# Garfunkel and Oates series on IFC **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2014, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092 "2014-08-08T04:45:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/1 "2014-08-08T04:45:59Z")
I’m surprised there aren’t any threads about it so far. Anyway, it’s a little comedy show on the Independent Film Channel starring the two and the trials of their entertainment career and their private lives, along with their songs commenting on said trials. One notable part of this first episode is that Kate gets glammed up (to say the least) and auditions for a part with Ben Kingsley! I was watching it while websurfing, so I wasn’t paying close attention to it. I will be watching it more closely on the repeat showing 15 minutes from this posting. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/2 "2014-08-08T04:58:53Z")
I haven’t seen their TV show yet but I’ve heard them on Adam Carolla’s podcast and they are very funny. And I have very high standards for female comedienne, usually they all just tell ‘chick’ jokes. BTW their act’s name is a pun implying that they are _both_ the second banana (i.e. Art Garfunkel & John Oats). ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/3 "2014-08-08T05:18:35Z")
I think Kate is more attractive than Riki, honestly. I missed the first showing, and half of the repeat. I tuned it in just in time to see the Sir Ben sketch. I’m enjoying the show. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/4 "2014-08-08T05:21:59Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I think Kate is more attractive than Riki, honestly. I missed the first showing, and half of the repeat. I tuned it in just in time to see the Sir Ben sketch. I’m enjoying the show. And which of Penn and Teller do you find more attractive? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/5 "2014-08-08T05:30:20Z")
Teller. I don’t like guys taller than me. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/6 "2014-08-08T13:40:01Z")
I like Garfunkel and Oates’ songs and humor. I was familiar with them mostly through their music videos, and I’ve only managed to catch one of the IFC shows so far, the one where they decide to try not talking AT ALL while in the presence of their dates; I was a little worried at first that they couldn’t carry through with longer skits/shows, but I thought it was pretty damn funny. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/7 "2014-08-08T15:01:06Z")
I swear to god I have a great sense of humor and I think many funny things are very funny indeed. But I just could not get past their “Pregnant Women are Smug” song. It seems to be predicated on so many presuppositions that are just plain wrong and unfair. I can’t look at them now without being pissed off about that song. That said, the IDEA of the duo seems great in the abstract, so I may try once more to push that one song out of my mind and watch this show. Good luck to me. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/8 "2014-08-08T15:54:58Z")
I don’t know anything about them except that I heard them interviewed on NPR yesterday and found them both amusing and charming. They kind of gave me a Flight of the Conchords vibe. I’ll check out the show if (or when) it’s available via streaming. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/9 "2014-08-08T16:40:43Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I swear to god I have a great sense of humor and I think many funny things are very funny indeed. But I just could not get past their “Pregnant Women are Smug” song. It seems to be predicated on so many presuppositions that are just plain wrong and unfair. I can’t look at them now without being pissed off about that song. That’s pretty weird. It’s a parody, you know. I just re-listened to it and there’s only like … 3 specific accusations in the song. There’s not much to it. Would it be easier to swallow if the song were called “Some of the pregnant women I’ve run into here in LA have come off as being smug”? ---
**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:** [August 8, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/10 "2014-08-08T16:53:43Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I think Kate is more attractive than Riki, honestly. I missed the first showing, and half of the repeat. I tuned it in just in time to see the Sir Ben sketch. I’m enjoying the show. I got to have burgers with them one night at an after show party thing here in Chicago and at the time before I met them, I also thought Kate was much more attractive as I’m not usually into blondes. Now, they were both lovely and Kate was very cute in person - but Riki’s personality absolutely sparkles and it’s hard not to crush on her hardcore after meeting her. PS, Teller is obviously the hotter one of that pair. PPS, You can see a lot “more” of Riki in the horror remake “Last House on the Left.” ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/11 "2014-08-08T17:04:41Z")
**GW** , I’m familiar with Riki’s film work, but thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/12 "2014-08-08T17:29:21Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > They kind of gave me a Flight of the Conchords vibe. This is a great comparison, which hadn’t occurred to me until you said it. I’ll have to check the show out. I really enjoyed all of their youtube videos, although I probably watched those a year or more ago. > [@Frylock](#): > > I swear to god I have a great sense of humor and I think many funny things are very funny indeed. But I just could not get past their “Pregnant Women are Smug” song. I thought it was fucking hysterical. I’ve never been pregnant, but most of my friends and family members have. Seemed pretty accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/13 "2014-08-08T18:56:55Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > PPS, You can see a lot “more” of Riki in the horror remake “Last House on the Left.” :eek: Had no idea that was her! ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/14 "2014-08-08T19:00:58Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > This is a great comparison, which hadn’t occurred to me until you said it. I’ll have to check the show out. I really enjoyed all of their youtube videos, although I probably watched those a year or more ago. > > I thought it was fucking hysterical. I’ve never been pregnant, but most of my friends and family members have. Seemed pretty accurate. Well, this isn’t the place for a line-by-line explanation of why the song aggravates me, but the big theme to my aggravation can be summed up as follows: If you’re not actually interested in the answers to these inane questions (i.e. you’re thinking “Bitch, I don’t really care,”) then _don’t ask the inane questions._ ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/15 "2014-08-08T20:35:59Z")
I thought the song _Pregnant Women are Smug_ was pretty hilarious. **Frylock,** do you really think it’s an inane question to ask what someone is going to name their baby? As the lyrics point out, it’s polite to make small talk with people about big developments in their life. Being coy and acting as if everyone else is just dying to know what name you’ve picked out is a bit self centered and smug. Here’s the song in question, in case anyone doesn’t know what we’re talking about: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LbTB3ASkdOo/hqdefault.jpg "Pregnant Women are Smug by Garfunkel and Oates: The Official Video") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbTB3ASkdOo) My favorite song of theirs is _I Don’t Know Who You Are_. I can relate to that song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Yh-0dFvTyI8/maxresdefault.jpg "I Don't Know Who You Are by Garfunkel and Oates") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh-0dFvTyI8) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/16 "2014-08-08T22:27:52Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > PPS, You can see a lot “more” of Riki in the horror remake “Last House on the Left.” Or “Hell Baby”. Is it sexist to talk about actresses doing nude scenes? Maybe. But if they’re going to do nude scenes, we’re going to watch them. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/17 "2014-08-08T22:39:37Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > I thought the song _Pregnant Women are Smug_ was pretty hilarious. > > **Frylock,** do you really think it’s an inane question to ask what someone is going to name their baby? If “Bitch you don’t really care” then it’s pretty inane. Then when they answer “we’re not telling,” that should be the end of it. There’s nothing smug about “we’re not telling.” Parents are victims of the most incredibly rude and presumptuous comments when they reveal their name choices. If they don’t want to say, they don’t want to say and that’s it. “We’re not telling” is not just acceptable but a perfect and unproblematic answer that means _nothing_ about the parents’ character. > [@](#): > > As the lyrics point out, it’s polite to make small talk with people about big developments in their life. Being coy and acting as if everyone else is just dying to know what name you’ve picked out is a bit self centered and smug. That’s precisely where the disconnect is. They’re not being coy. They’re avoiding a question they don’t want to answer. And they’re under no obligation to answer it. ---
**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 9, 2014, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/18 "2014-08-09T04:12:14Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I think Kate is more attractive than Riki, honestly. I think they’re both more attractive than each other. I like them both, for multiple reasons. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/19 "2014-08-09T18:09:46Z")
I think the show is hilarious, kind of a cross between _Louie_ back before it became too self-aware and _Broad City_ without the crassness. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092/20 "2014-08-11T17:34:03Z")
Just watched it, really liked it! I like that nearly every actor in it is also a stand up comedian. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfunkel-and-oates-series-on-ifc/695092.md?page=2)