The Normal to Outsider Ratio - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Adamantium · 07-09-2009, 12:06 PM

The title is confusing, I know. What I mean is that during the show, some characters were “normal” while others were “outsiders.”

The normal characters are the five cabbies: Alex, Elaine, Bobby, Tony and John. Yes, John could be a little naïve, but he was still normal enough. And besides, he sat at the table with the other cabbies. He was a member of their little group.

The “outsiders” are characters that are weird or not a member of the cabbies’ little group. Such as Louie, who clearly is not one of them, even though I wouldn’t call him weird, he’s not one of the cabbies. They don’t like him and he doesn’t like them. Latka is also an outsider because he’s weird. Even though he’s friends with the cabbies, he doesn’t sit at the table with them. And, like I said, he’s weird. So even if he did sit with them, he would stand out too much.

As the show went on, the normal characters shortened, and the outsiders grew. First John left and Jim came. Even though Jim was a cabbie and a friend, he was still an outsider, clearly. And Simka (I don’t count her until season five when she joined the cast) was clearly just a female Latka, thus making her weird, too.

Here’s the ratio. See how originally it was 5 to 2 in favor or Normal. By the end of the show it's 4 to 3 in favor of Outsiders.

Season 1 -
Normal: Alex, Elaine, Bobby, Tony and John
Outsiders: Louie and Latka

Season 2 -
Normal: Alex, Elaine, Bobby and Tony
Outsiders: Louie, Latka and Jim

Season 3 -
Normal: Alex, Elaine, Bobby and Tony
Outsiders: Louie, Latka and Jim

Season 4 -
Normal: Alex, Elaine and Tony
Outsiders: Louie, Latka and Jim

Season 5 -
Normal: Alex, Elaine and Tony
Outsiders: Louie, Latka, Jim and Simka

Dusty's Fan · 07-13-2009, 06:34 PM

That's an interesting analysis. Thank you for doing that. Bobby was in a couple of Season 4 episodes, I might add, but he was pretty much gone as you've indicated.

Apparently the move to NBC for the final season had relatively little effect on "normal" vs. "outsiders," with the exception of Simka.

I suppose the picking up by another network could have called for re-emphasis on the main cabbies, but of course that would have depended on several things -- like network executives' hands-on.

I love this show and it's a shame that there were no spin-offs.

Adamantium · 07-14-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty's Fan

That's an interesting analysis. Thank you for doing that. Bobby was in a couple of Season 4 episodes, I might add, but he was pretty much gone as you've indicated.

Apparently the move to NBC for the final season had relatively little effect on "normal" vs. "outsiders," with the exception of Simka.

I suppose the picking up by another network could have called for re-emphasis on the main cabbies, but of course that would have depended on several things -- like network executives' hands-on.

Bobby was in three episodes in the fourth season: Jim the Psychic, Fledgling and Bobby Doesn't Live Here Anymore. However, the first two episodes mentioned were shot during the third season. ABC just chose to air them in the fourth season. I, personally, count them as season three episodes. You can imagine how ticked off I was when the DVD came out, and it was only 20 episodes (as opposed to 22). And then to have such a long wait before the fourth season was announced. I didn't feel like I had the whole third season. It was pretty bad, considering I LOVE this show.

I've always wondered why they never replaced Bobby at the garage. I mean, later on Simka joined the cast but as Latka's wife. They never set out for a new cabbie. That's really what made me think about this topic. How the show, while still excellent, didn't feel like it had a complete cast. I'd see Alex, Elaine and Tony sitting at the table, and think to myself, "okay, where's the other (normal) cabbie." Then I'd realize, nope, that's all of them. I'm not saying a new guy would have been better or even equal to Bobby, but you'd think they would have brought in somebody. Maybe they couldn't agree on what career the new cabbie would dream of having, lol. I say singer.

As for the move to NBC, that's where the "outsiders" over powered the "normal" characters. Simply by adding Simka. A big change when compared to the first season.

Thanks for responding to my thread. It's fun talking about this stuff. And I can't do it if no one will talk to me, lol.

07-09-2009, 12:06 PM	#1
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,825	The Normal to Outsider Ratio The title is confusing, I know. What I mean is that during the show, some characters were “normal” while others were “outsiders.” The normal characters are the five cabbies: Alex, Elaine, Bobby, Tony and John. Yes, John could be a little naïve, but he was still normal enough. And besides, he sat at the table with the other cabbies. He was a member of their little group. The “outsiders” are characters that are weird or not a member of the cabbies’ little group. Such as Louie, who clearly is not one of them, even though I wouldn’t call him weird, he’s not one of the cabbies. They don’t like him and he doesn’t like them. Latka is also an outsider because he’s weird. Even though he’s friends with the cabbies, he doesn’t sit at the table with them. And, like I said, he’s weird. So even if he did sit with them, he would stand out too much. As the show went on, the normal characters shortened, and the outsiders grew. First John left and Jim came. Even though Jim was a cabbie and a friend, he was still an outsider, clearly. And Simka (I don’t count her until season five when she joined the cast) was clearly just a female Latka, thus making her weird, too. Here’s the ratio. See how originally it was 5 to 2 in favor or Normal. By the end of the show it's 4 to 3 in favor of Outsiders. Season 1 - Normal: Alex, Elaine, Bobby, Tony and John Outsiders: Louie and Latka Season 2 - Normal: Alex, Elaine, Bobby and Tony Outsiders: Louie, Latka and Jim Season 3 - Normal: Alex, Elaine, Bobby and Tony Outsiders: Louie, Latka and Jim Season 4 - Normal: Alex, Elaine and Tony Outsiders: Louie, Latka and Jim Season 5 - Normal: Alex, Elaine and Tony Outsiders: Louie, Latka, Jim and Simka

07-13-2009, 06:34 PM	#2
Dusty's Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 13, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,093	That's an interesting analysis. Thank you for doing that. Bobby was in a couple of Season 4 episodes, I might add, but he was pretty much gone as you've indicated. Apparently the move to NBC for the final season had relatively little effect on "normal" vs. "outsiders," with the exception of Simka. I suppose the picking up by another network could have called for re-emphasis on the main cabbies, but of course that would have depended on several things -- like network executives' hands-on. I love this show and it's a shame that there were no spin-offs.
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