TMC
05-13-2013, 05:55 PM
http://splitsider.com/2013/05/getting-trapped-in-nostalgia-in-that-80s-show/
As the spiritual spin-off of That 70s Show, Mark Brazil, Terry Turner, and Linda Wallem’s nostalgia goldmine, That 80s Show wants nothing more than to recreate the success of its predecessor. Set in a new decade with a fresh batch of cultural stereotypes, 80s Show finds Brazil, Turner, and Wallem once again digging up overt and digestible references that can ring with older and younger audiences. And at a cursory glance, it’s hard to see their failings. Like, say, if you watch the show without dialogue and simply listen to the pretty excellent soundtrack, you’d probably be inclined to agree and say, “Yeah, that looks enough like That 70s Show to warrant 22 of the precious minutes I have on this planet.”
But you’d be wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
The creators of That 80s Show attempt to recycle their winning formula, making Corey, Kristin, and their curmugenly father look as much like the Formans as possible, both in tone and character. However, instead of letting those cumbersome things called stories get in the way, the creators simply let pop-culture references hang in the abyss.
As the spiritual spin-off of That 70s Show, Mark Brazil, Terry Turner, and Linda Wallem’s nostalgia goldmine, That 80s Show wants nothing more than to recreate the success of its predecessor. Set in a new decade with a fresh batch of cultural stereotypes, 80s Show finds Brazil, Turner, and Wallem once again digging up overt and digestible references that can ring with older and younger audiences. And at a cursory glance, it’s hard to see their failings. Like, say, if you watch the show without dialogue and simply listen to the pretty excellent soundtrack, you’d probably be inclined to agree and say, “Yeah, that looks enough like That 70s Show to warrant 22 of the precious minutes I have on this planet.”
But you’d be wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
The creators of That 80s Show attempt to recycle their winning formula, making Corey, Kristin, and their curmugenly father look as much like the Formans as possible, both in tone and character. However, instead of letting those cumbersome things called stories get in the way, the creators simply let pop-culture references hang in the abyss.