♪ ♪
>>> LAUGHTER IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO GO FOR FORGETTING YOUR
TROUBLES AND WOES. SITCOMS ARE AN ESCAPE.
THE MORE DIRE THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE MORE YOU NEED SITCOMS TO
FORGET ABOUT YOUR TROUBLES. WE’RE GOING TO THE GOOD
PLACE. IN A FREAKING GOLD BALLOON.
SHOTGUN. THAT’S WHAT WE HAD.
THAT’S WHAT HELPED ME ESCAPE BEING POOR.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU IS A GOOD PERSON.
WHEN I’M FEELING HOPELESS AND SAD, I GET TO LAUGH AND LOSE
MYSELF AND REMEMBER LIFE IS NOT THAT BAD.
YOU’RE IN THE GOOD PLACE.
♪ THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT THE
SITCOM IS IT HAS PROVIDED SO MUCH JOY IN TIMES OF
UNCERTAINTY. UNCERTAINTY.
THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE IN THE 1960s.
THIS NOTION OF NEW PRODUCTS AND EVERYTHING BEING NEW, THIS BRAVE
NEW WORLD. EVERYTHING IS ABOUT THE
FUTURE AND MODERNIZING. YES, IT’S ALL BRIGHT AND SHINY
AND YOU GET CARS THAT LOOK LIKE SPACESHIPS BUT IT’S A SCARY
THING. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
AIR FORCE GENERAL CURTIS LA MAY SUGGESTED WE BOMB NORTH
VIETNAM BACK INTO THE STONE AGE. YABADABADOO.
"THE FLINTSTONES" WAS A MODERN AGE FAMILY, IF YOU
RECALL. IT SORT OF CELEBRATED THE
MODERN FAMILY AND THE GUYS OF A STONE AGE SETTING.
♪ ♪
IT WAS LIKE TIME TRAVEL FANTASY FOR US WATCHING.
YOU ALMOST THROUGH WITH THE DISHES?
I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL THEY INVENT THE FAUCET.
WITH ALL THE PROGRESS IN THE LATE 1950 IT’S AND ’60s, THE
FLINTSTONES WAS AN ESCAPE FROM THE MODERN FAMILY.
IT WAS KIND OF A SATIRE ON THIS CONSUMER.
GET THE NEWEST THING FOR YOUR KITCHEN AND STAR WITH THOSE
STEIN WHEELS. THEY HAVE A CAR WITH WHEELS
BE U YOU BUT YOU NEED YOUR LEGS TO MOVE.
I BET THAT IS HOW THEY DID IT. CARTOON ON SATURDAYS, THAT
WAS A NETWORK SITCOM THAT WAS ANIMATED.
I’M 7 YEARS OLD AND MY MOM USED TO GET JUST FURIOUS,
SHAKING ANGRY AT ME FOR WATCHING "THE FLINTSTONES" BECAUSE IT’S
REALLY A SHOW FOR ADULTS. I REMEMBER I WAS SO SAD FOR
BETTY, AND THE FACT THAT THEY COULDN’T HAVE CHILDREN.
[CRYING] WE’RE SO ANXIOUS TO HAVE A
BABY, WE TAKE IT OUT ON FRED AND WILMA.
BETTY AND BARNEY TALK ABOUT ADOPTING.
A BABY. THAT’S UNUSUAL.
WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO LAW, MA’AM.
THAT HAD NOT BEEN HEARD BEFORE.
IT WAS A SMASH HIT. "THE FLINTSTONES" WAS ON FOR
SIX YEARS. YAHOO!
YOU’RE THE GREATEST, FRED. IT WAS REALLY ON THE CUTTING
EDGE OF ESCAPEING FOR AN AUDMERI AUDIENCE HUNGRY FOR IT.
THE COMMUNIST RULINGS OF EAST BERLIN REINFORCE BARRICADES.
IN THE EARLY AND MID ’60s THERE IS SO MUCH TURMOIL WITH
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, IN TERMS OF VIETNAM.
THERE IS A REAL CRISIS OF IDENTITY.
AND THERE IS A PATTERN IN AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT OF WHEN
THINGS GET REALLY SERIOUS, WE GOT TO GET SILLY.
I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND IT. DON’T TRY TO.
IT’S BIGGER THAN BOTH OF US. [ LAUGHTER ]
PEOPLE JUST NEEDED TO ESCAPE AND GO WATCH A TALKING HORSE.
♪ ♪
COME ON, MOM. CUT IT OUT.
NOT UNTIL YOU CALL THE POLICE.
MY MOTHER THE CAR, THE CAR WAS HAUNTED.
I DON’T KNOW WHY HIS MOTHER WAS HAUNTING A CAR.
>>BILITY AIT’S ABOUT A CAR AND A MOTHER.
THE FLYING NUN WAS PROBABLY THE SILLIEST SHOW EVER MADE.
I WANTED TO BE A NUN WHEN I GREW UP.
HEY, I THINK I’M GETTING THE HANG OF THIS.
WELL, I KNEW I COULDN’T BE A FLYING NUN, BUT ‐‐
[ LAUGHTER ] I KNEW I COULDN’T BE A NUN,
EITHER.
♪ IN THE 1960s, MOST SUCCESSFUL
SITCOMS WERE JUST FUN AND OVER THE TOP AND SILLY.
YOU LAUGH BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE IS FALLING ON THE BANANA
PEEL AND THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF ESCAPING.
