2008 Woodie Awards
Yearing for the Past with Michelle Tanner
Dennis Robillard
Issue date: 1/30/07 Section: Opinion
Stupid things are wonderful. Without them, it would be much more difficult to distinguish smart things from dumb ones, making life far less interesting.
Our generation in particular seems to adore stupid things, perhaps more than any other
before us. Among the things I'm referring
to are Dane Cook, "Full House" reruns and Journey's epic "Don't Stop Believin'." If these things weren't stupid, I probably wouldn't be talking about them.
Before the cacophony commences, first let me admit, that while I believe that the three things mentioned above are stupid, I love them nonetheless and I am glad to have them in my life.
But the fact remains that Dane Cook, while popular and typically funny, probably
won't be remembered in 50 years. He found his audience niche (college students and twenty-somethings) and directly appeals
to them via hilarious commentary on throwing up, random hookups and carafes of Kool-Aid storming through walls.
Similar arguments can be made for Full House and Journey: within their respective mediums, they aren't particularly special in any way except for the fact that they're just so damn entertaining. In fact, if anything they've set the forms back a bit.
No Emmys were ever awarded to Bob Saget and no Grammy was ever placed in the hands of Steve Perry.
But why is it that our generation's (arguably) most recognizable comedian, television show and song are all so stupid, yet also so important, especially since two of the three aren't even current? The explanation is twofold.
Firstly, the generation that grew up predominantly in the 1990s (ours) was a generation unlike any other. The 90's were a time of unparalleled economic growth, political contentment, national safety and general comfort. It was a time of relative simplicity. There were no assassinations, major wars or political corruptness. Flash-forward to 2007 and everything is different: the economic boom has stalled, political approval is plummeting to all-time lows and the general sense of unease that blanketed the nation on 9/11 still lingers.
Our generation in particular seems to adore stupid things, perhaps more than any other
before us. Among the things I'm referring
to are Dane Cook, "Full House" reruns and Journey's epic "Don't Stop Believin'." If these things weren't stupid, I probably wouldn't be talking about them.
Before the cacophony commences, first let me admit, that while I believe that the three things mentioned above are stupid, I love them nonetheless and I am glad to have them in my life.
But the fact remains that Dane Cook, while popular and typically funny, probably
won't be remembered in 50 years. He found his audience niche (college students and twenty-somethings) and directly appeals
to them via hilarious commentary on throwing up, random hookups and carafes of Kool-Aid storming through walls.
Similar arguments can be made for Full House and Journey: within their respective mediums, they aren't particularly special in any way except for the fact that they're just so damn entertaining. In fact, if anything they've set the forms back a bit.
No Emmys were ever awarded to Bob Saget and no Grammy was ever placed in the hands of Steve Perry.
But why is it that our generation's (arguably) most recognizable comedian, television show and song are all so stupid, yet also so important, especially since two of the three aren't even current? The explanation is twofold.
Firstly, the generation that grew up predominantly in the 1990s (ours) was a generation unlike any other. The 90's were a time of unparalleled economic growth, political contentment, national safety and general comfort. It was a time of relative simplicity. There were no assassinations, major wars or political corruptness. Flash-forward to 2007 and everything is different: the economic boom has stalled, political approval is plummeting to all-time lows and the general sense of unease that blanketed the nation on 9/11 still lingers.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Amanda
posted 1/31/07 @ 2:14 PM EST
I wouldn't call "Journey" stupid at all! Or at least not Steve Perry, the man can sing!!!
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