Post by Quorthon on May 24, 2006 10:06:55 GMT -5
I guess I prefer the more "cerebral" writing in South Park. I like when story elements, jokes, what-have-you are intertwined in the story.
Like most Malcolm in the Middle or Seinfeld stories. What I got from that episode was that it doesn't take much thought to slap on random jokes, like Family Guy does--anyone can do that. But it takes a talented writer to create an intricate, detailed story with many deeply woven threads.
In that respect, American Dad has somewhat more intricate writing. But that show fails on several other levels--namely, the overly obvious way it's so desperate to pander to the Anti-Bush, Anti-War crowd (people don't even know why they hate Bush anymore, it's just jump-on-the-bandwagon bullshit--and I'm plenty sick of celebrities that go out of their way to slander the administration, it's all just for attention now, like being Anti-American is cool...--but this is a rant for another time and place. And one I've done plenty of times before, elsewhere.) and the fact that there is almost no character depth at all.
American Dad and Family Guy have their moments (far fewer for American Dad), but they're also vastly inferior to shows like Futurama and South Park, and even the latter-day, overly preachy Simpsons episodes (they need to go back to writing about characters and to the emotional stories rather than the fucking political mumbo-jumbo). Out of all of these, I think South Park may actually be the "smartest" show. Topical, insightful, intelligent, clever--giving everyone the slams they deserve, while acknowledging intelligence and even respect when it's due. It isn't overly liberal like the Simpsons or American Dad--it's just common sense stuff thrown out with sarcasm, but there's thought to it.
Like most Malcolm in the Middle or Seinfeld stories. What I got from that episode was that it doesn't take much thought to slap on random jokes, like Family Guy does--anyone can do that. But it takes a talented writer to create an intricate, detailed story with many deeply woven threads.
In that respect, American Dad has somewhat more intricate writing. But that show fails on several other levels--namely, the overly obvious way it's so desperate to pander to the Anti-Bush, Anti-War crowd (people don't even know why they hate Bush anymore, it's just jump-on-the-bandwagon bullshit--and I'm plenty sick of celebrities that go out of their way to slander the administration, it's all just for attention now, like being Anti-American is cool...--but this is a rant for another time and place. And one I've done plenty of times before, elsewhere.) and the fact that there is almost no character depth at all.
American Dad and Family Guy have their moments (far fewer for American Dad), but they're also vastly inferior to shows like Futurama and South Park, and even the latter-day, overly preachy Simpsons episodes (they need to go back to writing about characters and to the emotional stories rather than the fucking political mumbo-jumbo). Out of all of these, I think South Park may actually be the "smartest" show. Topical, insightful, intelligent, clever--giving everyone the slams they deserve, while acknowledging intelligence and even respect when it's due. It isn't overly liberal like the Simpsons or American Dad--it's just common sense stuff thrown out with sarcasm, but there's thought to it.
