that :shock:

look about her when they are telling her about their lifes. She just smiles and nods and ,after they leave, I try to explain things for her in very basic terms.

My gut feeling is that this review is for the typical CBS Sunday Morning viewer, which is usually of an older generation. I'm sure my Mom is the perfect example. She loves the show because the speaker has a very soft gentle voice and speaks very clearly. She doesn't like change, at all! She's very set in her ways and very stubborn about change. I've started to speak to her like this on occasions. It just makes things easier.

**Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:14 pm

I think Edelstein does like the show, he's just really terrible (wonderfully terrible) at selling it to his viewers. The "talking to the simpleminded" delivery is just how he talks; I tried listening to a podcast of his film reviews some time ago, but I couldn't stand his over-rehearsed manner.

And his comments about the late, great dancing salt & pepper shakers shows how out of touch he is. :tsk:

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FOTC love on CBS Sunday morning

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