Why Does Eric Become Stupid? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

trekkie · 02-27-2004, 08:59 PM

I know there were posts here concerning this issue a while back, but I thought I'd bring it up again: why do you think Eric becomes really stupid all of a sudden? For example: he goes from somebody who passes the SAT's, leaves on a three month road trip with Cory, becomes a temporary "father," gets a job as a cop, helps his dad at the store, and likes art museums to someone who needs a helmet, talks like he's a half-brain dimwit, and has mommy, daddy and Mr. Feeny seriously wondering if he'd make it in the real world.

Fonz-Hom · 02-27-2004, 10:59 PM

yeah...this used to bother me all the time, its when jack appeared that he became stupid. and i think it was to make a sorta "odd couple" thing going. with instead of one clean and one messy; one is samrt(jack) and one dumb(eric)

Lil B-Boy · 02-28-2004, 12:33 AM

edited for bashing the show

MaydayMalonesGirl · 02-28-2004, 01:01 AM

I actually liked the college years the best.

Anyways, to me it seemed like in the later years Eric was stupid for the majority of the episodes... but there were certain eps where that didn't show. It was weird.

trekkie · 02-28-2004, 02:59 AM

The first year at the university is actually very good. After that, the show declines in both writing and good story ideas. A very good episode every now and then (the Truman Show one is classic!), but not nearly as consistent as the older high school years.

IMO, ratings are probably slipping by the second year at the university; the writers need something more than a new character (Jack); so they turn Eric into a bumbling idiot, in hopes of young, naive preteen viewers falling for and laughing head-over-heels at his outlandish behavior and stupidity.

And unfortunately, they are correct.

spunkygirl · 02-28-2004, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by trekkie
I know there were posts here concerning this issue a while back, but I thought I'd bring it up again: why do you think Eric becomes really stupid all of a sudden? For example: he goes from somebody who passes the SAT's, leaves on a three month road trip with Cory, becomes a temporary "father," gets a job as a cop, helps his dad at the store, and likes art museums to someone who needs a helmet, talks like he's a half-brain dimwit, and has mommy, daddy and Mr. Feeny seriously wondering if he'd make it in the real world.

What I don't get is why people are so surprised? I was watching episodes season4(I think) the other day, and Eric was never very smart, when his friend Jason was around, Eric kept saying all kinds of dumb things.

ERic's stupidity never declined IMO. It just seemed to get focused on more later.

IMO Eric's actually smarter than all of them

trekkie · 02-28-2004, 05:18 AM

So you think the Eric we witness in the last two seasons or so actually showcases an ability to fend for himself and survive by himself? In the early and especially high school years, he clearly showcases his caring, sensitive, educated and "never-give-up" nature.

His behavior during the final seasons totally contadict all of this.

It'd be like saying, "Beavis & Butthead are actually very smart. They don't show it, but I know for a fact that they're very intelligent!"

I'm not insulting Will Friedel here; I think he's a very talented comedic actor. His character on BMW just gets unbelievably stupid at the end, that's all.

Why does he suddenly out of the blue need a helmet? Why does Amy, Allen & Feeny worry if somebody who passed the SAT's after feverishly studying, went on a summer road trip, was a father, and got into a great university after giving a heartfelt speech at his interview would survive in the real world?

See? It's contradictory.

Fonz-Hom · 02-28-2004, 10:16 AM

even after "eric became stupid" he was still my fav character. in fact he became more my fav in the end. and there were a few eps. that he wasnt that dumb at all.

lil b-boy2 · 02-28-2004, 05:33 PM

Like I said once, and Ill say it again

The whole show got dumb when it entered the college years.

Once again, Please, DONT EDIT MY POST FOR VOICING AN OPINION

MaydayMalonesGirl · 02-28-2004, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MaydayMalonesGirl
I actually liked the college years the best.

Anyways, to me it seemed like in the later years Eric was stupid for the majority of the episodes... but there were certain eps where that didn't show. It was weird.

Why does it say my post got edited?

spunkygirl · 02-28-2004, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MaydayMalonesGirl
Why does it say my post got edited?

