Why did it seem like they made Eric act retarted? - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

spunkygirl · 01-02-2006, 12:49 PM

I like Eric better in the later seasons cause he truly had a heart of gold, even Feeny saw that.

Eric didn't get stupider, he was ALWAYS that dumb. I've seen him be just as dumb in Season 2 as he was in Season 7, the only difference is he just got a bit goofier in the later seasons.

Fonzarelli · 01-03-2006, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasette

I like Eric better in the later seasons cause he truly had a heart of gold, even Feeny saw that.

Eric didn't get stupider, he was ALWAYS that dumb. I've seen him be just as dumb in Season 2 as he was in Season 7, the only difference is he just got a bit goofier in the later seasons.

Eric was normal is seasons 1 and 2
He was dim-witted in seasons 3 and 4
He was dumber than before in season 5
He was an idiot in season 6

iloveseinfeld · 01-09-2006, 11:38 PM

stupid people are funny to watch

Fonzarelli · 01-10-2006, 06:02 PM

I now see I was wrong about when Eric became too stupid. It wasn't in season 6, it was in late season 5: the episode with the word-of-the-day-calendar.

But indeed, stupid people are funny to watch. Still, I think they went too far. Eric no longer was a real person to me, but merely a flat character to laugh at/with.

Fonzarelli · 01-21-2006, 04:23 PM

I'll have to correct what I said earlier on. Eric was definately more s\dim-witted ins eason 6, but he wasn't ********. He also was still a real three dimensional character (before I said he wasn't). I realized that after seeing the season 6 episodes in which Eric is playing Santa Claus at the mall, and the one in which Alan is having his midlife crisis.

charmingmissy · 02-06-2006, 11:38 PM

I think they should come back for a reunion show in a couple of more years...and like secretly Eric will be talking to someone...and we'll find out that he's like...a genius! He's just been hiding it for all these years! hehe I'm just kidding. He wasn't so dumb in the beginning of the show. He was smarter back then, and he was a lady magnet. All of that seemed to change over the years...

Fonzarelli · 03-21-2006, 07:25 PM

I now have seen the first episodes of season 7. They went too far with Eric. He's a moron now!

I mean: he was dim-witted, yes, even stupid at times in season 6, but he still was Eric. He was a three-dimensional character that was believeable. It was believeable he was in college and was able to survive in the real world. Remember the episode in season 6 where he wanted to adopt Tommy? That wasn't a moron talking- that was a genuine, caring Eric. And the episode in which he helped Alan go through his mid-life crisis, telling him how great of a dad he is? He wanted to get Feeny and the dean to get together and it worked. He was still silly and stupid at times.

But in season 7, he was stupid *all the time*! No, not even 'stupid'. 'Stupid' would be a compliment. Joey from Friends is stupid, but still somewhat believeable (until he began to spreak 'French'). But Eric in season 7 was just retarted. I don't wanna offend anyone. In fact, I think people with a mental disability are much smarter than Eric was in season 7! He became a cartoon character. This was a guy who couldn't even get himself dressed without any help. He had some good moments, like at Cory's wedding, but after that he changed back to the insensitive jerk he was before this season.

I mean: he was insulting Shawn in the episode in which Cory is a tele-marketeer for a brief time. He called him "trailerboy". Was this the same Eric who lived together with Shawn in season 5 and sat down to have an emotional talk with him in season 6? That episode by the way showed hands down the worst side of Eric. He was at his lowest point here. He found a "lucky penny" and acted as a child! He got struck by lightning while sitting inside! The audience went all "aaaww" when he gave his penny to Cory. This wasn't an "aaaawww" moment! Eric pushing Shawn to the wall after he saw him kissing with Topanga, thát was "aaawww". Eric supporting Cory after Topanga took off with her parents to live in Pittsburgh, thát was "aaaaw". Not Eric the clown.

Remember in season 4 when Alan was so proud of his son, because he took the SAT's and he succeeded? He almost had tears in his eyes. He had faith in Eric. By season 7, Alan lost all faith. He wanted to protect Eric from the real world by holding him inside his own store. He was actually afraid Eric couldn't make it on his own.

Why did Will Friedle put up with all this crap? He should've demanded a good part, not only being the silly idiot for comic relief. It wasn't comic relief to me. It ruïned a lot of viewing pleasure for me.

