# Garfunkel and Oates are so terrible **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 31, 2015, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630 "2015-07-31T03:50:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/21 "2015-07-31T15:51:47Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Is there another comedy team out there named “Simon and Hall”? Aside from the fact that “Simon” and “Hall” are much less interesting and distinctive as names, the point is that the original Oates and Garfunkel were the Andrew Ridgeleys of their respective groups. Come to think of it, has the existence of Garfunkel and Oates ever inspired Art Garfunkel and John Oates to perform together? 'Cause that would be cool. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/22 "2015-07-31T16:05:38Z")
I was about to make a snarky remark about not knowing how busy Daryl Hall is these days anyway but apparently [he’s podcasting](http://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/) and seems like a pretty cool guy. And his “About” page makes ample mention of Oates’ contribution\* so I guess I can’t hate. (\*I didn’t assume Hall would act otherwise per se, it was just nice to see) ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/23 "2015-07-31T16:13:54Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I dunno about “terrible”. More “not very good”. Actually that’s fair. I allowed my reaction to the widely positive feelings I was seeing expressed to color my own phrasing. But that’s right. They’re not really _terrible_. They’re just not very good. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/24 "2015-07-31T16:47:18Z")
I like them. I enjoy their songs. I like their act: they come across as separate but compatible personalities and that’s hard to do as a duo. (The Smothers Brothers didn’t have personalities. They were a straight man and a dope. There was a thread about duos who weren’t like this and how rare that is.) The name Garfunkel and Oates was brilliant and always will be. Their tv show was only so-so. The writing wasn’t sharp. And so what? The act is a part-time fun gig and not their actual working career. That can last as long as the 2000-Year-Old Man. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/25 "2015-07-31T16:48:31Z")
I don’t like their music. To my tin ears the music sounds exactly the same each time. They do enunciate the words well which I appreciate, but then those words strike no chord with me so there’s no real upside in the end. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/26 "2015-07-31T17:00:57Z")
I listened to them because of the other thread and I found their music to be bland and boring. (They should totally use that for their next album title: **Garfunkel and Oates** : _Bland & Boring_.) Their schtick isn’t new nor particularly well done, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/27 "2015-07-31T17:19:00Z")
The name is bad for reasons already stated. The cleverness wore off after a couple of listens. Same with the songs. If you can’t pick a name with a shelf life, how good do you think your project is? Are you convinced yourself? They are not musicians. No shame, it’s just not what they are doing. Do they do concerts of this material? Then what is their other gig? The topics are fairly standard easy pickings. Being in the news a lot and having Fox News on the other side does not add up to controversy. These issues are going in a certain direction historically and they are going with it. Besides what they are doing is too formatted and glib to be subtle. It’s the tone of two women singing in unison and coming to little lyrical jokes every few seconds. Listen to Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor for controversy. Ever read 1970s National Lampoon? Why is Tom Lehrer funny after 60 years? I don’t think G and O have that. IMO ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/28 "2015-07-31T17:20:05Z")
Also really dislike them. Oh, so quirky! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/29 "2015-07-31T17:23:25Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I think they try too hard to be “edgy and clever” but come across as “pretentious and tedious”. Doesn’t work for me. Also, its hard to look at the one with the eyes on the sides of her head. Yeah, well, it’s hard for her to look at you, too. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/30 "2015-07-31T17:32:33Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > The name is bad for reasons already stated. The cleverness wore off after a couple of listens. Same with the songs. If you can’t pick a name with a shelf life, how good do you think your project is? Are you convinced yourself? It’s a comedy project, not a life-long career. You have some fun, do some shows, get paid and hopefully get noticed by someone who is interested in working with you. Mission accomplished for them since I believe they’re both working on new projects. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/31 "2015-07-31T17:53:27Z")
