Monday, December 21, 2015

Growing up in the Seventies—Bill Burr on Opie Radio

Bill Burr, talking about his childhood, with a few other 40yo guys. Apparently not as much emphasis on safety from parents towards kids in those days? Part of me thinks they're full of shit, and the other part knows they're right.



Last night I tried on F is for Family on Netflix, with Burr voicing the main character, the patriarch of a five-person family. I like it. It's mostly good. After two episodes, I can see they're finding their footing, but it's got a lot of room to grow, and I'm interested to see where they push it. Complaint: I wish, for once, the father wasn't the main character in these Simpsons- and Family Guy-style cartoon shows. Sure, it reflects the harsh reality of life, but do we need television shows reinforcing that?

I did like Laura Dern's mom character breaking out into tears while she finally has time to enjoy her day. That was a bit of heavy reality, and it was also hilarious with the fish bowl on her head, and the dog Major humping her leg. I love Major's eyes that look in two directions, that's hilarious. And I do enjoy Burr trying to make the Seventies real for viewers. It's a nice period piece. The intro credit sequence is really awesome, too. I have a hard time feeling any empathy for the dad character, though. He'll have to break out of being a complete dick. But, I guess Burr's dad never broke out of that. So I dunno.

They're going for something not completely new, but a new take on an old thing. F is for Family, in my mind after seeing two episodes, is a cross between South Park and The Simpsons. I don't think Family Guy had as much of an influence here, that show's too spastic and disorganized. F is for Family focuses completely on the family members, with solid narratives, and believable plots.

It's shocking to viewers these days. I think that's what Burr wanted, though—to wake everyone up and say, "Hey, it wasn't always this way. It would behoove you to take a look backwards."

They've got some voice actors I can almost place, but I'm having trouble finding online. All I get are the actors for the family members, but not the neighbor kids, the fat cop on the TV show, the announcer guy on the other TV show, and some other people. David Koechner's obese, fried chicken-pounding, chain-smoking boss is hilarious. ("They should make a chicken of just skin.")

I swear the fat cop is either the Unsolved Mysteries guy, or a voice actor from Fallout 3.

I'm pleasantly surprised, and impressed, that Haley Reinhart is a voice actor on this foul-mouthed show. She needed to get a little cooler. I just tried to watch her sing Radiohead's "Creep," and it made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. There was absolutely no substance. Being attractive does not mean you deserve attention. So good on her for doing the little brother character and throwing f-bombs for her professional career.

Here's an IGN review of SSN1 that's mostly well-written.

Is Netflix completely kicking ass lately, or is it just me?

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Gamer Poop, Skyrim #14, by Mans1ay3r

Everyone's talking about Fallout 4 and I'm here like, "So hey, how about that Skyrim?"

This is a new Gamer Poop. Thanks Machinima and Mans1ay3r, you're geniuses.