the supporting players are more interesting than eve - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jamesanthony · 03-30-2004, 05:45 PM

Hi y'all.

I'm new here. I watched this show for the 3rd time last night and have come to the conclusion that this show shouldn''t have been called "Eve" because she is the dullest character in the whole show. If they want this to last they're going to have to either get rid of her or expand the others' parts and make it more like "Friends" where there is no real lead character. This situation reminds me of two other shows, Fresh Prince and A Different World. In Fresh Prince, Will Smith had no prior acting experience, but he had presence and a personality. Eve is not showing that she has what it takes to be the lead in a sitcom. As for ADW I'm from the camp that thinks that show was very boring in its first year when Denise was in it, but at least there she was clearly the star, she wasn't being upstaged by every one of the supporting players the way Eve is here. Eve is like the drawing card in this show, people might tune in and watch because they know the name Eve, but the other players are much more memorable and interesting.

Ant-Lox · 03-31-2004, 08:27 AM

I see your point but Eve is the star of the show IMO, no one would watch it if it were called 'J.T'

jamesanthony · 03-31-2004, 09:57 AM

Even JT is a dullard in comparison to Brian Hooks or even the English guy on the show. This show seems like it is trying too hard to be politically correct or something. They don't want to have the leads behave in a silly manner because they would be considered buffoonish black stereotypes. Fine, that's laudable but Eve and JT's characters have no edge to them. There is nothing compelling about their personas. George Jefferson at his most politically correct still had a quality to him that made him stand out amongst his costars in a scene.

I know that in sitcoms one practice is to have the main character be stable and surround him or her with wacky types. Taxi is an example of that. But on that show Judd Hirsch had a compelling presence that made it clear that he was the show's main player. Watching him, I was always drawn back to him in comparison to the very far out or zany supporting players like Jim and Louie or Tony who was not too swift. Eve is not a strong physical comedienne nor does she have the strong presence of someone like Queen Latifah or Mo'Nique from The Parkers. She seems too soft spoken and shy to be carrying a situation comedy. Even in Girlfriends, Diana Ross' daughter is very neurotic but she clearly has the presence that draws me to see her as the main leading player amidst the four girlfriends.

The few times I have watched this show, in the scenes in which Eve appears with the other players the other players walk off with the scene every time. Even in the picture above she only stands out because of her red dress and her blond hair color.

Also, it seems like there are an awful lot of celebrity guests who show up on this show which is a further distraction from the fact that Eve is not an interesting sitcom actress. I keep thinking of the xmas episode where Kelly Rowland and JT's mom try to outdo each other singing at the party. Eve was nowhere in sight for that substantially long scene. It's very strange to see a show with long stretches where the person for whom the show is named is nowhere to be found and the show is only just getting started. This is actually the strangest thing I have ever seen in a sitcom.

isiahthomas · 03-31-2004, 11:33 AM

You're right JamesAnthony & welcome to the board. Brian Hooks & Ali Landry are better than Eve on this show. Eve's character isn't funny at all.

jamesanthony · 03-31-2004, 11:46 AM

I'm not familiar with her records, but she doesn't have much range as an actress from what I've seen. I can't conceive of her being in a serious drama. She's not ugly or unappealing but it seems to me that to be an entertainer you have to have something fascinating about you and she's not manifesting it yet. Years ago they called it "IT". There was a 1930s actress named Clara Bow and they would say that she had "IT" a certain almost undefinable quality that made people want to pay money to be entertained by her presence on screen.

jamesanthony · 03-31-2004, 11:49 AM

I was watching a TV movie about the Temptations and in it Berry Gordy would play records for his staff and they would rate the ones that they thought would be hits. He asked them to listen to the record and decide if they would rather spend money on the record or a sandwich. Entertainers who have that special captivating quality are like those records he was talking about.

isiahthomas · 03-31-2004, 03:48 PM

I love The Temptations movie. I can watch that over & over again. The dude who played Melvin who ended up in a wheelchair at the end, he was Aaliyah's brother in Romeo Must Die movie. The dude who played Otis who is the only Temptation still alive today, he played on The Guardian tv show. He isn't on there anymore. The white guy who was their manager in The Temptations movie also plays on The Guardian. Leon who played David Ruffin is a good actor. He played David good. The woman who played Melvin's mother, i forgot her name but she's always playing somebody's momma LOL. She was Angela Bassett's mom in What's Love Got To Do With It movie & she was Morris Chestnut's mom in The Brothers movie. The dude who played Berry Gordy, his real name is Obba Babatunde & he's a good actor. He plays Mona's father on Half & Half tv show. When Smokey Robinson sang at Melvin's funeral in The Temptations movie, that scene was so sad.