[This Party Took a Turn for the Douche](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHH3brmhPyw) is a fun take on rap videos and stuff. It’s funny and they don’t sing in unison (well, maybe in the hooks). ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/32 "2015-07-31T18:08:26Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Do they do concerts of this material? Then what is their other gig? Yeah, they do “concerts” though it is basically a musical comedy routine. But their primary bread and butter is as character actors. They’ve both been kicking around Hollywood for several years doing little supporting roles in smaller films and getting bit parts on sitcoms. Lindhome has done a little more movie work, Micucci has had a little more regular TV work. But basically they are working actors making a living at it, who both have a variety of side projects including comedy and blogging. I like their Garfunkel and Oates shtick, but find a little goes a long way as with most novelty acts. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/33 "2015-07-31T18:26:45Z")
Riki Lindholme is co-writer and co-star of Another Period, now on Comedy Central. Kate Micucci has been a frequent guest. They both have more than 50 credits on IMDb. Acting is their day job. ---
**Author:** ![bb49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@bb49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bb49)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/34 "2015-07-31T19:10:25Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Aside from the fact that “Simon” and “Hall” are much less interesting and distinctive as names, the point is that the original Oates and Garfunkel were the Andrew Ridgeleys of their respective groups. > > Come to think of it, has the existence of Garfunkel and Oates ever inspired Art Garfunkel and John Oates to perform together? 'Cause that would be cool. My thoughts too. I had never heard of Garfunkel and Oates, so googled them thinking they were Art and John. Guess not. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/35 "2015-07-31T19:22:00Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Their songs together are probably the thing I like least about them. Individually they are quite funny, and I’ve enjoyed their various television appearances. Agreed; although I don’t particularly like their own series. I’m not really fond of any of the original programming I’ve seen on IFC (though their choice of reruns isn’t too bad). ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/36 "2015-07-31T22:30:31Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Come to think of it, has the existence of Garfunkel and Oates ever inspired Art Garfunkel and John Oates to perform together? 'Cause that would be cool. > [@Jophiel](#): > > I was about to make a snarky remark about not knowing how busy Daryl Hall is these days anyway but apparently [he’s podcasting](http://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/) and seems like a pretty cool guy. **My Crazy Theory** : Hall and Oates/Brooks and Dunn are the same two guys! Think about it. H&O did rock/pop in the 70’s and 80’s. Then country got cool. No more H&O. Along come a tall blond guy with a short mustachioed guy and make a butt-load of money. They retire and all of a sudden,\* Daryl Hall comes out of the woodwork again!\* Eerie! And I’ll bet nobody has ever seen the two duos at the same time. Think about it! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/37 "2015-07-31T22:43:24Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > ETA: Also, the name “Garfunkel and Oates” falls under the Be Sharps Rule of Funny Names: “We need a name that’s witty at first, but that seems less funny each time you hear it.” Good choice of comparison, since ‘Garfunkle and Oates’ is itself a Simpsons gag. (Well, there it was Garfunkle, Messina, Oates and Lisa, but it’s the exact same gag using 2/3 of the same names.) ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/38 "2015-07-31T23:47:22Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > [This Party Took a Turn for the Douche](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHH3brmhPyw) is a fun take on rap videos and stuff. It’s funny and they don’t sing in unison (well, maybe in the hooks). That’s a good one (and Alia Shawkat and Sarah Silverman are in the video.) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/39 "2015-08-01T01:02:14Z")
I can totally imagine them doing a song called “Garfunkel and Oates Are So Terrible” about their internet haters. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630/40 "2015-08-01T01:30:55Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Come to think of it, has the existence of Garfunkel and Oates ever inspired Art Garfunkel and John Oates to perform together? 'Cause that would be cool. John Oates has since become a friend of theirs. He cameos in the TV series as a record store owner. But as far as I know, Art Garfunkel has never commented upon their existence. The best episode, in my opinion, is ep5 “Hair Swap”, the one with Jonah Ray and Kumail Nanjiani. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-are-so-terrible/726630.md?page=3)