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Tommy_Carcetti

(43,182 posts)
Wed Mar 6, 2013, 01:04 PM Mar 2013

Can someone explain to me why "2 Broke Girls" is consistently one of TV's highest rated shows?

My wife watches it, and good lord, from what I've seen, it's just horribly unfunny. Just full of "jokes" that just fall on their collective faces. Horrible writing, ridiculous plots. Failed attempts to be "edgy." And probably the most forced laugh track this side of Full House.

I know, I know: What's popular is not always what's good. But there has to be a line drawn somewhere.

The thing is, there are some sitcoms currently on broadcast TV that I do enjoy and that I do think are good: Modern Family, Raising Hope, The New Girl, The Middle, Suburgatory. (And I still enjoy The Office, although perhaps that's more out of viewer loyalty than anything else.)

Even shows that I don't watch on a regular basis at least come off funny at least part of the time, when I do watch them. The Big Bang Theory, for example

But 2 Broke Girls? Am I missing something?

Will anyone vouch for it here, or is it truly dreck?

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Can someone explain to me why "2 Broke Girls" is consistently one of TV's highest rated shows? (Original Post) Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2013 OP
I couldn't get through one episode. geardaddy Mar 2013 #1
Chewing gum for the brain... Taverner Mar 2013 #2
Because it really is funny! In_The_Wind Mar 2013 #3
I can't even stand the promos...You can almost see the two of them reading a cue card.... hlthe2b Mar 2013 #4
I saw that show for the first time this week, ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #5
I can think of 2 reasons NightWatcher Mar 2013 #6
Lips and eyes, right? :) tanyev Mar 2013 #19
I really do kinda love her OriginalGeek Mar 2013 #20
My wife likes it too. Dr. Strange Mar 2013 #7
Nobody's ever gone broke underestimating the stupidity of the American public. hobbit709 Mar 2013 #8
It's dreck. HappyMe Mar 2013 #9
I've just started watching Big Bang Theory NewJeffCT Mar 2013 #11
TBBT is clever. Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2013 #15
never watched it NewJeffCT Mar 2013 #10
Jennifer Coolidge's one scene a week is why I watch it graham4anything Mar 2013 #12
I enjoyed her in the Guest movies, but even she can't save the show. Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2013 #14
how do they arive at ratings ? olddots Mar 2013 #13
Is it as bad as the typical reality show? aint_no_life_nowhere Mar 2013 #16
It's probably along the same lines. Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2013 #17
I can't explain it olddots Mar 2013 #18
It's dreck. Mike Browne Jun 2016 #21

hlthe2b

(102,292 posts)
4. I can't even stand the promos...You can almost see the two of them reading a cue card....
Wed Mar 6, 2013, 01:14 PM
Mar 2013

when they deliver their "lines"... I don't know if the two (especially the dark-haired actress) are so lacking in comic timing, or if the lines are really that un-funny, but it is cringe-inducing to me, especially when the laugh track comes on so inappropriatey.

ZombieHorde

(29,047 posts)
5. I saw that show for the first time this week,
Wed Mar 6, 2013, 01:22 PM
Mar 2013

and I thought it was total crap. No zombies, ninjas, robots, monsters, or jokes.

tanyev

(42,566 posts)
19. Lips and eyes, right? :)
Mon Mar 11, 2013, 05:21 PM
Mar 2013

I did think Cat Denning was interesting in a couple movies she did before Broke Girls. Watched one episode of the series and decided to pass.

OriginalGeek

(12,132 posts)
20. I really do kinda love her
Mon Mar 11, 2013, 05:54 PM
Mar 2013

but I hate the blonde broke girl. My wife and daughter watch it though so I'm usually on the computer while watching too. Sometimes it's funny and I like the occasional line from Garrett Morris. But every time that blonde opens her mouth or even just walks, it irritates the piss out of me.

I think the show would be better if blondie got kicked in the head by her horse and was in a coma for the rest of the run.

HappyMe

(20,277 posts)
9. It's dreck.
Wed Mar 6, 2013, 01:51 PM
Mar 2013

I can barely stand the promos for it.

I like The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family and Suburgatory.

NewJeffCT

(56,828 posts)
11. I've just started watching Big Bang Theory
Wed Mar 6, 2013, 05:20 PM
Mar 2013

I get almost all the nerd-related jokes, so I think it's hysterical. Plus, I can see a bit of myself in each of the four guys, though I'm not as "smart" as any of them - the "dumb" guy in the group has an master's in engineering from MIT.



Tommy_Carcetti

(43,182 posts)
15. TBBT is clever.
Mon Mar 11, 2013, 03:32 PM
Mar 2013

The jokes were sometimes a little hit and miss when I've watched it, but I do have to hand it to the writers how they manage to throw in references to actual scientific theories.

NewJeffCT

(56,828 posts)
10. never watched it
Wed Mar 6, 2013, 05:17 PM
Mar 2013

though, I was tempted when I saw a promo of the two women pole dancing - I assumed they were the "broke girls"

 

graham4anything

(11,464 posts)
12. Jennifer Coolidge's one scene a week is why I watch it
Wed Mar 6, 2013, 06:44 PM
Mar 2013

Loved her in all the Guest movies (Including Best in show, Guffman, Mighty Wind, etc.)and everything else she has done (including Pie).

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,182 posts)
14. I enjoyed her in the Guest movies, but even she can't save the show.
Wed Mar 6, 2013, 06:57 PM
Mar 2013

Goes to show bad writing trumps good acting.

 

olddots

(10,237 posts)
13. how do they arive at ratings ?
Wed Mar 6, 2013, 06:56 PM
Mar 2013

I read lots of articles about how they come up with these ratings and it made me more confused.

Its dreck as 99% of t.v. is dreck and its not even good furniture anymore.You just have turn off your mind and feel glad you don't live in a cave to enjoy this stuff .

aint_no_life_nowhere

(21,925 posts)
16. Is it as bad as the typical reality show?
Mon Mar 11, 2013, 03:58 PM
Mar 2013

Between realty tv and these "aren't we so clever with our snappy lines" comedy shows I don't watch any network tv anymore except for maybe NFL football. I think I've seen promos of the show on other channels (I think there was a promo during the Superbowl?) and the brunette looks kinda cool but nothing can bring me to watch even two minutes of this stuff.

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,182 posts)
17. It's probably along the same lines.
Mon Mar 11, 2013, 04:01 PM
Mar 2013

I want their to be more scripted television and less reality, but still, let's at least try to put some effort into it.

Kat Dennings is not bad to look at, but not nearly good enough to make the show even remotely worth watching.

 

olddots

(10,237 posts)
18. I can't explain it
Mon Mar 11, 2013, 04:06 PM
Mar 2013

There were millions of people who thought Lucile Ball was a love goddess to my preteen eyes she was an old lady .

Mike Browne

(1 post)
21. It's dreck.
Fri Jun 3, 2016, 11:21 PM
Jun 2016

I only saw a few minutes of this alleged sitcom. The writing is terrible, the actors speak with a nasal whine, and "dreck" is too kind a word for this...show. Former FCC Chairman Newton Minow was correct when called television "a vast wasteland," and that was in 1962.

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