TVFactFan · 03-31-2004, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamesanthony
Hi y'all.

I'm new here. I watched this show for the 3rd time last night and have come to the conclusion that this show shouldn''t have been called "Eve" because she is the dullest character in the whole show. If they want this to last they're going to have to either get rid of her or expand the others' parts and make it more like "Friends" where there is no real lead character. This situation reminds me of two other shows, Fresh Prince and A Different World. In Fresh Prince, Will Smith had no prior acting experience, but he had presence and a personality. Eve is not showing that she has what it takes to be the lead in a sitcom. As for ADW I'm from the camp that thinks that show was very boring in its first year when Denise was in it, but at least there she was clearly the star, she wasn't being upstaged by every one of the supporting players the way Eve is here. Eve is like the drawing card in this show, people might tune in and watch because they know the name Eve, but the other players are much more memorable and interesting.

Yeah I agree, i been saying that since the day the show made it's debut.

jamesanthony · 03-31-2004, 05:46 PM

Hey isiah I have that Temptations movie in my tape collection. it won an emmy for its director. It's entertaining, but depressing that almost all those guys died young. There's a scene where one of them saw a foxy woman in the street and leaves his car to go rap to her and he gets jacked up. The perp says to him as he's kickin ghim out of his car "I know you". I woder if that really happened.

isiahthomas · 03-31-2004, 05:54 PM

Melvin of The Temptations is the one who got carjacked by that dude in that scene you're talkin about. He was Aaliyah's brother in Romeo Must Die movie. I don't know what his real name is. I was surprised 4 of The Temptations died so young too. It just goes to show u that most people can't handle success & fame. Paul Williams is the one who committed suicide & he had a drinkin problem. David Ruffin had a drug problem. Eddie Kendricks died of cancer & i forgot what Melvin died of. I like the guy who played Paul. He was crackin me up with his dance steps. He sure did love to dance.

jamesanthony · 03-31-2004, 06:14 PM

Melvin's mom was played by Jennifer Lewis. She was a bit different and more toned down in this film from her usual persona. She usually plays this diva type like a black sassy Joan Collins type. She was the dean in the last season of A Different World. There is a movie she was in where she plays William H Macy's wife and he is totally scared of her. It's like a sci/fi satire type spoof with Sisqo in it playing a nerdy character. It is like a superhero satire. I found it outrageously funny that Macy's nerdy white character was married to Jennifer.

Ant-Lox · 04-01-2004, 11:49 AM

How did this turn into a temptations thread?

jamesanthony · 04-01-2004, 12:18 PM

Isiah brought up the Temptations movie so I went with it. As for Eve, I can't think of much else to say about this show since I've only seen 3 episodes. Ironically the one coming up on Monday when I can actually be home to watch it is a rerun of one of the other 2 that I've already seen.

I find that the UPN comedies which are about the only things on broadcast TV that I feel some kind of excitement about watching don't stand up to repeat viewings, it's like OK I've seen it I don't really want to see this a second time. I compare this to older shows like A Different World or The Jeffersons or All in the Family. There is something about those shows that even if I have seen an episode 4 times I can watch it again and still be entertained or notice things that i hadn't seen before. Maybe I'll feel differently about the UPN comedies 10 years from now when they're playing in reruns.

jamesanthony · 04-01-2004, 12:27 PM

My fault- i actually brought up The Temptations film. I apologize. But Gordy had a way of testing records to see if they would be hits. They had to have a quality that excited people to the point that they'd rather buy the record than buy a sandwich. I wonder how they test market shows like Eve to see if they will be successful. I was at a store once and they were test marketing a new show. They had people put on this thing that looked like a virtual reality device to watch a trailer of the show and then they interviewed the person about what they liked or didn't like about it. The show made it to the air and ran several seasons.

MochaBabe74 · 04-03-2004, 11:58 AM

Wow... I was just coming online to see what people thought of the show this past Monday in the beauty salon. The stylist was one of the original cast members of Mad TV was HILARIOUS. I taped the Monday UPN shows and I replayed and LMAO on the scene where he is getting ready to do JT's hair and says "MUSIC" and "Milkshake" from Kelis comes on.... Whew just thinking of it makes me laugh. And then the gong thing...

So I guess I have to agree with the main topic that the supporting cast is way better than Eve. It never really occured to me that Eve is MIA on the most funniest scenes.