THAT’S WHY THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY DEEPLY APPEALING IN THIS
IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO JUST SHAKE OFF THE SHACKLES OF CIVILIZATION
AND START ALL OVER AGAIN. ♪ JUST SIT RIGHT BACK AND YOU’LL
HEAR A TALE OF A FATEFUL TRICK THAT STARTED ♪
SIT RIGHT BACK AND YOU’LL HEAR A TALE OF A FATEFUL TRIP.
STARTED AS SOMETHING. YOU PROBABLY KNOW IT BETTER THAN
I DO. WHEN I WATCH "GILL LA GIN"GIL
ISLAND". NO SURPRISE THERE.
I ALWAYS FELT SO BAD FOR THEM.
ARE THEY EVER GOING TO GET OFF THAT ISLAND?
♪ ♪
MY FATHER HAD AN IDEA TO GET SEVEN PEOPLE TOGETHER AND CAN’T
GET THEM AWAY FROM EATCH OTHER. JIM AUBREY DIDN’T SEE HOW
VIEWERS WOULD UNDERSTAND WHY THESE PEOPLE ARE THERE SO DAD
WENT HOME THAT NIGHT AND WROTE THE THEME SONG.
AND THEN "GILL LA GIN’S ISLAND" WENT ON THE AIR.
THEY COULD MAKE HUTS, THEY COULD MAKE RADIO RECEIVERS.
KEEP PEDALING. A RAFT WAS BEYOND THEIR
CAPABILITY. THE CRITICS HATED IT.
THOUGHT IT WAS THE WORST SHOW EVER.
EVERYBODY SAID THIS IS THE STUPIDEST PLOT WE’VE EVER SEEN.
THEY WENT OFF THE AIR FOR 50 YEARS.
THEY HAVE TO STAY HERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
I JUST REMEMBER LAUGHING SO HARD AT GILLAGAN AND SKIPPER,
THEIR HEAD WAS BALD. MADE US LAUGH.
I THINK I WAS HAPPY I KNEW WHAT A CAN’TTALOUPE WAS.
I WAS TOO INTO GINGER. I THINK I’M A MARY ANN GUY.
I HAD THE HOTS FOR THE PROFESSOR.
HE’S GOT A POINT THERE. I LOVE GILL"GILLAGIN’S ISLAND
MY DAD WANTED TO CREATE SOCIETY.
HE WANTED THE SKIPPER TO BE LEADERSHIP AND MR. HOWL TO BE
CAPITALISM. THE PROFESSOR TO BE
INTELLECTUAL. GINGER TO BE VANITY.
DOES INTELLIGENCE KEEP US AFLOAT
AFLOAT? DOES MONEY KEEP US AFLOAT.
THERE WERE NO BLACK PEOPLE ON "GILLAGIN’S ISLAND" THE FANTASY
OF THE AMERICAN IDEAL. THE ISLAND IS A METAPHOR FOR
THE EARTH. A LOT OF CONTEMPORARY EVENTS AND
THREATS WE CAN SAY FROM NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION TO POLITICAL
CONFLICTS LIKE THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS.
SOMEHOW WIND UP BEING REFLECTED IN THE ADVENTURES ON THE ISLAND.
WITH ALL THE TURMOIL AND EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE WORLD
THEN, IT WAS AN ESCAPE FOR EVERYBODY AND IT MADE YOU HAPPY.
I WOULD LIKE A WORLD WITHOUT STRIFE, UNIVERSAL HARMONY AND
GOODWILL WHERE THE SPIRIT OF BROOD
BROTHERHOOD ENINCHESRICHES. IT TAUGHT A LESSON.
SEVEN COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PEOPLE RAISED DIFFERENTLY.
DIFFERENT VALUES REALLY TRYING TO GET ALONG AND WE DID.
GILLAGIN FOR A GUY ALWAYS DOING DUMB THINGS, WHEN YOU DO
GOING ON AROUND HERE. WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE
WORLD IN 1965 WITH U. S. VERSUS RUSSIA, GET SMART WAS LAMPOONING
THE TERROR FROM THE COLD WAR. IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO ESCAPE THE
PARANOIA PARANOIA.
CHAOS AS A NUCLEAR BOMB, DOESN’T EVERYBODY?
LOVED "GET SMART". I WANTED TO BE DON ADAMS.
♪ ♪
I WANTED TO BE HOPE AT 7:30 TO WATCH HIM GET IN THAT PHONE
BOOTH. "GET SMART" WAS A DIRECT
SATIRE OF JAMES BOND, WHICH WAS THE BIGGEST THING IN MOVIES.
BOND, JAMES BOND. AND WE SAT TERRORIZEDORIZED T
OUT OF IT. ALLOW ME, PRINCESS.
HE’S DOING CLUE SPY STUFF. HE’S GOT THE PHONE.
I WILL TAKE CREDIT FOR THE SHOE PHONE.
THIS IS SMART. WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE THE
CELL PHONE, WHICH I SHOULD HAVE PATENTED AND I WOULDN’T EVEN BE
BATH ER BOTHERED TALKING TO YOU.
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS GAGS ON "GET SMART" WAS THE CONE OF
SILENCE. THE CASE I ASSIGN 99 TO, HAS
TO DO WITH THE FORMULA. THE CHIEF AND AGENT 86
COULDN’T HEAR EACH OTHER. THE CODE OF SILENCE WOULD
NEVER WORK AND NEVER WORK IN A DIFFERENT WAY EVERY TIME.
