It was only one third of the comedy we watched this week and by far my least favorite, but I could not think of anything else to talk about because it was just so…I don’t even know what singular word could possibly sum up Psychoville.
At first I was intrigued by the secret letters and the scared characters and though that it could be one of those quirky shows that was just ‘off’ enough to work. But then the clown toke his hand off at a children’s party. And the woman doted on a doll like her real-life child. And the mother essentially groped her son while quizzing him on serial killers before he went to recreate the acts. Although I was not as totally disgusted watching this as I was watching Black Mirror a few weeks ago, my stomach still turned and I wanted to look away. What was the inspiration for something like this? Who’s deeply disturbed mind developed this show and wrote this script? How could you possibly think this was a good idea?
Well, I guess enough people DID think it was a good idea…because it got two series already. This is just another example of the completely different comedic styles of the US and the UK. We’ve all said that other shows wouldn’t work in the US but this may be the first time I truly believe it. I would be hard pressed to think of a super-small, cult-like audience that would enjoy something like this, but if you know of one, I’d be extremely interested in knowing who it is. At least with the dark and disturbing plot of Black Mirror there was a point, a message, and a greater purpose, but in my opinion Psychoville has nothing to give than shock value and confusion. Nothing made sense. I was not entertained. I would probably be scared of the people who are die-hard fans of this show.
Granted, we did only watch the first episode and it must make some bigger connections later in the series, but if I was watching this as a premiere in the UK, I would not be hooked and absolutely never tune in again. I can handle strange, but apparently I cannot handle psycho.
At the end of this week’s screening, I couldn’t help but wonder, where do people come up with these ideas, and how do they gather support?! It seems in the US, when pitching shows to networks, the idea needs to be next to flawless. Shows like “Psychoville” and “The Mighty Boosh” would most likely never see airtime as an original show. I can give a little credit to “Psychoville” because it has creativity and, though creepy as hell, an intriguing storyline. “The Mighty Boosh” on the other hand, reminds me of the drugged out show, “H.R. Pufnstuf” on NBC in the early 70’s. I could not handle the cheapness of the show and the lack of any real story, not to mention it delivered zero laughs. Maybe I didn’t enjoy it because I wasn’t “rolling” on some crazy drugs. I have often wondered why US networks are so strict in where they allocate their resources for new shows, now I know why there are standards.
I thought TMB was something that might find its way onto Adult Swim. I’m sure we talked about that in class on Wednesday, so I’m curious to find out about what other people said, but I thought the absurdity of the show would make it a good fit.
I found myself asking “WHAT IS FUNNY ABOUT THIS?!” while watching Psychoville. I felt so weird coming off of that show, almost the same feeling I get coming out of American Horror Story, which is NOT classified as a comedy. Psychoville didn’t give me any of the satisfaction that I get from a comedy. When a “comedy” is that black, I think it should start being considered as a drama or a horror with a joke thrown in here or there. If I had been told it was a horror show, I might have felt different, but my expectations and the reality of what I got out of it were totally out of sync and that disjointedness accounts for how off I felt after watching it.
I have a number for a great therapist for whoever came up with that show and a copy of a dictionary for whoever decided it was a comedy.
I couldn’t agree more with these comments. Certain aspects of each of these shows left me wanting something else or different or more. I enjoyed the wit and the creativity in “The Thick of It,” but the shaky camera forced me to look away, which is odd because I don’t usually get motion sickness. I thought “The Mighty Boosh” was hilarious (the running scene literally cracked me up and I’m not sure why), but seems like one of those shows that I wouldn’t enjoy when i finally mature–definitely seems like the type of show a college guy watches in the dorm room with a bunch of buddies. But the show that left me questioning things most was “Psychoville.”
When I heard the name I was apprehensive to the show, and rightfully so. I don’t understand how Brits find the show funny. I tried to give it a chance, and then when we met David Sowerbutts and his mother with the dry skin, I about lost my lunch. The show is certainly not what I expected (even with the unique nature of British humour) but its success is what really baffles me.
The show has won 2 awards (that I assume are major but I’m unsure of the British award hierarchy), including best new comedy and best comedy drama. Knowing this, and seeing a show, I don’t know what to make of “Psychoville” and I certainly don’t know what to make of Brits who make, view, and award this show.
Psychoville definitely made me feel uncomfortable, and I was surprised it was on BBC4 rather than shock-jockey Channel 4. I was left intrigued by the show, but I really had no desire to watch any more of it–a real rarity with me. I read many of the episode synopses online to find out what happened, but I couldn’t bring myself to actually search for more clips of the show. Part of what surprised me about this black comedy was that parts were actually frightening. Though I haven’t seen much of American Horror Story or The Walking Dead, these are the only two shows I can think of which might compare to Psychoville in terms of putting content which is actually frightening on non-premium TV. Once again, the British industry allows for a completely new plane of content versus American television (because of its need to put viewers in the buying mode for the commercial breaks).
I have to add myself to the list of people in class who were weirded-out by “Psychoville.” I hate clowns, so that alone was enough to creep me out. Despite its label as a comedy, “Psychoville” got under my skin more than anything else. I don’t know that I laughed out loud once during the episode we watched, which I think is a sign that many in the class have pointed to as one of the key differences between American and British television.
While I loved “The Thick of It” and both enjoyed and was perplexed by “The Mighty Boosh,” I have to say that the show I immediately went home and read about was “Psychoville.” I was freaked out and I didn’t think it was very funny, but I was intrigued. Intrigued enough to say that I think I will go and watch more. Now, I kind of hate myself for saying that, but I really do need to know what is going on in this show. Is something going to happen that will make it actually funny? Or does comedy in Britain just mean that a show isn’t a drama?