tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post4871744732542977501..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Strike Survival TV Club: Cupid, "A Truly Fractured Fairy Tale"Alan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-14236085739490654602008-01-26T14:57:00.000-05:002008-01-26T14:57:00.000-05:00If there's one underlying theme to Trevor's preach...If there's one underlying theme to Trevor's preaching, it's "put yourself out there--take a chance." So yeah, Valerie didn't get swept off into the sunset, but she also confronted her fantasy and made a positive step to improve her life by moving back home, instead of daydreaming about Mr. Perfect and holding herself back from any kind of progress b/c her fantasy was too easy to fall back on if she left it untouched. Yeah, Trevor didn't score a point towards his goal here, but he truly helped Val. And isn't he on Earth to empathize with mortals and treat them less like game pieces for his scorecard? It seems like this is a step in his growth process as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-24515471587756474412008-01-17T14:41:00.000-05:002008-01-17T14:41:00.000-05:00Random thoughts: Definitely not my favorite episod...Random thoughts: <BR/><BR/>Definitely not my favorite episode, mostly because of the narration. I agree, it’s not the style in which Claire would write, especially <I>about herself</I> with regards to being the fair princess. She’s <I>Claire</I>, for crying out loud, not Carrie Bradshaw. <BR/><BR/>I’m currently reading Jeff Stepakoff’s book <I>Billion-Dollar Kiss</I>, about writing for TV*, and it’s fascinating. This book was my first inkling that the WGA requires every show to dole out two scripts per year to freelancers, so I think that has a lot to do with this not matching the tone of the rest of the season. At the time, I’m sure they didn’t think that their script would be rewatched in a completely different medium and scrutinzed in print by a limitless audience. Ah…progress.<BR/><BR/><I>Sooner or later, the show needed to do an episode where Trevor's metaphorical arrow missed its target, both to keep things unpredictable and to give Claire some credibility when she clashes with him in the future.</I><BR/><BR/>I agree, things need to be kept unpredictable. Trevor’s “win record” shouldn’t equal Perry Mason’s or the show will lose not only credibility, but interest. I agree with the poster who thought Trevor was right to urge them to <I>try</I>, and it’s OK that it’s not clear whether this is due to his utter hopefulness that anything can happen in love or utter desperation to make another match that gets him closer to home. But I’m glad that Trevor doesn’t bat a thousand – not only does Claire need to be right sometimes, but we need to remember that Trevor’s botched scorecard is the reason he dwells among us again.<BR/><BR/><I>It's a really straightforward story, and one where Claire's initial concern is so obvious that I can't imagine anyone but the most hardcore of Cupidians seeing that she has a point and Trevor is setting these two up for failure.</I><BR/><BR/>I’m not convinced that the story is that straightforward. Of course, in the cold light of day, Claire is right. But I think that <I>all three stories</I> hinge on that irrational hope that we all have harbored from time to time that <I>our</I> story might be different. We know in our heart of hearts that things don’t really work out this way, but we want to be the one to break the odds—to tell that incredible story at cocktail parties about how Things.Worked.Out. Despite all her clinical training, Claire experienced it more and more as she brought in every doorstep gift. But she ended up kissing a frog for naught. Champ experienced it when he convinced himself that selling out his art was going to pay off, but he ended up getting screwed by the agency. And The Couple of the Week wanted to believe it, at least for awhile, but it didn’t.work.out. In the Pilot, didn’t someone say that our problem with relationships is that we believe the movies we watched growing up? This is the same thing. <BR/><BR/><I>Interestingly, the new Cupid pilot I'm writing, posits the same question as this particular episode of Cupid. Can we fall in love with someone who we've barely met? In the new pilot, Trevor's answer is absolutely yes. Claire, naturally, has grave doubts.</I><BR/> <BR/>Yes, it’s an interesting premise, and worth asking. It’s not the same as this ep, however. Claire didn’t think the couple wouldn’t work out because they had just met and barely knew each other. She felt it wouldn’t work out because one member of the pair had concocted a fantasy around the other person and he couldn’t possibly live up to it. They’re two separate issues, but both worthy in their own right.<BR/><BR/> *This is a great behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to write for television. I’d recommend it even if you’re only interested in how TV works and you’re not necessarily interested in writing for TV. Since this blog attracts people of above-average intelligence and it looks like we all might have more leisure time in the near future, I’d recommend it as a good read.olucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047701257768309071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-57187144340568991772008-01-17T11:22:00.000-05:002008-01-17T11:22:00.000-05:00Oh Cupid, I cant believe that I was not the only o...Oh Cupid, I cant believe that I was not the only one who actually watched the show :) <BR/>I did love it and then years later I got addicted to Veronica Mars... and then I find out Rob Thomas was behind both shows... tsss :) But I did love it...and I agree there are better alternatives then watching Who wants to marry a farmer or Who wants to marry a US citizen... for crying out loud!