IT WAS TOO FAST. IT WOULDN’T COME DOWN.
IT WOULD HIT THE DESK. A LOT OF THE CATCH PHRASES
ARE PART OF OUR CULTURE. I LOVED WHEN MAX WOULD SAY,
SORRY ABOUT THAT, CHIEF. SORRY ABOUT THAT, CHIEF.
MISSED IT BY THAT MUCH. MISSED ME BY THAT MUCH.
TWICE. WOULD YOU BELIEVE, I COULD
RIP THESE CHAINS FROM THE WALL IN ONE MINUTE.
I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE. WOULD YOU BELIEVE TWO
MINUTES? EVERY JOB HE WAS GIVEN, HE
TOTALLY FAILED AND AGENT 99 WOULD HELP HIM OUT.
SHE WAS SHARP. MICRO COSMIC.
YOU CERTAINLY HAVE A WAY WITH WORDS 99.
TINSY WINSY. I LOVED 99.
JUST THE LOOK ON HER FACE, IS THAT WHAT YOU REALLY MEAN?
I KNOW THE SOUND OF A .38 SPECIAL AND I COUNTED SIX SHOTS.
THAT’S A TERRIBLE MISTAKE. YOU’RE THE ONE WITH THE .38
SPECIAL. BARBARA ROLLING HER EYES IN
THE CAMERA WAS HER FEMINIST STATEMENT ON GET SMART.
♪ ♪
"GET SMART" DIDN’T PREACH ABOUT THE WORLD AT ALL.
THERE WERE NEVER DIRECT REFERENCES TO WHAT WE SHOULD
THINK ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE ’60s.
WHAT WAS SUBVERSIVE ABOUT "GET SMART" IN FRAMING WHAT WAS GOING
ON IN THE WORLD IN SUCH BROAD STROKES WAS THAT IF YOU, THE
SMART VIEWER WANTED TO ATTACH MEANING TO IT, YOU COULD SEE
MESSAGES IN IT. ONCE YOU’RE LAUGHING, YOU
FORGET EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW. LAUGHTER IS A WONDERFUL
DIVERSION FROM THINKING ABOUT DEATH.
IT’S AIRING IN THE ’60s AT THE PINNACLE OF THE VIETNAM WAR.
IT’S WHEN MARINES ARE BEING SENT OFF TO VIETNAM AND VIETNAMESE
PRISON CAMPS. YOU COULD SEE, LIKE, DEAD
BODIES ON THE NEWS EVERY NIGHT. AND SO THE IDEA THAT YOU
COULD THEN ESCAPE THE SHOW WAS APPEALING.
PEOPLE DIDN’T WANT TO THINK OF THE HISTORY IN NEGATIVE TERMS.
IT’S A FEELING OF LET’S HAVE A GUY ALMOST LIKE A THROW BACK AT
THE OLD G.I. IN THE CARTOONS. GALLY, GALLY, GALLY.
WELL, GEE GOLLY. THAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR CAR.
GOMAR PILE WAS MANY THINGS BUT NOT REFLECTIVE OF VIETNAM.
I HAVE TO LISTEN TO HIS BIG MOUTH EVERY DAY AND FEVER HISAVO
MEALS EVERY NIGHT THIS IS WORSE THAN BEING MARRIED.
WE COULDN’T WATCH GOMA RRK PILE R
PILE BECAUSE THERE WERE ENOUGH IDIOTS IN THE WORLD.
THEY WERE PRANKS AND FUNS.
ESCAPING. THAT’S A GOOD ONE.
HOGAN’S HEROES WAS SET IN WORLD WAR II BUT DEBUTED IN THE
MIDST OF THE VIETNAM WAR.
HEY! I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT PITCH. GUYS, LISTEN TO THIS.
IT WILL BE GREAT. LET’S DO A SITCOM ABOUT A
NAUTZI PRISONER OF WAR. MEN TRAPPED WITHOUT RUNNING
WATER. I’M IN.
♪ ♪
MY DAD AND I USED TO WATCH " "HOGAN’S HEROES" TOGETHER AND
LAUGH, LAUGH, LAUGH.
HOGAN. YOU SEE HOGAN?
NEVER UNDER ESTIMATE YOUR ENEMY.
I SEEN IT. OH, I SEE NOTHING.
I WAS NOT HERE. I DID NOT EVEN GET UP THIS
MORNING. THIS IS AIRING WHEN THERE ARE
MANY AMERICANS TRAPPED IN VIETNAMESE PRISON CAMPS, WHICH
ARE NOT A VERY FINE THING TO THINK ABOUT.
TELEVISION WAS LIKE IF WE COME UP WITH REALLY BROAD IDEAS
THAT ARE VERY FULL OF CAMOMEDY, PEOPLE WILL WANT TO GRAVITATE
TOWARDS THAT. WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
AND WITH THAT YOU GOAT REET T RELEASE ALL THAT ANGST AND WITH
THAT COMES HUMOR. IT IS ATTACKING.
[ LAUGHTER ] HUMOR IS ALWAYS AN INVERSION.
IT’S ALWAYS CAN WE FIND WHAT IS IRONIC ABOUT THIS SITUATION IN
SOMEWAY? SEEING PRISONERS FOR BOTH.