Sorry about that, my fault, I edited the wrong one

MaydayMalonesGirl · 02-28-2004, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Topanga
Sorry about that, my fault, I edited the wrong one

Oh okay.

lilb-boy3 · 03-27-2004, 11:36 PM

*edited for bashing*

02-27-2004, 08:59 PM	#1
trekkie Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 22, 2003 Posts: 224	Why Does Eric Become Stupid? I know there were posts here concerning this issue a while back, but I thought I'd bring it up again: why do you think Eric becomes really stupid all of a sudden? For example: he goes from somebody who passes the SAT's, leaves on a three month road trip with Cory, becomes a temporary "father," gets a job as a cop, helps his dad at the store, and likes art museums to someone who needs a helmet, talks like he's a half-brain dimwit, and has mommy, daddy and Mr. Feeny seriously wondering if he'd make it in the real world.
	__________________ Get a VAULT DISNEY or DISNEY FAMILY CHANNEL on television: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/preservethemagic "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything; you've got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string" -- Aaron Tippin

02-27-2004, 10:59 PM	#2
Fonz-Hom Heeeyy!!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 29, 2001 Posts: 20	yeah...this used to bother me all the time, its when jack appeared that he became stupid. and i think it was to make a sorta "odd couple" thing going. with instead of one clean and one messy; one is samrt(jack) and one dumb(eric)
	__________________ "Live Fast, Love Hard, and don't let anyone else use your comb!"--The Fonz

02-28-2004, 12:33 AM	#3
Lil B-Boy Banned Banned!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 13, 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 42	edited for bashing the show
	Last edited by spunkygirl; 02-28-2004 at 04:24 AM.

02-28-2004, 01:01 AM	#4
MaydayMalonesGirl ACID! POLICEHHHH! Forum Star Join Date: Apr 24, 2003 Location: in a van down by the river. Posts: 18,393	I actually liked the college years the best. Anyways, to me it seemed like in the later years Eric was stupid for the majority of the episodes... but there were certain eps where that didn't show. It was weird.
	Last edited by spunkygirl; 02-28-2004 at 04:24 AM.

02-28-2004, 05:33 PM	#9
lil b-boy2 Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Feb 28, 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 3	Like I said once, and Ill say it again The whole show got dumb when it entered the college years. Once again, Please, DONT EDIT MY POST FOR VOICING AN OPINION
	Last edited by lil b-boy2; 02-28-2004 at 09:33 PM.

02-28-2004, 02:59 AM	#5
trekkie Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 22, 2003 Posts: 224	The first year at the university is actually very good. After that, the show declines in both writing and good story ideas. A very good episode every now and then (the Truman Show one is classic!), but not nearly as consistent as the older high school years. IMO, ratings are probably slipping by the second year at the university; the writers need something more than a new character (Jack); so they turn Eric into a bumbling idiot, in hopes of young, naive preteen viewers falling for and laughing head-over-heels at his outlandish behavior and stupidity. And unfortunately, they are correct.

02-28-2004, 05:18 AM	#7
trekkie Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 22, 2003 Posts: 224	So you think the Eric we witness in the last two seasons or so actually showcases an ability to fend for himself and survive by himself? In the early and especially high school years, he clearly showcases his caring, sensitive, educated and "never-give-up" nature. His behavior during the final seasons totally contadict all of this. It'd be like saying, "Beavis & Butthead are actually very smart. They don't show it, but I know for a fact that they're very intelligent!" I'm not insulting Will Friedel here; I think he's a very talented comedic actor. His character on BMW just gets unbelievably stupid at the end, that's all. Why does he suddenly out of the blue need a helmet? Why does Amy, Allen & Feeny worry if somebody who passed the SAT's after feverishly studying, went on a summer road trip, was a father, and got into a great university after giving a heartfelt speech at his interview would survive in the real world? See? It's contradictory.

02-28-2004, 10:16 AM	#8
Fonz-Hom Heeeyy!!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 29, 2001 Posts: 20	even after "eric became stupid" he was still my fav character. in fact he became more my fav in the end. and there were a few eps. that he wasnt that dumb at all.

03-27-2004, 11:36 PM	#13
lilb-boy3 Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 08, 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 204	edited for bashing
	Last edited by spunkygirl; 03-28-2004 at 12:00 AM.