Chain Gang Member · 03-22-2006, 09:45 AM

Eric was just...Eric

Fonzarelli · 03-23-2006, 07:41 PM

However he was the only reasonable person in the two-parter where everybody else fight with each other. Eric brought them back together. Also, he's pretty serious in 'Brotherly Shove' when he's hurt when Cory sorts out their parent's garage with Shawn and Topanga instead of him. Jack and Shawn note: "Eric does seem to be fit today".

Not to mention he was terrific in the finale! You see, I was writing this while I was still watching the seventh season.

Interesting development he had, though.

scol_arl_90 · 09-29-2006, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hart Slater

I like Eric better in the later seasons cause he truly had a heart of gold, even Feeny saw that.

I agree.

I think the dumb factor was always there. I loved when he got goofier over the years because it was just funny. One of my favorite Eric moments is when he pretty much stalked Topanga and hid in the couch and all that stuff. I think that was one of the episodes where Angela's father was in town? Not sure.

Anyway, Eric did have a heart of gold. Between looking after Tommy, giving money to the monkey owner, and everything else, I feel like he just wouldn't have been Eric if he weren't that dummy that everybody loved.

Jerlene · 04-12-2007, 11:15 PM

It was good t.v. He was smart/normal when the show first started but I guess that was boring.

Legacy4ever · 01-15-2008, 02:39 PM

He always seemed to be intelligent in my eye, even though he was later butchered into he comedic relief. My favorite moment with him however was whenever he said "TOPANGA!!!!!" and that one when he beileaved he was a secret agent and made his own theme song... Priceless

Daffyfan2004 · 02-20-2008, 07:13 PM

Yeah. My theory is that since episodes started getting more serious in later years, they needed someone for comic relief. So since Eric sort of has always been a bit dimwitted, they sort of exaggerated that to add more humor to the show. Still I think he's always been a more caring character. After all, he was his nuttiest in the final season, but that was the same season he came up with 'Lose on friend. Lose all friends. Lose yourself.' It seems like his personality is always different depending on the episode. I feel that Will did a really good job playing all these different personalities.

ninjashoes · 03-09-2008, 04:08 PM

Eric was freakin awesome, he became so funny towards the last years of the show. They should give him his own show

"I'm batman"

lol soooo funny

WARRR ERIC MATTHEWS!

Chain Gang Member · 07-13-2008, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninjashoes

Eric was freakin awesome, he became so funny towards the last years of the show. They should give him his own show

"I'm batman"

lol soooo funny

WARRR ERIC MATTHEWS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsKQ_dDAhJY

02-06-2006, 11:38 PM	#21
charmingmissy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 06, 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 5	I think they should come back for a reunion show in a couple of more years...and like secretly Eric will be talking to someone...and we'll find out that he's like...a genius! He's just been hiding it for all these years! hehe I'm just kidding. He wasn't so dumb in the beginning of the show. He was smarter back then, and he was a lady magnet. All of that seemed to change over the years...
	__________________ "Without the mask, where will you hide? Can't find yourself, lost in your lie." "Forget regret, or life is yours to miss." "I consider myself a good judge of people, and that's why I don't like none of 'em."

03-22-2006, 09:45 AM	#23
Chain Gang Member 1st Female Triple Crown Champ Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Watching Three's Company & Wrestling Posts: 8,926	Eric was just...Eric
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03-23-2006, 07:41 PM	#24
Fonzarelli Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 19, 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,996	However he was the only reasonable person in the two-parter where everybody else fight with each other. Eric brought them back together. Also, he's pretty serious in 'Brotherly Shove' when he's hurt when Cory sorts out their parent's garage with Shawn and Topanga instead of him. Jack and Shawn note: "Eric does seem to be fit today". Not to mention he was terrific in the finale! You see, I was writing this while I was still watching the seventh season. Interesting development he had, though.
	Last edited by Fonzarelli; 03-31-2006 at 03:25 PM.

02-20-2008, 07:13 PM	#28
Daffyfan2004 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 23, 2004 Posts: 565	Yeah. My theory is that since episodes started getting more serious in later years, they needed someone for comic relief. So since Eric sort of has always been a bit dimwitted, they sort of exaggerated that to add more humor to the show. Still I think he's always been a more caring character. After all, he was his nuttiest in the final season, but that was the same season he came up with 'Lose on friend. Lose all friends. Lose yourself.' It seems like his personality is always different depending on the episode. I feel that Will did a really good job playing all these different personalities.
	__________________ Matt: Sarah won't be joining us. She's up in her room morphing dwarves. Sam: Morphing dwarves. Matt: Yeah. First she was Grumpy. Then Happy. Now she's Pouty. Emily: There was no Dwarf called Pouty. Matt: He was in the director's cut. From "Raising Dad" a short lived sitcom with Bob Saget of "Full House" fame.