AND THANKFULLY, WE HAVE SITCOM AS A MEDIUM TO DO THAT
FOR US. IT’S AN ESCAPE.
>>> WE NEED LAUGHTER. WE NEED SITCOMS.
WE NEED IT BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T LAUGH, GODDAMNIT YOU’RE GOING TO
CRY. NEW YORK CITY AREA, BLACKED
OUT LAST NIGHT. COURT ORDERED BUSSING REMAINS
ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONALLY CHARGED POLITICAL ISSUES IN THE
COUNTRY. THE SEARCH FOR GAS IS AN
EVERY OTHER DAY ORDEAL. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ’70s,
THERE WAS A LOT OF LET’S NOT THINK ABOUT THAT COMPLICATED
STUFF RIGHT NOW. LET’S MAKE IT GO AWAY.
♪ ♪
"THE LOVE BOAT" WAS THE ULTIMATE IN FLUFF.
♪ LOVE EXCITING AND NEW ♪ I CAN’T GO THAT LOW.
♪ COME ABOARD, WE’RE EXPECTING YOU ♪
YEAH, YOU KNOW THE SONG. ♪ WE’RE EXPECTING YOU ♪
♪ THE LOVE BOAT ♪ "THE LOVE BOAT" MAKES YOU
SMILE. MY AGENT CALLED ME AND SAID
THEY WANT YOU TO DO A THING CALLED "THE LOVE BOAT".
SOUNDS GREAT. PEOPLE JOKED ABC STANDS FOR
AARON’S BROADCASTING COMPANY. AARON, HE HAD A TOUCH FOR
KNOWING WHAT THE AUDIENCE WANTED TO SEE.
"THE LOVE BOAT" A SITCOM OR NOT?
SITCOM. "LOVE BOAT" WAS A SITCOM.
I THINK "THE LOVE BOAT" WAS NOT A SITCOM.
NO. TO ME "THE LOVE BOAT" WAS A
SITCOM AND EXPANDED TO A SITCOM. ALL I KNOW, IT WAS A HIT.
[ LAUGHTER ] WAS USUALLY COMPRISED OF
THREE STORY LINES. ONE WOULD BE A PURE COMIC STORY.
ONE WOULD BE A DRAMATIC STORY. HOW DO YOU TELL THE LADY THAT
YOU LOVE SHE’S NEVER GOING TO WALK AGAIN?
AND ONE WOULD BE A ROMANTIC COMEDY.
I’M JUST A BARTENDER. YOU’RE A STAR.
THEY USED A LAUGH TRACK WHICH WAS NEVER REALLY DONE ESPECIALLY
IN AN HOUR FILMED SHOW. DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE
TERMITES, LADY BECAUSE WHEN YOUR HOUSE FALLS, IT WILL KILL THEM.
THEY WOULDN’T LAUGH, LAUGH. A LOT OF THEM.
OUTRAGEOUS SO FREE. I WAS A "LOVE BOAT" FAN FOUR
OR FIVE TIMES. I DIDN’T EXPECT TO SEE SO
MUCH. WHEN I WATCH "THE LOVE BOAT
NOW" I LAUGH AT HOW WRONG. PRACTICALLY A CAVE MAN
BEATING A WOMAN OVER THE HEAD AND DRAGGING HER BACK TO THE
CABIN. TIMES HAVE CHANGED NOW THE
SHIP’S DOCTOR COULD NOT SLEEP WITH THE PASSENGER.
"THE LOVE BOAT" PROVIDED YOU TO FEEL LIKE YOU WERE ON A
CRUISE. CHANGED EVERYTHING WAS
CHANGED. HUMAN BEINGS.
PEOPLE WANT HAPPY ENDINGS. THEY NEED HAPPY ENDINGS.
BYE. BYE.
WE GAVE IT TO THEM EVERY SATURDAY.
IN 1987. ABC WAS PURE ESCAPING.
IT WAS A FORMULA THAT REALLY ENSURED SUCCESS.
DON’T TAKE IT SO SERIOUSLY. "THE VERN AND SHIRLEY" $6
MILLION MAN. ABC COULD DO NO WRONG.
AND IT WAS PART OF THAT ERA. ♪
♪ THERE IS A MAGIC IN THE EARLY MORNING WE FOUND ♪
SO THE PREMISE IS A MAN TOM BROAD FORD
BRADFORD HAS EIGHT CHILDREN AND A WIFE BUT THAT WIFE PASSED
AWAY. HE FALLS IN LOVE AGAIN.
THE KIDS STILL GRIEVING THE MOTHER NOW HAVE TO DEAL WITH
THIS OTHER WOMAN. WE’RE GETTING MARRIED TO EACH
OTHER. WE WERE THE EVOLUTION OF THE
BRADY BUNCH. COME ON.
YOU’LL NEVER KNOW IF WE BREAK A LITTLE RULE OR TWO.
YEAH, WHO WILL TELL THEM? YOU WOULDN’T SQUEAL, WOULD
YA? LIKE "THE LOVE BOAT," IT WAS
A LONGER SHOW. WHY DON’T YOU GROUND HER FOR
MISSING DINNER? WE KNEW WHERE NANCY WAS W.E
DIDN’T KNOW WHERE YOU WERE. I WAS EATING PIZZA.
THERE WERE MANY THINGS ON THE SHOW I THOUGHT WAS FANTASY.
A FAMILY THAT SITS DOWN AND DISCUSSES THINGS.
