It's weird that certain genres are never taken seriously. Comedy deserves its place without being shoved to the side. Like you said, it feels like it's being pushed aside for more "serious" art. I see that within horror too, and I'm sure there's people that feel the same with other genres.
I’m so glad you brought Lasso and Bear up side by side. Wonderful post!!!! If you don't mind, I have a thought about the two shows that I hope you would comment on. Am I way off?
In short, I think the Bear totally ripped Lasso off. Well, let’s say, The Bear improved upon the same premise, but not without some serious cutting-and-pasting of ideas. Consider:
-> Both shows are about Midwestern white guys in grief (Carmy over his dead brother; Ted over his dead marriage).
--> Both men fly thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean to deal with their grief.
--> They each take over the management of a losing operation (a run-down sandwich shop vs a losing soccer team)
--> They both heavily rely on a “Number One” to run things, and they each have to navigate a rich owner.
--> Each team has a key player late in his career who is bitter and who must change his ways if his team is to succeed. (Roy on Lasso; Richard on Bear.) (And they both change their ways almost miraculously)
--> Drugs. (The brother’s addiction in The Bear and the Amsterdam mushroom trip in Lasso; maybe throw in the Bear's Christmas Dinner?).
--> Each show has an entire episode on a house boat in a Scandinavian city: Lasso in Amsterdam and The Bear in Copenhagen.
--> Is The Bear’s nod to Lasso any more obvious than when Sydney turns to sports (Duke’s Coach K’s autobiography) for leadership lessons in how to run her kitchen?
Am I reading too much into this? I loved the Bear; I liked Lasso Season 1 & 2 ok, and thought 3 was a wash. But I do think Lasso set the stage for The Bear. Curious if I’m way off on this?
I would not say it’s any intentional ripoff, but rather similar dynamics in different worlds. It’s tough to have any show be 💯 original in its dynamics.
somehow i'm just seeing this post and love it 1000%. here's what I'll say - a great comic actor can almost always do drama while a great dramatic actor cannot always do comedy.
Joan was a genius character and the type of character that has always been near and dear to my own heart. You are absolutely right and as someone who dipped at least a foot into the comedy and improv world for a time, nothing about it gets taken as seriously or as academically as it could/should be. It's an absolute art.
YES. No comedy film or show lacks elements of drama but "Tommy Boy" [a very dramatic and in fact nearly perfect film] was NEVER gonna be CONSIDERED for the awards it DESERVED.*
Love this!
Here here! Well said, Mo!
I’m always amazed at various movies and tv show categories. I thought The Descendent’s was hilarious until it wasn’t.
...they should have called it THE BEEF...
I wholeheartedly agree!!
I absolutely agree with you!
It's weird that certain genres are never taken seriously. Comedy deserves its place without being shoved to the side. Like you said, it feels like it's being pushed aside for more "serious" art. I see that within horror too, and I'm sure there's people that feel the same with other genres.
Loved this!
I’m so glad you brought Lasso and Bear up side by side. Wonderful post!!!! If you don't mind, I have a thought about the two shows that I hope you would comment on. Am I way off?
In short, I think the Bear totally ripped Lasso off. Well, let’s say, The Bear improved upon the same premise, but not without some serious cutting-and-pasting of ideas. Consider:
-> Both shows are about Midwestern white guys in grief (Carmy over his dead brother; Ted over his dead marriage).
--> Both men fly thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean to deal with their grief.
--> They each take over the management of a losing operation (a run-down sandwich shop vs a losing soccer team)
--> They both heavily rely on a “Number One” to run things, and they each have to navigate a rich owner.
--> Each team has a key player late in his career who is bitter and who must change his ways if his team is to succeed. (Roy on Lasso; Richard on Bear.) (And they both change their ways almost miraculously)
--> Drugs. (The brother’s addiction in The Bear and the Amsterdam mushroom trip in Lasso; maybe throw in the Bear's Christmas Dinner?).
--> Each show has an entire episode on a house boat in a Scandinavian city: Lasso in Amsterdam and The Bear in Copenhagen.
--> Is The Bear’s nod to Lasso any more obvious than when Sydney turns to sports (Duke’s Coach K’s autobiography) for leadership lessons in how to run her kitchen?
Am I reading too much into this? I loved the Bear; I liked Lasso Season 1 & 2 ok, and thought 3 was a wash. But I do think Lasso set the stage for The Bear. Curious if I’m way off on this?
I would not say it’s any intentional ripoff, but rather similar dynamics in different worlds. It’s tough to have any show be 💯 original in its dynamics.
I think you are generally correct. Nothing new under the sun, and so on. But the parallels are many, too many for 💯 coincidence, IMO. 😉
Here here
somehow i'm just seeing this post and love it 1000%. here's what I'll say - a great comic actor can almost always do drama while a great dramatic actor cannot always do comedy.
RETWEET.
Joan was a genius character and the type of character that has always been near and dear to my own heart. You are absolutely right and as someone who dipped at least a foot into the comedy and improv world for a time, nothing about it gets taken as seriously or as academically as it could/should be. It's an absolute art.
YES. No comedy film or show lacks elements of drama but "Tommy Boy" [a very dramatic and in fact nearly perfect film] was NEVER gonna be CONSIDERED for the awards it DESERVED.*
*full disclosure Tommy Boy is my favorite film
Let the Bear live.