----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I hope David Desser doesn't mind me spinning off a related issue from his initial post about the quality of movies vis a vis TV. I've been noticing for awhile now, in my opinion, that comedy is much better on TV than at the movies. It seems like I get many more laughs in a good half hour of The Simpsons, or Seinfeld, or Fraiser, or Roseanne, than in an hour and a half of any movie I've seen in the past three years. Is this because (1) It's easier to sustain comedy in a half hour format than in a longer format?; (2) Because characters are already established in a half hour series format its easier to use these characters and their relationships for humor?; (3) Given the plot driven/action orientation of films these days, writing has been devalued in films over the last 20 years, and because TV is more of a conversational medium it has concentrated on dialogue more than film has, thus attracting better comedy writers?; (4) My expectations for film comedy are higher than TV because I have to shell out $6 for the films, or $2 for the video?; (5) I'm totally wrong so why don't I just shut up?; or (6) Some other reason??? Thanks for listening (reading?)! >----------------------------Original message---------------------------- >Been noticing lately how little motivated I am to go out to the movies. >Dragged myself to see BAD COMPANY and was sorry I did so. Has anyone >noticed besides me how, lately at least, there is much more of interest on >television, from CBS' Monday night lineup, to NBC's Thursday night line-up, >to HOMICIDE? And has anyone else come to the conclusion that A&E deserves >a world of credit for brining us CRACKER with the awesome Robbie Coltrane. >Or has Hollywood demographics based me by now that I'm on the other side of >40? > >DD > >_____________________________________ >David Desser,UIUC Cinema Studies >2109 FLB/707 S. Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801 >217/244-2705 Matt McAllister Department of Communication Studies, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061-0311 e-mail: [log in to unmask] ph: 703-231-9830