REALLY? I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU’RE
GOING TO DO ABOUT TOMMY. HE HAS A PARTY SATURDAY NIGHT
AND HE’S A KID. WHY DON’T YOU MIND YOUR OWN
BUSINESS. A RETURN TO SOMETHING THAT
SEEMS SAFE. YOU LOOK AT THE ERA IS WHAT IS
GOING ON THE DIVORCE RATING SOARING IN THE ’70 IT’S, RIGHT?
THE THE FAMILY IS BREAKING APART.
I’M 8. I CAN UNDERSTAND COMPLICATED
THINGS. WOMEN ARE WEIRD.
THAT’S ALL. MOVE.
IN THE LATE ’70s, THE WORLD HAD JUST COME OUT OF THIS
INCREDIBLE REVOLUTION AND ANGER AND EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FOR
CHEWING GUM FOR THE EYES. ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT’S LIKE
LET’S WATCH A FAMILY THAT’S WORKING AND PROBABLY DOESN’T
EXIST OUTSIDE OF THIS BOX.
>>> THERE IS GROWING EVIDENCE OF THE NATION’S CRACK COCAINE
EPIDEMIC. IN 1981 THE NUMBER OF MAJOR
CRIMES REPORTED TO THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT REACHED A
RECORD HIGH. PEOPLE ARE TIRED.
IN THE EARLY ’80s NEW YORK WAS A DANGEROUS PLACE.
A LOT OF CRIME. A LOT OF CONFLICT.
PEOPLE VERSUS COHEN, DISTURBING THE PEACE.
I CAN’T BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE WITH VIOLENCE EXPELLING THE
ESSENCE OF MY BODY. "MAN COURT" AVOIDED THE
REALITIES OF LIFE IN NEW YORK. SAID LET’S NOT BE SO SERIOUS.
WHAT "NIGHT COURT" WAS DOING IS PRESENTING A VERY HAPPY FACE
VERSION OF WHAT YOU SEE AT A NIGHT COURT IN MANHATTAN.
SHE DID NOTHING OF HER OWN WILL.
IT IS MY DOING. "NIGHT COURT" IS MORE ABOUT
THE HUMOR OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED.
DO YOU BELIEVE THE HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS STUFF?
HUH? THE POINT IS VERY WEIRD
PEOPLE COME INTO THIS BUILDING EVERY DAY.
SEE YOU LATER. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY?
I’LL BE BRIEF. [ LAUGHTER ]
THE CHARACTERS WERE NOT DANGEROUS AND THE CRIMES WERE
MINIMAL. WHAT IS SHE GOING TO DO?
PRANK SPANK YOU?
LEST THE LOVABLE ASSHOLE IF I CAN SAY THAT.
JEALOUS? TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
[ LAUGHTER ] ONE OF THE FUNNIEST WOMEN
EVER. YOU SEE HER?
A LITTLE WATER MIGHT HELP THAT GROWTH.
"NIGHT COURT" WAS ALL ESCAPERS.
[ LAUGHTER ] MR. SHAY IS AN MARMATURE MANY
SESSION. GIVE AMERICA A PIVOT FROM THE
ACTUAL NEWS AND YOU KNOW THAT’S NOT NECESSARILY THE REALITY OF
THE SITUATION BUT THAT’S WHY IT’S CALLED TV MAGIC.
EVEN SUCCESSFUL MAGICIANS SOMETIMES SPEND LIFETIMES
FRUITLESSLY TRYING TO DEVELOP. "NIGHT COURT" TAKES THIS
GRITTY ASPECT OF THE CITY AND GIVE THE YOU A SUNNIER VERSION
OF IT.
♪ HAPPENED AT THE SAME TIME AND
AN INTERESTING PARALLEL WITH "NIGHT COURT."
NEWHEART IS LOOKING FOR AN ESCAPE AND GOES TO AN INN IN
VERMONT. THERE IT IS.
THE STRATFORD. IN THE FIRST "NEWHEART SHOW"
HE WAS A THERAPIST. ARE YOU GOING TO SLEEP?
NO, I’LL LIE HERE AND LET MY NOS
NOS NOSE FLAIR.
I THOUGHT MAYBE THE SECOND SHOW SHOULD BE ABOUT AN END.
THAT’S REALLY U UP THERE, ISN’T IT?
WHAT? NATURE.
IN THE FLESH. IF YOU’D LIKE, I CAN
INTRODUCE YOU. I’M CONVINCED THAT THE REASON
BOB NEWHEART IS EXCRUCIATINGLY FUNNY TO ME WAS BECAUSE OF HIS
DEEP SENSITIVITY IN A SENSE THE THWARTED DECENCY.
I MISS YOU MORE THAN YOU MISS ME?
I DO, TOO. I DO, TOO.
[ LAUGHTER ] I DO, TOO.
HE DOES, OKAY? BOB NEWEHA RRKSHEART THRIVES
COMEDIAN. WHEN I WOKE IT UP, IT RAN
OFF. IN VERMONT, THEY WERE ABLE TO
SURROUND HIM WITHOUT STANDINGLY CREATIVE CHARACTERS.
I’M LARRY. THIS IS MY BROTHER DARRELL.
THIS IS MY OTHER BROTHER DARRELL.
THEY LOVE LARRY, DARRELL AND DARRELL.
THROWED MY BACK OUT LAST WEEK CRAWLING UNDER A HOUSE.
