General / Off-Topic The Orville

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Hooplah

Hooplah
Orville-character-images-1-600x337.jpg

Well, two episodes aired in the USA on Fox's new space series The Orville (named after Orville Wright) with Seth MacFarland. Is it a little '60s cheesy? Sure but that is intentional. Does it use college dorm bathroom humor? Hey, it's Seth MacFarland from Family Guy (297 episodes) and American Dad! (234 episodes). Still I would call it college humor light. Not too offensive but wouldn't be appropriate for a '60s era 12 year old. Then a 2017 12 year old is probably light years away from the innocence of another era. The good news is that we may get 200 plus episodes if Fox doesn't mess it up like they did with Firefly (14 episodes). Star Trek TOS with NBC only had 79.

What works of course is the excellent comedy timing combined with drama segments that work well together. So far it appears that a lot of TV Critics don't like the show. But they so very often miss the point being so absorbed in their own perception of what constitutes great comedy and drama. For me there are only three questions with this show. Is the comedy funny? Absolutely. Comedy timing is hard especially keeping it fresh every week. The college humor helps. Is the drama dramatic? It's working so far but I would call it drama light for now. We're not going to win any Emmy awards for delving into the human experience. Is it entertaining? A resounding yes! It is engaging and makes me laugh. What was the last show you watched that actually made you laugh out loud?

I wouldn't call it Star Trek where many viewers were into living their lives towards Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future. Still the next Sci-Fi convention is going to have a lot of Orville costumes!

The segway...So the helmsman Gordon Malloy (Scott Grimes) is flying the captain (Seth MacFarland) to the Orville for the first time while drinking a beer. That probably touches a few Elite Dangerous pilot's experiences docking at a station with a brew. Now I have another show to stream in the background while playing ED!

Fly Safe!
 
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damon8r351

damon8r351
I...I just don't like seeing his face on TV. I like his brand of humor, I've watched both of his best TV shows for years. There's just something about his face that makes me want to punch it until it goes back off the TV screen.
 

Hooplah

Hooplah
damon8r351 said:
I...I just don't like seeing his face on TV. I like his brand of humor, I've watched both of his best TV shows for years. There's just something about his face that makes me want to punch it until it goes back off the TV screen.
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He is no James T Kirk and would never be considered for James Bond but delivers a comedy line better than anyone else I've seen on TV. Meanwhile the young guys are going to have dreams being with Adrianne Palicki at 5' 11". Seth is 5' 10".
 
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Sir.Tj

The Moderator who shall not be Blamed....
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Sir.Tj
metatheurgist said:
Was crap. But exactly what I expected from McFarlane. If only Fox had given the same respect to Firefly.
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You had to mention Firefly... ***Breaks down in tears***

Saw the 1st ep and wasn't hugely impressed, but will try it again and see what I think..
 

hunvagy

hunvagy
Sir T.j said:
You had to mention Firefly... ***Breaks down in tears***

Saw the 1st ep and wasn't hugely impressed, but will try it again and see what I think..
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Well Star Trek Discovery starts up on Netflix next monday, shall see then. I'm not very hopefuly, but at least hoping it won't be worse then the Orville, because that is certainly not meant to be a pardoy :p
 

Jenner

I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
Jenner
Sir T.j said:
You had to mention Firefly... ***Breaks down in tears***

Saw the 1st ep and wasn't hugely impressed, but will try it again and see what I think..
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I saw the first episode and my reaction was similar. I'm not sure what the show really wants to be. As a sci-fi drama it falls a bit flat. As a trek homage it borderlines on a total rip-off. As a comedy it's lacking.

So..... meh?
 

Cliché

Cliché
Almost all shows start off badly while the actors learn their caracters, so I have hope. I don't recall and LOL moments, but there have been some funny lines and some thuds.

Anyone else who thought Brent Spiner was voicing the robot like Cmdr Data? It's not him.
 

Minonian

Banned
Minonian
Medicore but it can be watched. lets just say 6 point out 10

And yes, it's a rip off in so many ways it's hard to tell but amongst the better rip offs, what i think they want to make a light hearted easy pop corn sci - fi, with above average success. Cannot be taken seriously but you can pass time with it. We shall see how it's develops in future episodes.
 
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metatheurgist

metatheurgist
Jenner said:
I saw the first episode and my reaction was similar. I'm not sure what the show really wants to be. As a sci-fi drama it falls a bit flat. As a trek homage it borderlines on a total rip-off. As a comedy it's lacking.

So..... meh?
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Yep, like some fan's production of Trek with toilet humour. I really don't get the Trek "parody". They should have just done a more original space setting with comedy, then I might have more respect for it. Typical McFarlane trash.
 

Don Alvarez

Don Alvarez
Cliché said:
Almost all shows start off badly while the actors learn their caracters, so I have hope. I don't recall and LOL moments, but there have been some funny lines and some thuds.
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You need to give any new show some time while it finds its legs. For me, that's usually about four episodes.
 

Hooplah

Hooplah
The comedy is totally right on...Well at least in the USA. Comedy is the hardest an actor can perform and requires timing to get the laugh. Not all actors can pull this off. The Orville is nailing that even if they are using college potty humor to start. Ten years ago I would hate this low class humor. Now they are in episode 4 laughing my you know what off just with the nondescript moment with all of them in an elevator! But it is me looking for refreshing entertainment and the bottom line is that I am being entertained.

It is not a rip off of Star Trek TOS or the Next Generation. It is a salute to honor them then take it to the next level with trying to put together comedy and drama with a 2017 audience who will love it approaching issues we may not all like. Episode three changing a female to a male is just a hint of the direction the writers will be exploring. Norman Lear did this in the '70s pushing the enevelope with 'All in the Family'. Maybe Seth MacFarland is looking to be another Norman Lear. Personally I hope not. I would rather be entertained each week without having to deal with real life issues. Let's go for entertainment then occassionaly thown in an episode dealing with life issues. They will be get better ratings, develop a fan base and probably get a license selling the Orville plastic model and characters to toy companies!

Meanwhile comedy and drama is still lacking putting it together. They have a lot of work to do to get it right. It is the first season and like any other TV series it has to be worked where the writers develop the characters and the audience connects with the actors. I'm still working on the opening credits trying to figure out who is playing who! Much easier with Kirk, Spock and McCoy!

As for British humor there is none better. It makes one think to understand the underlying joke which they are excellent at. John Cleese imported this to the USA. When he shows up on the Orville their ratings are going international if John writes the jokes! Are you listening Seth?

But potty humor only lasts so long. They will need to move past this if looking for more than season one..

Regards
 
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