03-09-2008, 04:08 PM	#29
ninjashoes Member Forum Cub Join Date: Mar 09, 2008 Posts: 2	Eric was freakin awesome, he became so funny towards the last years of the show. They should give him his own show "I'm batman" lol soooo funny WARRR ERIC MATTHEWS!
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01-02-2006, 12:49 PM	#16
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	I like Eric better in the later seasons cause he truly had a heart of gold, even Feeny saw that. Eric didn't get stupider, he was ALWAYS that dumb. I've seen him be just as dumb in Season 2 as he was in Season 7, the only difference is he just got a bit goofier in the later seasons.

01-09-2006, 11:38 PM	#18
iloveseinfeld Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 09, 2006 Posts: 10	stupid people are funny to watch

01-10-2006, 06:02 PM	#19
Fonzarelli Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 19, 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,996	I now see I was wrong about when Eric became too stupid. It wasn't in season 6, it was in late season 5: the episode with the word-of-the-day-calendar. But indeed, stupid people are funny to watch. Still, I think they went too far. Eric no longer was a real person to me, but merely a flat character to laugh at/with.

01-21-2006, 04:23 PM	#20
Fonzarelli Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 19, 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,996	I'll have to correct what I said earlier on. Eric was definately more s\dim-witted ins eason 6, but he wasn't ********. He also was still a real three dimensional character (before I said he wasn't). I realized that after seeing the season 6 episodes in which Eric is playing Santa Claus at the mall, and the one in which Alan is having his midlife crisis.

03-21-2006, 07:25 PM	#22
Fonzarelli Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 19, 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,996	I now have seen the first episodes of season 7. They went too far with Eric. He's a moron now! I mean: he was dim-witted, yes, even stupid at times in season 6, but he still was Eric. He was a three-dimensional character that was believeable. It was believeable he was in college and was able to survive in the real world. Remember the episode in season 6 where he wanted to adopt Tommy? That wasn't a moron talking- that was a genuine, caring Eric. And the episode in which he helped Alan go through his mid-life crisis, telling him how great of a dad he is? He wanted to get Feeny and the dean to get together and it worked. He was still silly and stupid at times. But in season 7, he was stupid all the time! No, not even 'stupid'. 'Stupid' would be a compliment. Joey from Friends is stupid, but still somewhat believeable (until he began to spreak 'French'). But Eric in season 7 was just retarted. I don't wanna offend anyone. In fact, I think people with a mental disability are much smarter than Eric was in season 7! He became a cartoon character. This was a guy who couldn't even get himself dressed without any help. He had some good moments, like at Cory's wedding, but after that he changed back to the insensitive jerk he was before this season. I mean: he was insulting Shawn in the episode in which Cory is a tele-marketeer for a brief time. He called him "trailerboy". Was this the same Eric who lived together with Shawn in season 5 and sat down to have an emotional talk with him in season 6? That episode by the way showed hands down the worst side of Eric. He was at his lowest point here. He found a "lucky penny" and acted as a child! He got struck by lightning while sitting inside! The audience went all "aaaww" when he gave his penny to Cory. This wasn't an "aaaawww" moment! Eric pushing Shawn to the wall after he saw him kissing with Topanga, thát was "aaawww". Eric supporting Cory after Topanga took off with her parents to live in Pittsburgh, thát was "aaaaw". Not Eric the clown. Remember in season 4 when Alan was so proud of his son, because he took the SAT's and he succeeded? He almost had tears in his eyes. He had faith in Eric. By season 7, Alan lost all faith. He wanted to protect Eric from the real world by holding him inside his own store. He was actually afraid Eric couldn't make it on his own. Why did Will Friedle put up with all this crap? He should've demanded a good part, not only being the silly idiot for comic relief. It wasn't comic relief to me. It ruïned a lot of viewing pleasure for me.

04-12-2007, 11:15 PM	#26
Jerlene uBlackHat.com Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 03, 2007 Location: Maui, HI Posts: 138	It was good t.v. He was smart/normal when the show first started but I guess that was boring.

01-15-2008, 02:39 PM	#27
Legacy4ever Love is Strange,But So Is Life Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 15, 2008 Location: Livin La Life Posts: 31	He always seemed to be intelligent in my eye, even though he was later butchered into he comedic relief. My favorite moment with him however was whenever he said "TOPANGA!!!!!" and that one when he beileaved he was a secret agent and made his own theme song... Priceless