SOUNDS LIKE A TOUGH JOB. WASN’T A JOB.
I JUST LIKE COULD EVERRAWLING UN HOUSES.
THE FINALLY OF "NEWHEART". VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP HIM
FROM GETTING OUT. TO DAO THE FINALLY OF THE
SHOW, BOB NEWHEART FED A FAKE STORY TO THE PAPERS.
BUT TOLD THE CAST WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
I DIDN’T TELL THE CREW. WE SAID WE’VE EDITED THE SCENE.
KEEP SHOOTING. HEY, WAKE UP.
YOU WON’T BELIEVE THE DREAM I JUST HAD.
[ APPLAUSE ] AND SHE THROWS BACK THE
COVERS AND IT’S SUZANNE. SUZANNE WAS SNUCK INTO THE
SOUND STAGE. ALL RIGHT.
WHAT IS IT? [ LAUGHTER ]
I WAS AN INNKEEPER IN THIS CRAZY LITTLE TOWN IN VERYMONT.
WE WATCHED NINE YEARS OF A DREAM.
IT MANAGED TO TIE BOTH SHOWS UP WITH A BOW AND IT IS PROBABLY
THE MOST ESCAPING EXAMPLE OF A SITCOM SERIES TO FINALLY.
O FINAL
>>> WE KNOW HOW GOOD IT FEELS TO BE WITH OUR FAMILIES AND WARMS
AND COMFORTS US AND GIVES US STRENGTH AND JOY.
DURING THE REGAN ERA, THERE WAS EMPHASIS ON BEING A GOOD
PERSON. D. J., WE’RE STILL A FAMILY.
AND NOW IS WHEN WE REALLY NEED TO STICK TOGETHER.
IN THE LATE ’80s AFTER ENOUGH, THERE WAS ALL THESE
REALLY SQUISHING SOFT FOCUSED FAMILIES.
LIKE "FULL HOUSE". AT THAT TIME, THE FAMILY
SITCOM ALMOST LIKE A DISNEY MOVIE.
HONEY, I TOLD YOU. EVERYTHING IS GOING TO WORK OUT
SUPER GREAT. YOU GOT IT, DUDE.
IT PUTS PRESSURE ON AMERICAN FAMILIES TO LIVE UP TO AN IDEAL
THAT HAS NOT EXISTED IN DECADES IF IT EVER EXISTED BEFORE.
THE ECONOMY IS STARTING TO KIND OF TANK.
WE’RE AT WAR AND, YOU KNOW, WE’RE NOT GOING TO LIVE BETTER
THAN OUR PARENTS BUT WHEN THE SIMPLE CONS COME
"SIMPSONS" COME ALONG THEY BLOW THAT APART.
"THE SIMPSONS" IS AN ESCAPE BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW MUCH OF A
COACH POTATO ARE, THEY WON’T BE AS BAD AS "THE SIMPSON".
I THOUGHT I’D SEE THE EFFECTS OF GREATCIGARETTE SMOKING ON DOG
I DON’T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD HOW CONTROVERSIAL IT
WAS. I’M LOOKING FOR A MRS. OCHO
PROBLEM. BART WAS EXTREMELY
DISRESPECTFUL. B OUR PROBLEM, COME ON.
DO I HAVE A BO PROBLEM HERE? I REMEMBER THE IMPRESSION OF
LIKE CHILDREN ARE NEVER ALLOWED TO SPEAK LIKE THAT.
WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? I THINK BART IS STUPID AGAIN,
MOM. I’M A FAN OF "THE SIMPSONS"
THERE IS NO SHOW THAT DOES THE HIGH JOKE DENSITY BETTER.
I’M MY OWN TOUGHEST CRITIC BUT I THINK IT’S GENIUS.
THAT STORY TELLING ON "THE SIMPSONS" IS SO UNLIKE ANYTHING
THAT’S COME BEFORE IT. THEY COULD HAVE A THREE‐SECOND
SCENE AT A NUCLEAR REACTOR. THAT GOT IT.
AND THEN JUMP SOMEWHERE ELSE. ENDLESSLY CLEVER.
SO MANY GOOD CHARACTERS ON THE SIMPSONS.
CASTS A LONG SHADOW THROUGH THE UNIVERSE.
HE’S A GREAT VILLAIN. HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH A RAKE.
DESTROYED HIM. "THE SIMPSONS" GREAT
ANIMATION. LOVE IT.
TRACY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
YOU’RE ALL BETTER. NOBODY TELLS ME THESE THINGS.
WHEN "THE SIMPSONS" CAME OUT IT WAS A MASSIVE HIT.
COULD THIS BE THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE?
"THE SIMPSONS" HELPED USHER IN THIS ADULT ANIMATION.
HEY, BRIAN. WHAT’S UP?
IS ANIMATION NECESSARILY AN ESCAPE FORM?
OBVIOUSLY, VISUALLY YOU’RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING USUALLY
MORE COLORFUL THAN NATURAL LIFE. YOU CAN BE RISKY AND OBSCENE
AND CHANCE GEESEREALLY, REALLY D HUMOR OTHER SHOWS ARE AFRAID TO
TOUCH. I’M BEEN SO BLOODY NAUGHTY.
I NEED TO BE TAUGHT A LESSON AND YOU’RE THE ONE TO DO IT.
