• Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    9
    ·
    3 months ago

    Seinfeld was really funny to me at the time, but when I go back and watch it, all I can think about is how awful all of them are, and yet they’re also really successful (even George eventually). And again, a bunch of white people living in New York City without serious money issues. I also can’t help but notice the near total lack of people of color in Seinfeld and Friends. Those shows totally whitewash New York City, which, ironically, had a black mayor for part of the time those shows were on the air.

    • ummthatguy@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      3 months ago

      Larry David was explicit that throughout the show they never learn or grow as people. They are and always will be horrible, neurotic, assholes. The whitewashing is a bit noticeable. Holds up reasonably well, though I could do without the laugh track.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        3 months ago

        I can’t watch shows with laugh tracks any more. Finding out that the European version of M*A*S*H had no laugh track and watching that version was amazing.

    • brbposting@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      3 months ago

      without serious money issues.

      Local comedy gives me my fill of comedy about money issues. Ever had any comedy clubs ‘round the neighborhood yourself?

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        3 months ago

        Used to do standup regionally and hosted a comedy night at a local club. We talk about being poor because you get paid shit unless you’re big time. And even a lot of the people who get spots on the late night shows aren’t driving shiny new cars. They’re driving ten-year-old Honda Civics.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            3 months ago

            The club I was doing it in only did comedy two nights a week. It did other nightclub stuff like host bands on other nights. There was a regular jazz band that played there on Monday nights with some pretty well-known musicians. They also showed art-house films, which is how I started before I did comedy- I was the projectionist there. Then one day, the regular host, who thought I was really funny, had me do an opener. It took off from there. Eventually, he hosted one night and I hosted another so we could tour regionally other parts of the week. This was way back in the 1990s- the club is gone now. The building has been demolished.

            However, that town now does have a locally-owned comedy club that is apparently successful enough to draw really big-name acts, so I guess the answer is yes.

            I’m sure the pay is still shit though.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                edit-2
                3 months ago

                Sorry if my answer wasn’t clear- it is possible to run a local comedy club that stays in business, but I don’t know if it pays well. I do assume that the big-name acts are paid well. Michael Kosta from The Daily Show was just there. I doubt he would have come to Indiana for cheap because it must have been an overnight gig since he hosted the show that week too.