# Who actually watchs Mad TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037 "2008-01-02T21:26:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/21 "2008-01-03T17:58:25Z")
I used to watch this show the same way I watch SNL, recorded on a PVR. That way I can blast through endless commercials and sketches I don’t like. But they changed the format this year and no longer do sketches. No one must be watching this show as no one has mentioned this yet. They do stand-up comedy and endless segments on the street, often with the familiar characters, but no actual on stage sketches. Plus they have a new Hollywood set that looks like it is straight from Entertainment Tonite which is horrible. And I can’t stand that Asian guy who is one of the most featured actors. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/22 "2008-01-03T18:07:28Z")
[QUOTE=Mikemike2] But they changed the format this year and no longer do sketches. No one must be watching this show as no one has mentioned this yet. They do stand-up comedy and endless segments on the street, often with the familiar characters, but no actual on stage sketches. [/QUOTE] Is this maybe in response to the WGA strike? ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/23 "2008-01-03T18:21:11Z")
It’s hit and miss I guess, like most sketch comedy. It does seem they’re at least trying, as opposed to SNL, which with rare exceptions has been coasting on its reputation for decades now. I don’t watch either one very often, but Mad’s [Apple iRack](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw2nkoGLhrE) sketch was hysterical. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/24 "2008-01-03T18:58:35Z")
[QUOTE=Mikemike2] I used to watch this show the same way I watch SNL, recorded on a PVR. That way I can blast through endless commercials and sketches I don’t like. But they changed the format this year and no longer do sketches. No one must be watching this show as no one has mentioned this yet. They do stand-up comedy and endless segments on the street, often with the familiar characters, but no actual on stage sketches. Plus they have a new Hollywood set that looks like it is straight from Entertainment Tonite which is horrible. And I can’t stand that Asian guy who is one of the most featured actors. [/QUOTE] Until I looked it up on Wikipedia, I didn’t even know the show was still on the air. I don’t watch a lot of late-night TV. Robin ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/25 "2008-01-03T19:01:48Z")
Some of it is very funny. But 75% is not. Not enough content to waste my time on. I’ll just watch Stuart clips on [Youtube.com](http://Youtube.com) ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/26 "2008-01-03T19:58:21Z")
[QUOTE=Greg Charles] It’s hit and miss I guess, like most sketch comedy. It does seem they’re at least trying, as opposed to SNL, which with rare exceptions has been coasting on its reputation for decades now. I don’t watch either one very often, but Mad’s [Apple iRack](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw2nkoGLhrE) sketch was hysterical. [/QUOTE] That one actually surprised me. Not where I thought they’d go with iRack. I guessed anatomical. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/27 "2008-01-03T20:13:23Z")
I just watched that iRack sketch, and now my living room has sprigs of tumbleweed blowing across it, to the sound of the mournful wind and a doleful bell tolling in the distance. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/28 "2008-01-03T22:27:25Z")
Have to agree with jjimm on the I-Rack skit. I saw that parallel coming a mile away and it didn’t bring anything new to the equation. MadTV is probably the most unwatchable television program I’ve ever had the displeasure of seeing. It irks me on every level. My biggest gripe is that they don’t realize impersonations are funnier (not to mention more recognizable) when they are caricatures, and invented comical characters are funnier when they are tinged with reality. Take the [Dane Cook](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QVvgMro3D0) example given above. It _is_ a very good impersonation, right down to the lack of humor and wittiness. If I had turned on the TV in the middle of that skit, I wouldn’t know if it was someone impersonating Dane Cook, or a skit about someone trying to become successful mimicking Dane Cook’s comedic style. In my opinion, it would have been funny(er) if they had gone with the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/29 "2008-01-03T23:27:06Z")
[QUOTE=Crawlspace] Have to agree with jjimm on the I-Rack skit. I saw that parallel coming a mile away and it didn’t bring anything new to the equation. [/QUOTE] I’m confused as to what both you and jjimm are even talking about. Is jjimm is trying to paint a picture of being underwhelmed? Maybe. What parallel, what equation? You mean, you knew when you heard iRack that they’d compare it to Iraq, and you figured out all the ways they’d do that before they did? Maybe. Can I hazard a guess that they are satirizing something that you don’t like satirized? Anyway, the sketch was a bit timelier when it came out before the surge, but it still holds up well. Regardless of your political stripe, you have to appreciate the use of the Mac “tada” sound to accompany Jobs’ announcements. Also, if it had been SNL, they would have taken the same premise and same jokes and tried to extend it to 10 or more minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Sweetums](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Sweetums](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweetums)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/30 "2008-01-03T23:53:49Z")