I am really trying to give the show a chance but it just doesn't have "IT" like I think JamesAnthony said. And for the record, for a newbie, JA you have alot of real insightful things to say.

And another thing... you know for the record and all... who told Eve blond AND red hair looked good TOGETHER!?!?! Every week I keep waiting for it to be a new do. She is out there with her hair so really nothing seems to be to much. But doggonit this is to much. I won't even go there with her clothes which are supposedly from her clothes line Fetish.

03-30-2004, 05:45 PM	#1
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	the supporting players are more interesting than eve Hi y'all. I'm new here. I watched this show for the 3rd time last night and have come to the conclusion that this show shouldn''t have been called "Eve" because she is the dullest character in the whole show. If they want this to last they're going to have to either get rid of her or expand the others' parts and make it more like "Friends" where there is no real lead character. This situation reminds me of two other shows, Fresh Prince and A Different World. In Fresh Prince, Will Smith had no prior acting experience, but he had presence and a personality. Eve is not showing that she has what it takes to be the lead in a sitcom. As for ADW I'm from the camp that thinks that show was very boring in its first year when Denise was in it, but at least there she was clearly the star, she wasn't being upstaged by every one of the supporting players the way Eve is here. Eve is like the drawing card in this show, people might tune in and watch because they know the name Eve, but the other players are much more memorable and interesting.

03-31-2004, 08:27 AM	#2
Ant-Lox Cloud Watcher Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,824	I see your point but Eve is the star of the show IMO, no one would watch it if it were called 'J.T'
	__________________ Currently Watching: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Sports Allegiances Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia Eagles Detroit Red Wings New York Football Giants

04-03-2004, 11:58 AM	#15
MochaBabe74 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 05, 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 26	Wow... I was just coming online to see what people thought of the show this past Monday in the beauty salon. The stylist was one of the original cast members of Mad TV was HILARIOUS. I taped the Monday UPN shows and I replayed and LMAO on the scene where he is getting ready to do JT's hair and says "MUSIC" and "Milkshake" from Kelis comes on.... Whew just thinking of it makes me laugh. And then the gong thing... So I guess I have to agree with the main topic that the supporting cast is way better than Eve. It never really occured to me that Eve is MIA on the most funniest scenes. I am really trying to give the show a chance but it just doesn't have "IT" like I think JamesAnthony said. And for the record, for a newbie, JA you have alot of real insightful things to say. And another thing... you know for the record and all... who told Eve blond AND red hair looked good TOGETHER!?!?! Every week I keep waiting for it to be a new do. She is out there with her hair so really nothing seems to be to much. But doggonit this is to much. I won't even go there with her clothes which are supposedly from her clothes line Fetish.
	__________________ I have way to much time on my hands...

03-31-2004, 09:57 AM	#3
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	Even JT is a dullard in comparison to Brian Hooks or even the English guy on the show. This show seems like it is trying too hard to be politically correct or something. They don't want to have the leads behave in a silly manner because they would be considered buffoonish black stereotypes. Fine, that's laudable but Eve and JT's characters have no edge to them. There is nothing compelling about their personas. George Jefferson at his most politically correct still had a quality to him that made him stand out amongst his costars in a scene. I know that in sitcoms one practice is to have the main character be stable and surround him or her with wacky types. Taxi is an example of that. But on that show Judd Hirsch had a compelling presence that made it clear that he was the show's main player. Watching him, I was always drawn back to him in comparison to the very far out or zany supporting players like Jim and Louie or Tony who was not too swift. Eve is not a strong physical comedienne nor does she have the strong presence of someone like Queen Latifah or Mo'Nique from The Parkers. She seems too soft spoken and shy to be carrying a situation comedy. Even in Girlfriends, Diana Ross' daughter is very neurotic but she clearly has the presence that draws me to see her as the main leading player amidst the four girlfriends. The few times I have watched this show, in the scenes in which Eve appears with the other players the other players walk off with the scene every time. Even in the picture above she only stands out because of her red dress and her blond hair color. Also, it seems like there are an awful lot of celebrity guests who show up on this show which is a further distraction from the fact that Eve is not an interesting sitcom actress. I keep thinking of the xmas episode where Kelly Rowland and JT's mom try to outdo each other singing at the party. Eve was nowhere in sight for that substantially long scene. It's very strange to see a show with long stretches where the person for whom the show is named is nowhere to be found and the show is only just getting started. This is actually the strangest thing I have ever seen in a sitcom.

03-31-2004, 11:33 AM	#4
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,701	You're right JamesAnthony & welcome to the board. Brian Hooks & Ali Landry are better than Eve on this show. Eve's character isn't funny at all.

