Lisa and I watched the first episode of T1/2HNH last night. I thought it was weak and lame, a pale imitation of TDS. I can't imagine it surviving unless they can find a way to actually make it funny. The weekend-update-style alternating short news items from the anchors was OK for one segment, but I winced when they returned to it again for the next segment. None of the other segments were too impressive either. The faux ACLU PSAs were OK as satire and commentary, but they weren't funny (I was left thinking, "Yes, sometimes while protecting everyone's rights we have to protect the rights of people with despicable views and actions"...ironic, but not exactly a barrel of laughs).. Also, as I've mentioned before, I can't stand laugh tracks. The running Ed Begley, Jr. gag was a dud too. Frankly, until I heard Begley's commitment to environmentalism mentioned twice in one weekend (on Real Time too), I had no idea about him. Maybe the problem is that comedy isn't Surnow's specialty and that the show really needs to be infused with someone else's comic vision. The connection to reality that TDS has through the in-studio guest (where Stewart is forced to initiate a reasonable discussion with the guest...even if the guest is O'Reilly or McCain or Buchanan) was conspicuously missing too. I was left with the feel that I had just watched a collection of political-sketch rejects from SNL or In Living Color rather than a spunky, funny, yet coherent fake news show. If these first two pilots aren't lame enough to kill it, maybe they'll give it an overall makeover and new comic vision when it becomes an actual series.
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re: Episode 1 of T1/2HNH
I watched it, but it's a 1/2 hour I wish I had back. My thinking was similar - bad SNL news stories. I also thought about the guest that TDS has. They have people of all viewpoints, too. They just had a guy on last week that says global warming is a nothing to be concerned about, and Stewart did a great job (even though he obviously disagrees). And, of course, it seemed to be entirely shots at the left, while TDS takes shots at everyone. They should balance it out more.But you're exactly right. Whoever is writing the "comedy" on this show needs to be replaced if they want to have a chance. There were a few things that made me chuckle, but not enough to want to watch it again.
re: Episode 1 of T1/2HNH
Oh lighten up. To begin with it was a pilot episode. Most of the characters were unpaid volunteers. I thought it was as funny. SNL isn't funny anymore - you aren't old enough to remember when it was funny. Of course it's shots at the left - that's the point. As far as being balanced, oh well - is Bill Maher? You are taking it entirely too seriously and over analyzizing it. If you didn't like it, watch a rerun of 24. :]
re: Episode 1 of T1/2HNH
over analyzing in the blogosphere?this is what we do. ;-)
re: Episode 1 of T1/2HNH
"Of course it's shots at the left - that's the point."So much for "fair and balanced" :)