PUSHING THOSE BARRIERS. IT IS WRONG TO EAT HUMAN
BEINGS. SAYS YOU.
"SOUTH PARK" TOOK THAT A WHOLE LEAP FURTHER.
OH MY GOD. THEY KILLED KENNY.
YOU BASTARD. THEY MAKE BART SEEM LIKE
BEAVER CLEAVER. BUTT HOLE.
HEY, WENDY, DUMB BITCH. IN THE ’90s WE SEE THE RISE
OF THE CONCEPT OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS AND AUDIENCES WERE
LOOKING FOR AN ESCAPE FOR THAT. CREATORS MATT STONE AND TREY
PARKER SHOWED THE POWER AND COMEDY YOU COULD FIND IN BEING
POLITICALLY INCORRECT. ALL RIGHT.
IT LOOK THE LIKE WE HAVE 2.4 INCHES.
REALLY NICE BUTTERS. LIKE A HORSE.
I THINK ABOUT AN ANIMATED SHOW LIKE "SOUTH PARK" AND FULL
OF COMMENTS ABOUT MIGRANT SUBJECTS.
I HAD A SEX CHANGE OPERATION. MY PENIS IS A VIGINA AND I’M
EXPERIENCING FEMALE HOOD. IT WOULD PUSH THE ENVELOPE IN
SUCH AN EXTREME WAY IN THE VOICE OF A CHILD.
JESUS IS BLACK, RONALD REAGAN IS THE DEVIL AND THE GOVERNMENT
IS LYING ABOUT 9/11. BOONDOCKS WERE THE BLACK
"SOUTH PARK." IT DIVES DEEPER INTO THE SUBSET
OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY MAYBE WHY PEOPLE DON’T SEE IT AT ALL.
THESE CHAR ABOUT TERACTERS IS GET TO SAY THINGS PEOPLE MIGHT
BE AFRAID TO SAY. OUCH.
HOW MANY TIME HAVE I TOLD YOU YOU BETTER NOT EVEN DREAM ABOUT
TELLING WHITE FOLKS. ONE OF THE MOST HILL LA RARIO
EPISODES WAS MARTIN LUTHER KING SEEING HOW BLACK PEOPLE WERE
LIVING AND REALLY BEING SHOCKED ABOUT WHAT HE SAW.
I HAD A DREAM ONCE BUT LOW AND BEHOLD SOME FOUR DECADES
LATER, WHAT HAVE I FOUND BUT A BUNCH OF TRIFLING, SHIFTLESS,
GOOD FOR NOTHING [ BLEEP ] ERS. SO WHETHER IT’S ABOUT RACIST
WHITE FOLKS, WHETHER IT’S ABOUT BLACK FOLKS BEING PROBLEMATIC
WITH THEMSELVES AND THEIR OUTLOOK ON LIFE, THE BOONDOCKS
IS NOT PULLING PUNCHES. ONE THING FOR SURE, THOUGH,
CAN’T BLAME THIS ONE ON THE WHITE MAN.
WHAT AM I SAYING? OF COURSE I CAN.
BUT WHEN I WAS A KID, MY TOP SITCOM WAS PROBABLY "DINOSAURS."
MAMA. IT WAS BONKERS.
EVERYTHING THE JIM HENSON COMPANY DOES IS ESCAPESTS.
HEY. THAT’S GREAT.
THE ORIGINAL IDEA WAS ALL REALLY GENERATED IN THE YEAR
THAT MY FATHER JIM HENSON PASSED AWAY IN 1990.
AND HE JUST LIKED THE IDEA OF DINOSAURS WHO LIVED SO
IRRESPONSIBLY THAT THEY WILL INEVITABLY GO INSTINCT.
THERE IS BOUND TO BE UNFORESEEN CASUALTIES.
FOR MY DAD, WHAT HE LOVED ABOUT SITCOMS IS WHEN THEY COULD
DO SOMETHING POWERFUL. WHAT THE SHOW ACTUALLY WAS
WAS ALWAYS A WARNING. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE’VE BEEN
DECLARING WAR ON NATURE. EXACTLY.
YES, "DINOSAURS" HAD VERY GOOD ’90s STYLE LET’S TAKE CARE
OF THE EARTH. YOU DESTROYED THE GLOBAL FOOD
CHAIN. NO PLANTS MEANS NO FOOD AT ALL.
THE FINALLY OF "DINOSAURS" IS REALLY AND TRULY ONE OF THE BEST
FINALLIES FOR ANY TELEVISION SHOW EVER.
WE KILLED THEM ALL. ARE WE GOING TO MOVE?
WELL, NO. THERE IS NO PLACE TO MOVE TO.
WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT THAT IRRESPONSIBLE TREATMENT OF THE
ENVIRONMENT IN DINOSAURS HAD TO DESTROY THE PLANET.
♪ ♪
AND BECAUSE IT WAS PUPPETRY, BECAUSE THEY WERE AREN’T HUMAN
BEINGS SPOUTING AT YOU, YOU TOLERATED IT.
CAN YOUR LONGWEAR DO THIS?
>>> HOW DO YOU EXIST WITHIN A WORLD THAT’S BUILT TO REWARD THE
WORST PEOPLE TO OFFEND. THE WAY THE WORLD IS CHANGING
WITH WOMEN AND BLACK LIVES MATTER AND ALL OF IT.
