Red Letter Media

[Mola Ram]

Dan was a sex crazed maniac - can't have that because it would be white male patriarchy abusing their power structure. Once in a while you see a glimmer of what made the old show work in the new one. Unfortunately like his old sitcom, one of the characters has to be an alcoholic (in this case Harry's daughter, although it gave her one of the only good parts of the show, and that was dramatic, not even comedy).

John Larroquette has been in recovery since the early 80s -- if you watch his acceptance speeches for his Emmys, he thanks the friends of Bill W. So I suspect that angle is important to him. That being said, the scene between him and Rauch on the subject was far and away the best moment of the series so far. It really highlights how much wasted potential there was in getting Larroquette back and then just blowing the writing and characters on garbage, unfunny comedy.

But Dan Fielding isn't even close to the same character he was in the old show. They basically pulled a Picard on him.

I don't necessarily mind this. Part of the original show's finale involved Dan finally getting a comeuppance for his years of womanizing. Half of it was legitimately unsettling (he's confronted by the mother of his current conquest, who turns out to be someone he fucked-and-left back when he was 18 or 19); half of it was absurd (he has a nightmare about being put on trial by every woman he ever screwed ... amusingly, this was easily the biggest crowd scene in the entire series). His character having settled down does make sense. However, the fourth episode shows just how skittish they are about the old version of his character, and how it's probably going to be completely buried: Dan goes on a date, and there's not one allusion to his old ways, except for a throwaway line about how he can't remember ever having said no to having sex. It's pathetic. If they ever bring up what Dan used to be like, it'll be to make painful virtue signals about it.

You can't have the sassy black baliff be violent like Roz. She has to be cute and funny like Queen Latifah. The new guy in Mac's job? Can't have a male be competent or confident. He's a total cuck.

One really disappointing thing I realized from rewatching was seeing just how good Charles Robinson and Marsha Warfield were. Robinson was an amazing straight man (until they turned him goofy in the last season or two with his filmmaking silliness), and Warfield was one of the funniest people in the cast, both in the character's concept and her deadpan delivery. Also, you don't appreciate how comparatively slim and trim she was until you see the living planetoid that is "Gurds."

 

[IDanceonTrannyGraves]

John Larroquette has been in recovery since the early 80s -- if you watch his acceptance speeches for his Emmys, he thanks the friends of Bill W. So I suspect that angle is important to him. That being said, the scene between him and Rauch on the subject was far and away the best moment of the series so far. It really highlights how much wasted potential there was in getting Larroquette back and then just blowing the writing and characters on garbage, unfunny comedy.

Completely agree that it was the best scene in the show by far.

I don't necessarily mind this. Part of the original show's finale involved Dan finally getting a comeuppance for his years of womanizing. Half of it was legitimately unsettling (he's confronted by the mother of his current conquest, who turns out to be someone he fucked-and-left back when he was 18 or 19); half of it was absurd (he has a nightmare about being put on trial by every woman he ever screwed ... amusingly, this was easily the biggest crowd scene in the entire series). His character having settled down does make sense. However, the fourth episode shows just how skittish they are about the old version of his character, and how it's probably going to be completely buried: Dan goes on a date, and there's not one allusion to his old ways, except for a throwaway line about how he can't remember ever having said no to having sex. It's pathetic. If they ever bring up what Dan used to be like, it'll be to make painful virtue signals about it.

I don't mind Dan changing as a person after 30 years. What I don't like is them neutering him to the point where he is basically Picarded and unrecognisable. Change is one thing, this is different. You are exactly right that they are going to virtue signal the hell out of Dan's old character, and they already kind of did with the last episode. The whole reason that they changed his character is so that they only have to give his past life a couple of surface references to make it seem like they are "honouring" the old show.

 

[Mola Ram]

I don't mind Dan changing as a person after 30 years. What I don't like is them neutering him to the point where he is basically Picarded and unrecognisable. Change is one thing, this is different. You are exactly right that they are going to virtue signal the hell out of Dan's old character, and they already kind of did with the last episode.

