Slog - Comments on The Root of All Evil http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1 It blows. Totally blows. Gave it a second chance. Shouldn't have. Lewis Black deserves better. I deserve better. And what's with the awful canned laugh track?... Copyright 2008 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:57:07 -0800 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:56:23 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Bauhaus It blows chunks.

I switched over to The National on the CBC and watched some pretty impressive stories about the Canadian/Washington State border: the anomaly which is Point Roberts and how mustangs - which normally would be culled and slaughtered - are tamed and mounted by the US border patrol and used to patrol the interior border. Peter Mansbridge was at the Peach Arch.

]]> Bauhaus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974666 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974666 TV Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:14:13 -0800 Comment by Bauhaus It blows chunks.

I switched over to The National on the CBC and watched some pretty impressive stories about the Canadian/Washington State border: the anomaly which is Point Roberts and how mustangs - which normally would be culled and slaughtered - are tamed and mounted by the US border patrol and used to patrol the interior border. Peter Mansbridge was at the Peace Arch.

]]> Bauhaus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974668 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974668 TV Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:14:37 -0800 Comment by flash gordon Lewis Black has always given us VOLUME instead of intelligent humor. Anyone who was fooled by his bullshit deserves it. Go buy a David Cross cd if you want intelligent anger. I hope Lewis black dies penniless for his hackery.

]]> flash gordon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974678 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974678 TV Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:22:54 -0800 Comment by laterite Yeah, they used a Viagra joke in the promo commercial after South Park. Not a good sign. Comedy Central is so awful now. "Mind of Mencia" was a harbinger of doom.

]]> laterite http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974679 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974679 TV Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:23:08 -0800 Comment by el am i the only person who has never thought this dude is funny? i guess i've only ever seen his spots on TDS, but still. i have no idea why they keep him around.

]]> el http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974681 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974681 TV Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:30:27 -0800 Comment by Dylan! I agree with everything Dan typed, except for the Lewis Black part. He was funny for about 10 minutes, but that was what, 10 years ago?

I'll give this show another shot when Patton Oswalt is on it, but I doubt even Patton can save this pile.

]]> Dylan! http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974688 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974688 TV Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:38:35 -0800 Comment by tsm Haven't seen it, but it couldn't possibly have been any worse than "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn".

]]> tsm http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974689 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974689 TV Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:41:20 -0800 Comment by Dave Coffman Like Jon Stewart made Lewis Black, this show will take him out.

]]> Dave Coffman http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974698 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974698 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:02:01 -0800 Comment by innerinner yeah it sucked, but how fucked up was southpark tonight?

]]> innerinner http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974710 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974710 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:39:34 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Personally, I just don't get why you guys think this is even slightly funny.

It isn't.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974720 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974720 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:36:16 -0800 Comment by GK Oh, I used to love Lewis Black, but his shtick doesn't seem to be aging well. He does alright in short segments, but I don't think he can carry an entire show.

If only Bill Hicks was still around.

]]> GK http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974732 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974732 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 05:00:45 -0800 Comment by Mike D You know, I always enjoyed Back in Black and loved his first HBO special; I would never put him up next to Carlin or Stewart in terms of raw talent, but his shtick was always well delivered, and he has good moments.

Would I have given him a weekly show, however? I'm not sure about that. His stuff works great in bites, and his first HBO special had some solid material that made a once-thru excellent (it doesn't deliver on repeat views like Carlin's specials do). Beyond that it's not as refreshing as it used to be (pardon me, I didn't grow up with Hicks, so the first 'angry comic' for me was Black). I saw him live last summer, and it just didn't have the same appeal as before.

I think Black had a good style, well executed and I think when given plenty of time to drudge up material, he works well. He's the guy who shows up randomly at the perfect moment with the perfect source material and nails it; ask him to deliver consistently and he doesn't get to choose the moment or the story to work with, and he can't offer the edge he's great with.

A classic:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=125534&title=back-in-black-bush-v.-blair

]]> Mike D http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974743 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974743 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:14:30 -0800 Comment by cracked Black is an overrated ranter!

]]> cracked http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974751 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974751 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:55:29 -0800 Comment by Giffy He is funny in couple minute increments, but for 30 minutes, nope. That and the rather stupid court format and annoying laugh track.

]]> Giffy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974755 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974755 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:07:07 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Dear Dan Savage,

Lewis Black has always sucked. Always. I'd be embarrassed to let the world know I like/used-to-like him. Hell, I'm embarrassed for you.

And then there's your Chris Crocker post. Right. Below. It.

You're on a roll. Quick! Post something about Miranda July before something else pops up!

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974757 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974757 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:08:40 -0800 Comment by Lloyd Clydesdale Who doesn't get mad? Change the court thing to a couch, reduce the audience to one. Milieu resolved.

]]> Lloyd Clydesdale http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974763 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974763 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:29:04 -0800 Comment by David R. Black has never impressed me, but the clip in comment 12 (from 2003) is good.

]]> David R. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974779 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974779 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:53:24 -0800 Comment by Boomer in NYC FUTURAMA!!!!

yeah, I already got it on DVD, but still...

]]> Boomer in NYC http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974793 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974793 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:13:56 -0800 Comment by Matt Like most great stand-ups, he's good at stand-up, but TV? Not so much.

]]> Matt http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974795 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974795 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:15:02 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle K, now Futurama is funny, but Black isn't.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974904 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974904 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:54:05 -0800 Comment by Daniel I like Lewis Black. The show sucks, way too contrived and simply not very funny.

I think Black is more of a middle-aged taste. If you think you're frustrated with the ways of the world now, wait until you're in your 50's and you've been dealing with the same shit for all of your adult life. Then you'll understand why he says Fuck 87 times a show, his humor is best understood and appreciated with age.

I do agree with 17-Mike D. above, he isn't an improv guy, his schtick needs to be developed. This POS is beneath him.

]]> Daniel http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974908 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/the_root_of_all_evil_1#c974908 TV Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:56:23 -0800