<BR/>Sorry :) Anyhow Alan great idea :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-41351121636057366972008-01-16T23:18:00.000-05:002008-01-16T23:18:00.000-05:00The narration in this episode bugged me way before...The narration in this episode bugged me way before we found out it was the Zeus bum reading "Claire's article." Why tell us Claire feels like a pretty, pretty princess when we can clearly see her clutching a fairy tale gift and smile a special smile to herself? Usually this show struck a nice balance between romantic optimism and wry cynicism, but that narration was way too twee. <BR/><BR/>Imdb only gives Rob Thomas as the writer. I wonder who actually wrote it, and what he or she is doing now (I mean, right now, probably picketing - but, y'know, when not striking.)Sara Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01178920384446523847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-65491333315280421352008-01-16T03:56:00.000-05:002008-01-16T03:56:00.000-05:00Trevor didnt get his match, but he was right about...Trevor didnt get his match, but he <I>was</I> right about giving it a shot. No, it didnt work out (and I think it would be dull if every match had, isnt that the point of denying him his magic arrow?), but neither was anyone hurt. In the end, it was given the old college try and now it's time to move on, just like real dating.daveawayfromhomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06237313399294302353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31159197206588295572008-01-15T23:07:00.000-05:002008-01-15T23:07:00.000-05:00Highlight of "Meat Market" episode to come .. Kate...Highlight of "Meat Market" episode to come .. Kate Walsh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-25725501417960856252008-01-15T13:56:00.000-05:002008-01-15T13:56:00.000-05:00I agree that this episode just didn't gel, and it ...I agree that this episode just didn't gel, and it wasn't because the couple didn't get together -- Claire <I>does</I> need to be right sometimes so we can keep questioning Trevor. <BR/><BR/>It's great to have Rob's thoughts on the episodes -- thanks to both Rob and Alan for that.<BR/><BR/>Also, I'm starting to feel the Donald Faison In The New Version love.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-72215096457610416042008-01-15T13:32:00.000-05:002008-01-15T13:32:00.000-05:00every time Robert Mailhouse spoke, I heard the voi...<I>every time Robert Mailhouse spoke, I heard the voice of the network.</I><BR/><BR/>Hee hee, me too. It was nice to see him as a good guy.<BR/><BR/>Because I didn't say it last week, thanks to Rob Thomas for sharing his memories of these episodes. Also, two words for the new show: Donald Faison. Seriously.<BR/><BR/>I didn't like the continuing theme of "Claire's life is lacking because she's focused on her career" here and I agree that the narration didn't sound like anything she would have written, but Marshall was charming as Claire is increasingly won over by the mysterious gifts.<BR/><BR/>One thing I noticed about the "One Week" sequence is how much faster TV shows have become even just in the last decade. Trevor and Champ really only hit two agencies before finding Scott. I think in most shows now a montage set to an up-tempo piece of music like that would have them coming in and out of a lot more places.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-44572127178625995722008-01-15T12:04:00.000-05:002008-01-15T12:04:00.000-05:00Coincidentally, last night TheWife and I popped in...Coincidentally, last night TheWife and I popped in <I>SportsNight</I>. So as I was watching this episode this morning, every time Robert Mailhouse spoke, I heard the voice of the network.<BR/><BR/>I think the writers would have been better served skipping the reveal that Zeus/the bum was reading the paper and left him as an immaterial narrator, but I guess they wanted to keep the ambiguity about whether he's a god or not. I did appreciate the subtle reveal that Trevor had been the one to leave the Scrabble tile.<BR/><BR/>All in all, this episode's a meh. Pretty elaborate action sequence for a freelance episode, though.R.A. Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14851961356321735388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-14437311344560991972008-01-15T10:52:00.000-05:002008-01-15T10:52:00.000-05:00How can people be saying Cupid missed his mark? Be...<I>How can people be saying Cupid missed his mark? Because she followed his advice and took a chance, she ended up happier. Isn't that really what Trevor is pushing for every episode? </I><BR/><BR/>Interesting point. However, while I'm sure Trevor isn't unhappy that Valerie is now happy, his goal is to get people together and move those buttons to the other end of the string, and he didn't accomplish that this time. Everything Claire predicted with these two came true.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-36772313614198759772008-01-15T10:34:00.000-05:002008-01-15T10:34:00.000-05:00How can people be saying Cupid missed his mark? B...How can people be saying Cupid missed his mark? Because she followed his advice and took a chance, she ended up happier. Isn't that really what Trevor is pushing for every episode? Claire wasn't wrong, but Trevor started the woman down the path. It was more an example of how the two philosophies work together than a time when Clair "beat" Trevor.<BR/><BR/>I agree that there's something off about this episode, but it definitely has its moments.Byron Hauckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12781238264572019596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-54799598582322182952008-01-15T10:30:00.000-05:002008-01-15T10:30:00.000-05:00Alan,I don't have a comment about this particular ...Alan,<BR/>I don't have a comment about this particular episode, per se, but I'm so happy you're doing this series. I absolutely loved this show when it was on and didn't know anyone who watched it. It's so fun to go back and watch and relive when I really fell in love with Jeremy Piven! It's a shame the truly wonderful shows like Cupid get yanked so that we're somehow left with the drivel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-85518544826415762512008-01-15T10:27:00.000-05:002008-01-15T10:27:00.000-05:00Yay, first comment!Although overall this episode w...Yay, first comment!<BR/><BR/>Although overall this episode was very sad, I'm glad that they showed one where the couple does not live happily ever after. That helps ground a fantasy show in a bit of reality - sometimes Cupid misses his mark. <BR/><BR/>I agree that the Champ storyline was a little weak, but it too fit in the theme of fantasy vs. reality, as he got carried away thinking about how this Khaki Nation (ha!) campaign was going to catapult him to fame and riches. Alas, reality bites a little harder.Stefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10024186205791001584noreply@blogger.com