Yeah, I honestly never expected them to have Dan be exactly the same, not least because what was funny when done by a 40-something Dan would be revolting when done by 75 year old Dan. Turning him into a frightened hermit who's given up on life was a downright bizarre decision, unless it was to give Rauch's character something to do. Another pet project for Judge Perky! Blech.

 

[IDanceonTrannyGraves]

Yeah, I honestly never expected them to have Dan be exactly the same, not least because what was funny when done by a 40-something Dan would be revolting when done by 75 year old Dan. Turning him into a frightened hermit who's given up on life was a downright bizarre decision, unless it was to give Rauch's character something to do. Another pet project for Judge Perky! Blech.

I just read it's already been renewed for Season 2. Fuck TV sucks nowadays.

 

[Drag-on Knight 91873]

A modern day SJW millennial mixed race/gender neutral reboot of WKRP in Cincinnati where they run a podcast known as WKRP. It has little to do with the original series and it's a try not to laugh challenge. Coming to Peacock in 2024 for only 8 episodes before it gets cancelled for being unfunny.

The legit version of WKRP would be about Youtubers whining about monetization and copyright strikes.

 

[BIG BILL HELL'S]

I'm genuinely surprised that I'm apparently the only one who hated the MUH ADDICTION crap. It was so inappropriately maudlin and so incongruous to what we know about the Abby character that it just came off as bizarre and forced.

Since I guess this is now the Night Court discussion thread:

• I have to admit that I laughed at some of the jokes. I also laughed a few times at things that weren't really supposed to be jokes, but whatever.
• Fat, black, and sassy is no way to go through life, to coin a phrase, so the Bailiff character is nothing but irritating and offputting.
• The DA character is written poorly; what is it with modern writers being unable to write characters that can do nothing but vomit up verbal diarrhea every time they start talking?
• Dan Fielding should have been the DA again, and Wendie Malick should have been the Public Defender.
• I watched four episodes, and I spent the majority of the fourth wishing it would be over already, so I won't be watching any more of this garbage.

 

[Mola Ram]

I'm genuinely surprised that I'm apparently the only one who hated the MUH ADDICTION crap. It was so inappropriately maudlin and so incongruous to what we know about the Abby character that it just came off as bizarre and forced.

The subject matter wasn't great, I just thought it made for some nice interaction between Larroquette and Rauch. It was the first time Abby felt like a human being, and the first time I saw anything that looked like chemistry between any of the actors.

I watched four episodes, and I spent the majority of the fourth wishing it would be over already, so I won't be watching any more of this garbage.

The fourth episode might well be the worst of the bunch. Stiff competition. Thing is, none of this makes me angry or annoyed, despite my fondness for the original. It's just all so ... dull and lifeless.

 

[ResidentAlien]

Some mildly interesting travel stuff. Mike and Rich must have been in LA to record for season 2 of Smiling Friends, judging by their photo with Zach and Michael. While there they visited Vasquez rocks.

Fabs, a girl who does artwork for Oneyplays merch and thumbnails made a joke about Mike not being part of the arm over the shoulder link like Rich was. Mike attempts to joke in return, but not knowing who she is likely thinks she's actually upset.

Lastly, D list celebrity Michael Rosenbaum posts a photo on his facebook and Instagram stories from his American Airlines business class flight from LA to Dallas. He is on his way there for a convention. A familiar face is in the back row purely coincidentally as these 2 do not know each other. This was posted to Reddit. Apparently Dallas was a layover on the way back to Milwaukee. Conspiracy theories about where Rich is are bound to pop up. There's an open seat next to Mike since the rows are 2 by 2. Either Mike buys himself a whole row, or Rich is in the bathroom.

 

[MCLOS Horthy]

Rich said he is deathly afraid of flying on Pre Rec one time, so maybe he took the Greyhound.

I hope he survives his slow, piss-soaked sojourn back to the frozen hellscape of Milwaukee.