Put me down in the “unimpressed” column. I have tried watching this show. Every single sketch seem to follow the same pattern: 1. Everyday situation 2. Enter pointlessly obnoxious asshole. 3. Asshole proceeds to act in a jerkish and unfunny manner, with no consequence. Till you honestly want to jump through the screen and strangle them. 4. Sketch ends. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/31 "2008-01-04T00:04:15Z")
I don’t care what anyone thinks. I have a mad crush on Bobby Lee. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/32 "2008-01-04T00:09:23Z")
[QUOTE=Rushgeekgirl] I don’t care what anyone thinks. I have a mad crush on Bobby Lee. [/QUOTE] A world of EEWWW. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/33 "2008-01-04T00:15:26Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] A world of EEWWW. [/QUOTE] Yes, I know. I once had a thing for Drew Carey as well. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/34 "2008-01-04T01:56:37Z")
[QUOTE=Greg Charles] I’m confused as to what both you and jjimm are even talking about. Is jjimm is trying to paint a picture of being underwhelmed? Maybe. What parallel, what equation? You mean, you knew when you heard iRack that they’d compare it to Iraq, and you figured out all the ways they’d do that before they did? Maybe. Can I hazard a guess that they are satirizing something that you don’t like satirized? Anyway, the sketch was a bit timelier when it came out before the surge, but it still holds up well. Regardless of your political stripe, you have to appreciate the use of the Mac “tada” sound to accompany Jobs’ announcements. Also, if it had been SNL, they would have taken the same premise and same jokes and tried to extend it to 10 or more minutes. [/QUOTE] Yes, I was underwhelmed. I didn’t phrase this as well as I could have: the concept was clever but when I saw I-Rack I knew it was going to be a satire of the war in Iraq. I enjoy seeing satire of the war in Iraq (the incompetent running of, not the death and mayhem part) but beyond the initial chuckle from IRack Iraq, this left me feeling flat. It didn’t make me look at things from a different perspective or surprise me\*, and those are essential elements of comedy for me. \*although I did chuckle again at the end with Jobs’ new product the I-Ran. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/35 "2008-01-04T02:00:52Z")
[QUOTE=Rushgeekgirl] Yes, I know. I once had a thing for Drew Carey as well. [/QUOTE] Nothin’ wrong with that. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/36 "2008-01-04T02:09:33Z")
[QUOTE=Greg Charles] I’m confused as to what both you and jjimm are even talking about. Is jjimm is trying to paint a picture of being underwhelmed? Maybe. What parallel, what equation? You mean, you knew when you heard iRack that they’d compare it to Iraq, and you figured out all the ways they’d do that before they did? Maybe. Can I hazard a guess that they are satirizing something that you don’t like satirized? Anyway, the sketch was a bit timelier when it came out before the surge, but it still holds up well. Regardless of your political stripe, you have to appreciate the use of the Mac “tada” sound to accompany Jobs’ announcements. Also, if it had been SNL, they would have taken the same premise and same jokes and tried to extend it to 10 or more minutes. [/QUOTE] Count me as thoroughly underwhelmed, too. Five minutes squeezed out of a single pun? Sure, you’ve clearly got one over on SNL there, but it was still a dismal sketch. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/37 "2008-01-04T02:35:23Z")
It would’ve been a better skit if it had satirized Apple’s trendiness. I could see quite a bit more mileage coming out of Jobs trying to sell a $1.50 rack as the next technological innovation. At least, I would’ve found it funnier. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/38 "2008-01-04T04:06:58Z")
[QUOTE=Paintcharge] That one actually surprised me. Not where I thought they’d go with iRack. I guessed anatomical. [/QUOTE] They did that with the i-Pad. Hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037/39 "2008-01-04T07:15:50Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] I just watched that iRack sketch, and now my living room has sprigs of tumbleweed blowing across it, to the sound of the mournful wind and a doleful bell tolling in the distance. [/QUOTE] I skipped the last two minutes just to see where this one was going (more specifically, to see if it had any intent of going _anywhere_) and the punchline was trivially clever the way a two year old might be. _SNL_ could (and for all I know, has) done this exact joke as a 15-second throwaway during a _Weekend Update_ segment. _iRack_ isn’t in the same league, sport, or universe as _Colonel Angus_. Even string theory couldn’t reconcile the two, proving there must be a designer, but he’s a retard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-actually-watchs-mad-tv/432037.md?page=1)