Paul Fuzz Presents: Flew In From Miami Beach BOAC
Saturday, March 11, 2006
  Being Hoodwinked By 'My Name Is Earl'
Not that I don't dig 'My Name Is...', 'fact is it's one of the few thangs I actively look forward to on the box, but I gotta say when I'm watching it I sorta get the feeling that I'm being hoodwinked, albeit in a very gentle, Earl-y type way. The show's lovely an all, a thoroughly enjoyable half hour, probably racks up maybe half a dozen really good gags an episode, but the writers & cast are awful adept at convincing you that it's way better than it actually is, and the tactic goes like this: "It doesn't matter what the content of the show is, 'cos EARL IS THE COOLEST TV CHARACTER EVER, and as long as we have Earl rocking an awesome Smokey & The Bandit '70s 'tash and pulling that beguiling wonky grin evey five minutes and styling his super-trailer trash redneck chic and sitting around his apartment drinking beer & watching buildings being demolished on TV and driving his hipster automobile around we can pretty much do whatever the hell we like, 'cos who's gonna argue with that? Nobody." And they're absolutely right; I could happily watch Earl wander round being cool all day. Like, there was an episode a couple of weeks back where his ex-wife got married to Crab Man, the whole episode was pretty much a bust, but with less than 30 seconds of the programme left they pull A MIND RE-WIRING 'EARL MOMENT' out of the bag and totally re-adjust your memory of the show; "Jeez, didn't think too much to this week's show, might give it a miss next wee...OH MY GOD! EARL IS DOING 'THE ROBOT'! THAT'S THE COOLEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN IN THE HISTORY OF TELEVISION! AND NOW HE'S ACTUALLY BREAKDANCING! THIS WAS THE BEST EPISODE OF EARL YET!"

There really isn't much of a point to this post except to make the thoroughly obvious observation that the success of the show rests almost solely with it's central protagonist, p'raps more than any show I've ever seen. (Interestingly, this bucks the general trend of 'main characters' being the worst thing about the show, otherwise known as The Dawson Theory.)

Any suggestions for more 'TV Characters Better Than The Show They're In' ?
 
Comments:
Easy - and disturbing how this one came to mind immediately - the late great Seth Armstrong was waaaay better than Emmerdale!
 
Finch on Just Shoot Me. That show pretty much sucks; I hate the fact that I never quite get up early enough to watch Friends with my breakfast so I am glad that at least I can watch this character saying "I was all like...I'll bring an apple pie." (If you watched the episode with Ashton Kutcher, you'll know what I mean.

Genius.
 
Seth is The OC..? Haha. You're post may be obvious, Paul, but it's true. As we've discussed though, Friday's episodes showed a shift towards it being a more cohesive show - references to previous episodes and all that. The second of the double bill was the best yet by a long long way.
 
Seth *in* the OC is what I meant to say, but I think many would agree that Seth *is* the OC too...
 
The entire supporting cast of Ally McBeal was better than Ally herself. Jack and Karen are much more fun than Will and Grace.

But then again Frasier is great, the Office would be nothing without David Brent, and Brian Potter is the funniest thing in Phoenix Nights.

Mind you on the other hand, Tom and Barbara in the Good Life are rubbish compared to Margot. CJ steals the show in Reggie Perrin and Thora Hird and Nora Batty were the funniest things in Last of the Summer Wine.

Although, Basil Fawlty is fab, Gill Tyrell is the key to Nighty Night and what would Two Pints of Lager and Packet of Crisps be with out those two from Hollyoaks and Ralf Little.

What can we conclude from this?
 
I figure'Will & Grace' is arguably the ultimate example of 'lead characters who suck, especially compared to their brilliant supporting cast.' (Grace is capable of genuine, turn-off-the-telly-it's-so-bad irritation). The leads don't have the luxery J & K have of being a) 'comic relief' and b)larger than life, but the reason they suck is 'cos they suck, not 'cos J & K are so good.
 
http://www.joshilynjackson.com/mt/archives/000468.html
 
SPIN CITY WAS GREAT!
 
I'd have to say probably Ricky Gervais's David Brent in the Office, obviously the show wouldn't be able to exist without him.
Another example would be 24, without Jack there could not be any 24 :(!!
 
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