 

[Evil Peter Griffin]

Some mildly interesting travel stuff. Mike and Rich must have been in LA to record for season 2 of Smiling Friends, judging by their photo with Zach and Michael. While there they visited Vasquez rocks.
View attachment 4431460
Fabs, a girl who does artwork for Oneyplays merch and thumbnails made a joke about Mike not being part of the arm over the shoulder link like Rich was. Mike attempts to joke in return, but not knowing who she is likely thinks she's actually upset.
View attachment 4431472
Lastly, D list celebrity Michael Rosenbaum posts a photo on his facebook and Instagram stories from his American Airlines business class flight from LA to Dallas. He is on his way there for a convention. A familiar face is in the back row purely coincidentally as these 2 do not know each other. This was posted to Reddit. Apparently Dallas was a layover on the way back to Milwaukee. Conspiracy theories about where Rich is are bound to pop up. There's an open seat next to Mike since the rows are 2 by 2. Either Mike buys himself a whole row, or Rich is in the bathroom.
View attachment 4431492

Rich just gets a big box and mails himself to where he needs to go.

 

[None Drunk Username]

Rich just gets a big box and mails himself to where he needs to go.

I think this is a joke from the Simpsons, but that' just how you fly coach on American Airlines.

 

[marvlouslie]

The only bad thing I see coming from the destruction of all the NUKIE tapes is no more games of JUNKA will be played. *Eternal Sad Face*.

JUNKA was easily the most entertaining way to do a Black Spine edition.

 

[FatMebius]

Some mildly interesting travel stuff. Mike and Rich must have been in LA to record for season 2 of Smiling Friends, judging by their photo with Zach and Michael. While there they visited Vasquez rocks.
View attachment 4431460
Fabs, a girl who does artwork for Oneyplays merch and thumbnails made a joke about Mike not being part of the arm over the shoulder link like Rich was. Mike attempts to joke in return, but not knowing who she is likely thinks she's actually upset.
View attachment 4431472
Lastly, D list celebrity Michael Rosenbaum posts a photo on his facebook and Instagram stories from his American Airlines business class flight from LA to Dallas. He is on his way there for a convention. A familiar face is in the back row purely coincidentally as these 2 do not know each other. This was posted to Reddit. Apparently Dallas was a layover on the way back to Milwaukee. Conspiracy theories about where Rich is are bound to pop up. There's an open seat next to Mike since the rows are 2 by 2. Either Mike buys himself a whole row, or Rich is in the bathroom.
View attachment 4431492

Rosenbaum is a surprisingly good interviewer. I wish he'd do a two hour Rich Evans interview. That'd be pure kino.

 

[Tepes Thot]

I hope we’re getting a Zach and Michael (Hadel, but I wouldn’t be opposed to a Lex Luther BOTW episode) BOTW now. Their humor would blend with the guy’s pretty easily.

 

[TVB]

I also want Zach and Hadel to be in BoTW. Them, but also Chris O'Neil.

 

[Preferred Penne]

I also want Zach and Hadel to be in BoTW. Them, but also Chris O'Neil.

As long as they can also get Michael and Cusack.

 

[BubbleButt]

D list celebrity Michael Rosenbaum

Literally who

 

[Flexo]

Literally who

Played Lex Luthor on Smallville. Voiced the Flash on the Justice League cartoon.

 

[Chaos Theorist]

I also want Zach and Hadel to be in BoTW. Them, but also Chris O'Neil.

Tomar Chris Rich and Mike panel

 

[FatMebius]

Literally who

He's a pretty funny dude. A good impressionist. He was also Lex Luthor on Smallville and the Flash on Justice League/Justice League Unlimited. He was also apparently in the top three or four to play Star Lord in the MCU. Right after Dennis from Always Sunny lol.

Check out his podcast, Inside Of You. He interviews lots of B-D list celebs. And manages to somehow drag stuff out of them that they'd otherwise never say. It's kinda fascinating. Like hearing Doug Jones had plastic surgery to fix his chin.