I don’t like Adult Swim. I see a lot of creators trying way too hard to be edgy and weird and in tune with the minds of a lot of people who need something they can call their own. If I was 20 maybe Adult Swim would connect with me and though there are great little moments to be had if you spend the time, my overall inclination is to dismiss it as people guided by a gimmick, absurdist freedom, or little ideas not carried through to their full potential. But I’m 37, and the time I spend on disposable entertainment is better spent elsewhere.
Sorry if that comes off as snobbish. I just see folks with a lot of great tools and a ton of shortcuts taken.
Ugly Americans feels like an Adult Swim show, but there’s something about it that clicks. A beautiful chaos. And tons of little ideas. Especially in the margins.
In the same way that Sergio Aragones’ work absolutely made Mad Magazine, Ugly Americans is made by the little nuances away from the action.
The premise is that monsters and demons and all sorts of beasts have been a part of society, so it’s perfectly normal that a blob may work as a janitor, an eagle-man may shit on your head, or a slithering minion may be part of a board of directors. Our ‘hero’ is a nebbish who’s pussywhipped by a demon girl, his best friends are a zombie and an alcoholic wizard, and his job as a social worker has a far different set of rules considering the climate.
The show gets a little more story driven [likely the work of Comedy Central] and things become much more focused than the pilot, but there’s still fun to be had (like the video clip below featuring a Criss Angel-alike named Christ Angel).
It’s a show very much like what I’ve been trying to do with 11 Colonels, which is inspiring and a little sad. I know there’s people like me who like this kind of stuff. There’s nothing sacred to the makers of this show and when it clicks it gives me faith in humanity. Shit like this counteracts the soul crushing Jon and Kate Plus Eight stuff out there.
Well at least it it gives us assholes something to enjoy while the majority of our peers fuck their brains in the asspussy.
Grab the pilot off iTunes. You won’t regret it.
Warning, this file crashes Firefox for me sometime. Something about certain QT files and Firefox simply don’t get along.
7 comments
This show looks pretty good. I agree with you on most Adult Swin shows although you should give Venture Bros a chance. That's just a great, funny adventure series.
Man, where to start. I hesitate to say anything negative as I really doubt I'm somehow the first to comment here, but Ugly Americans is the epitome of "trying way too hard to be edgy and weird." I really liked the concept of this show but something is just not there. The jokes are more logically sound than actually funny. A punchline comes and I see why it makes sense but it just doesn't make me laugh. It is funny that you bring up Adult Swim as a comparison. Sure there's a lot of shit on AS that fits your description. But there is also some pretty brilliant stuff on there like Venture Brothers, Frisky Dingo, Metalocalypse. (I absolutely love Tim & Eric, but can totally forgive anyone who doesn't, it's wild shit.) In fact you really need to see Super Jail if you like Ugly Americans so much. Super Jail is what Ugly Americans should have been. The visual design is so similar I initially thought it was from the same creators, and in fact Aaron Augenblick is involved in both. SJ definitely comes off edgier, and it does so effortlessly. I'll continue to watch Ugly Americans to see if it finds its groove, but I imagine it will either be canceled like Freak Show before it or devolve even further into the same bland territory Drawn Together occupies.
Nick taking anyone to task for trying to hard for effect is hilarious. HILARIOUS!
I think my pants just sent a vomit valentine to the hall of holy fucktard!
I'm saddened that that post title wasn't literal.
"I am afraid of Ugly Americans. Dangerously so. I'm afraid that it exists, because it is as consistently in tune with my sensibilities as anything I can think of. " Except that Ugly Americans works, and none of your ideas ever do. **Verification attempt number 7!!!!!
This is definitely the show to avoid at all cost if it clicks with Nick's sense of humor. As we all know from the dumb a days Nick has the comedic talents of a writer on "Full House". If dumb a days weren't proof enough that his sense of comedy is balls the fact that he doesn't "get" some of the funniest, freshest and most original shows on television should seal the deal. Thanks for the warning Nick!
Thanks, Nick. I just watched the first three episodes, and I love them. I wasn't going to watch Ugly Americans at first, as it seemed too much like an Adult Swim-like show, and I really don't care much for any of their shows. Anyway, thanks for the recommendation.
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