03-31-2004, 11:46 AM	#5
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	I'm not familiar with her records, but she doesn't have much range as an actress from what I've seen. I can't conceive of her being in a serious drama. She's not ugly or unappealing but it seems to me that to be an entertainer you have to have something fascinating about you and she's not manifesting it yet. Years ago they called it "IT". There was a 1930s actress named Clara Bow and they would say that she had "IT" a certain almost undefinable quality that made people want to pay money to be entertained by her presence on screen.

03-31-2004, 11:49 AM	#6
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	I was watching a TV movie about the Temptations and in it Berry Gordy would play records for his staff and they would rate the ones that they thought would be hits. He asked them to listen to the record and decide if they would rather spend money on the record or a sandwich. Entertainers who have that special captivating quality are like those records he was talking about.

03-31-2004, 03:48 PM	#7
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,701	I love The Temptations movie. I can watch that over & over again. The dude who played Melvin who ended up in a wheelchair at the end, he was Aaliyah's brother in Romeo Must Die movie. The dude who played Otis who is the only Temptation still alive today, he played on The Guardian tv show. He isn't on there anymore. The white guy who was their manager in The Temptations movie also plays on The Guardian. Leon who played David Ruffin is a good actor. He played David good. The woman who played Melvin's mother, i forgot her name but she's always playing somebody's momma LOL. She was Angela Bassett's mom in What's Love Got To Do With It movie & she was Morris Chestnut's mom in The Brothers movie. The dude who played Berry Gordy, his real name is Obba Babatunde & he's a good actor. He plays Mona's father on Half & Half tv show. When Smokey Robinson sang at Melvin's funeral in The Temptations movie, that scene was so sad.

03-31-2004, 05:46 PM	#9
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	Hey isiah I have that Temptations movie in my tape collection. it won an emmy for its director. It's entertaining, but depressing that almost all those guys died young. There's a scene where one of them saw a foxy woman in the street and leaves his car to go rap to her and he gets jacked up. The perp says to him as he's kickin ghim out of his car "I know you". I woder if that really happened.

03-31-2004, 05:54 PM	#10
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,701	Melvin of The Temptations is the one who got carjacked by that dude in that scene you're talkin about. He was Aaliyah's brother in Romeo Must Die movie. I don't know what his real name is. I was surprised 4 of The Temptations died so young too. It just goes to show u that most people can't handle success & fame. Paul Williams is the one who committed suicide & he had a drinkin problem. David Ruffin had a drug problem. Eddie Kendricks died of cancer & i forgot what Melvin died of. I like the guy who played Paul. He was crackin me up with his dance steps. He sure did love to dance.

03-31-2004, 06:14 PM	#11
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	Melvin's mom was played by Jennifer Lewis. She was a bit different and more toned down in this film from her usual persona. She usually plays this diva type like a black sassy Joan Collins type. She was the dean in the last season of A Different World. There is a movie she was in where she plays William H Macy's wife and he is totally scared of her. It's like a sci/fi satire type spoof with Sisqo in it playing a nerdy character. It is like a superhero satire. I found it outrageously funny that Macy's nerdy white character was married to Jennifer.

04-01-2004, 11:49 AM	#12
Ant-Lox Cloud Watcher Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,824	How did this turn into a temptations thread?

04-01-2004, 12:18 PM	#13
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	Isiah brought up the Temptations movie so I went with it. As for Eve, I can't think of much else to say about this show since I've only seen 3 episodes. Ironically the one coming up on Monday when I can actually be home to watch it is a rerun of one of the other 2 that I've already seen. I find that the UPN comedies which are about the only things on broadcast TV that I feel some kind of excitement about watching don't stand up to repeat viewings, it's like OK I've seen it I don't really want to see this a second time. I compare this to older shows like A Different World or The Jeffersons or All in the Family. There is something about those shows that even if I have seen an episode 4 times I can watch it again and still be entertained or notice things that i hadn't seen before. Maybe I'll feel differently about the UPN comedies 10 years from now when they're playing in reruns.

04-01-2004, 12:27 PM	#14
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	My fault- i actually brought up The Temptations film. I apologize. But Gordy had a way of testing records to see if they would be hits. They had to have a quality that excited people to the point that they'd rather buy the record than buy a sandwich. I wonder how they test market shows like Eve to see if they will be successful. I was at a store once and they were test marketing a new show. They had people put on this thing that looked like a virtual reality device to watch a trailer of the show and then they interviewed the person about what they liked or didn't like about it. The show made it to the air and ran several seasons.