WE ARE AT A POINT NOW IN COMEDY WHERE PEOPLE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
PUSH
BOUNDARIES. BOJACK HORSEMAN, HE’S A
NETFLIX ANIMATED COMEDY THAT’S SET IN HOLLYWOOD IN WHICH
TALKING ANIMALS COEXIST WITH HUMANS.
IT TAKES A LOT OF YEARS TO GET ME DRUNK.
WHAT IF A MYSTERY TYPE ENDED UP BECOMING THE DAD AND A FULL
HOUSE STYLE SITCOM. PARTYING AT MY HOUSE TONIGHT.
HE TURNED INTO THIS ALCOHOLIC DEPRESSED, RICH, FORMAL LYFE
MOUSE ACTOR. NOTHING LONELIER THAN A
PARTY. GOOD THING I DON’T NEED ANYONE.
BOJACK HORSEMAN IS SO GOOD. LET’S MOVE IN TOGETHER.
IT IS SO GOOD. IT SUCKED YOU IN THAT IT IS AN
AN IMATED SHOW. BOJACK IS HARDER ON HOLLYWOOD
THAN ANYTHING EQUIVALENT IN ACTION COMEDY IN RECENT YEARS.
THIS IS SAD, YOU ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT MASS SHOOTINGS AFFECTING
OTHER MOVIE’S OPENING BUT YOU WILL NEVER THINK IT WILL AFFECT
YOUR MOVIE OPENING. WHO PUT PILLS IN MY HOUSE?
DEEPLY MOVING ACCOUNT OF A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN DECLINING TO
FACE HIS PROBLEMS FOR HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
WHAT ARE YOU SO HAPPY ABOUT. IF YOU WATCH A HUMAN DOING
THAT IN A SITCOM, WOULD BE DEVASTATING.
BOJACK HORSEMAN ASKING QUESTIONS A LOT OF US ARE ASKING IS HOW DO
YOU BE A GOOD PERSON? ANOTHER WAY YOU FEEL WHEN A
BABY CHIMP AND A BABY TIGER BECOME FRIENDS, THAT’S HOW YOU
FEEL. "THE GOOD PLACE" IS A SHOW
ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE WHO DIE AND WENT TO HELL AND A DEMON MADE
THEM BELIEVE THEY WERE IN HEAVEN.
DURING YOUR TIME ON EARTH EVERY ONE OF YOUR ACTION HAD A
POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE VALUE. I AM SURE IT COULD NOT EXIST
OF ANIMATION PUSHING THE BOUNDARY.
TODAY WE’LL START WITH SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE ALWAYS
WANTED TO DO. FLYING.
[ APPLAUSE ] NOW THAT YOU ARE DEAD, LET’S
LIVE A LITTLE. I SUPPOSE THERE IS A FANTASY
OR ESCAPE ELEMENT TO IT WHERE THEY ARE IN A MAGICAL PLACE
WHERE THERE IS A CHARACTER NAMED JANET WHO KNOWS EVERY FACT ABOUT
THE UNIVERSE. JANET, I AM FINISHED WITH
CLEAN UP AND I AM READY TO FLY. HOW DO I START?
POP IN A LUNCH PACK. PEOPLE PUKING ON ROLLER
COASTERS. BUT THERE WAS ALWAYS A WEIRD
LOOMING THREAT. OH.
WHAT THE ‐‐ KEPT IT FROM PURE ESCAPISM.
IS THAT GIANT TERRIFYING LADY BUG IS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE?
NO, IT IS NOT. THE GOOD PLACE CAME OUT IN
2016 RIGHT WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE FEELING INCREDIBLY THIS ILLUSION
BY TRUMP’S ELECTION THAT YEAR. WE’LL MAKE AMERICA GREAT
AGAIN. THE TIME WHEN I THINK PEOPLE
WERE CRAVING THAT KIND OF DIALOGUE OF TALKING TO OUR
VETERAN NATION. I WANT TO GET MY HAIR WET.
I WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY TO SOMEONE AND SAY TAKE IT SLEAZY.
I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY BIG THINGS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD
RIGHT NOW TO HAVE A MESSAGE THAT’S KIND OF, IT IS GOING TO
BE OKAY. THIS IS YOUR PLACE IN THE
UNIVERSE, KEEP TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SOUL A LITTLE BIT.
THE "THE GOOD PLACE" IS A PERFECT
SHOW. ANY PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE CAN
BE UP TO 104%. THAT’S WHY WE GOT BEYONCE.
WHO ARE WE AND CAN WE CHANGE? OH GOD.
THE TROUBLE PROBLEMS REALLY SHOW WHAT THE SHOW IS TRYING TO DO.
WE ARE GOING TO TROLLEY CART, IT WAS CHITY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHO TO KILL AND
NOT. LETTING ALL THESE THINGS DO
PLAY OUT IN THIS FANTASY WORLD. THAT’S THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND
TV. GOOD AFTERNOON, ELEANOR, WHAT
CAN I GET FOR YOU TODAY? I RECOMMEND FULL CELL PHONE
BATTERY. OH, IT SOMEHOW TASTES HOW I
FELT WHEN MY CELL PHONE IS FULLY CHARGED.
NOTHING IS MORE HUMAN THAN THAT BESIDES TEXTING PEOPLE THAT
YOU ARE FIVE MINUTES AWAY WHEN YOU HAVE NOT LEFT THE HOUSE.
THANK YOU, ELEANOR. YOU ARE VERY WELCOME.