John from Cincinnati

[JadeDragon]

Yeah, I feel ya...

FiYnite vision also applies to this week's episode of HBO's JOHN FROM CINCINNATI, which abruptly shifted from quirky dramedy with religious overtones - was there anyone who didn't get that the idiot savant John was some kind of visiting angel? - to really crappy sermonette. It's like creator/producer David Milch got the early reviews and was so pissed off that they didn't get what the series was about that he decided to tell them exactly what it was about. Where before he floated at the edges of other characters' lives to be a catalyst for changes in their perceptions of the world, now he miraculously appears in three places at once - a Holy Trinity directly interceding to force them to a "spiritual awareness." What's more, the sermon he gives during a dreamtime picnic leaves no doubt as to "John's" true identity: if he's not the returned Jesus Christ himself, he's quite aware he's the stand-in. It's a moment that's intended to be uplifting, revelatory - but all it did was turn the show idiotically mundane. With JOHN FROM CINCINNATI wiping out, BIG LOVE collapsing under its own weight (Bill Paxton's clan leader always came across as a rationalizing jerk, but this season they've apparently decided to play him as a total idiot), and the half-assed, meandering pseudo-humor of FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS, HBO's once-storied original programming lineup is looking all used up.

I watch all that crap too.

But Im not scared to both like it and also be critical of it. The way that Deadwood was cool because it was neat to hear Old West folks really cuss....doesnt translate well for old John FC. Makes me really dislike the characters...they seem like just emotional jerks that cant treat others the way they would like to be treated.

And lets just go there right now...am I right understanding that the grandma sexually abused her own son and thats why she wanted to kill herself and why shes so freaking obnoxious all the time?? Sweet mother of Jesus...just kill yerself already! I cant stand her. They forgot to make us care about her before they made us hate her. Now I just want her to wipe off that gun and shoot herself so I dont have to listen to her drop F-Bombs constantly through the rest of this series. A series Im guessing will be cancelled before any answers fullfill us.

I think thats the bottom line here...why they went all gospel preachy at the BBQ scene.....and the trinity of Johns suddenly not being a parrot anymore. I loved it at first...when he talked Grandma outta killing herself. FINALLY! Some progress! But of course...she went right back to being a filthy mouthed beeyotch.

My biggest gripe is that these folks all see miracles...and yet not one of them changes the way they treat others because of it...its like they have instant forget it...screw it....mentality. Except for the Doctor maybe. The rest act like the rest of this planet....even when confronted with a miracle....just keep being a selfish jerk and see what comes next....gyaaah!

The BBQ....made no sense. I think it was supposed to be a Twin Peaks moment to define the creator as brave and bold and genius...but...but it took me right out of my suspension of disbelief. Anyone else feel that? It didnt merge well. My hate began to overcome my curiosity.

And I always understood that John was the Angel here to announce the coming of the Lord. Seanny (SP?) the surfboarding son of Butchie Yoste and the porn star...he's obviously the new Messiah. I would love to see him come to grips with his destiny...but I think the creators of this HBO series are getting bogged down in character details unimportant to what the fans of this series would like to see happen. I wanna see this get hugely biblical. And let the characters they have gone a long way to illustrate and define become the backdrop of a global illumination that the new messiah is here on Earth. Now. I am getting the feeling they are chickening out...and getting too artistic to keep a fanbase willing to go all the way.

Just my opinions! I'll be watching next week.

BIG LOVE.....I wanted him to get a 4th wife. I think we all did. She's hot! That waitress. And would be a good partner so that the last added wife could gang up on them two olde crones (Who I love as well! Hee hee!)

I think he will start adding her next episode..at least I hope so. Its the only thing that has grabbed my attention about the show this season.

And FLIGHT of the Con--whatever.....I saw it for the first time the other day. I thought it was AWESOME. Loved the songs. Im sure tons of folks cant stand it. I loved the fact there was full frontal male....kinda. Im gonna be watching it again.

Anyone else have any opinions about all this HBO stuff? Oh, just me? And Steve?

Cheers!~~~~Patrick

[DBern]

I think you are mistaken about Flight of the Conchords. It is the best show HBO has put on in years. The Sopranos have stunk since season 3 and the only good show in recent years was Deadwood so of course they cancelled it. I realize that Flight of the Conchords is not your cup of tea but it is a truly funny show. Entourage has been dragging and we aren’t expecting any new episodes of the Wire for a while yet. While I do agree that HBO is slipping in its quality of shows, Flight of the Conchords is the one reason I even have HBO right now but am waiting for Extras and Curb Your Enthusiasm and the new Little Britain show that they are producing for America. See, HBO has to go and steal shows from the UK to have any credibility at all.

[Jack Zodiac]

"John From Cincinnati" was pretty fun for the first four or five episodes, but last week's took a turn for the Finch. It was like watching an episode of "Twin Peaks," but even worse, 'cause I'm pretty sure nobody in that show ever jerked off their own son. Pretty sure.

[brundlefly]

Agreed on the waning interest in JFC. I tried to give the show the benefit of the doubt at the beginning and to not hold Deadwood's abrupt cancellation against it (which was difficult, frankly). I was more-or-less enjoying it so far, although I found the supporting cast (Freddy, Bill, Vietnam Joe) more interesting than John or any of the Yosts. But this most recent "sermon" episode was pretty off-putting and ramrodded the religious elements home in a very unsubtle manner. I'll probably follow it to the season's end (just because I'm an anal-retentive completist that way), but the show's not doing a good job of drawing me in the way that the first seasons of Deadwood or Rome did. How many eps does JFC have left, anyway?

I love Flight of the Conchords, though; a lot like Tenacious D, except they're not limited to just parodying metal, and I like their dry, deadpan style of humor. But agreed on the weak state of HBO's current original programming: besides Flight Of The Conchords, the only current shows HBO still has that I really like are Curb, the Wire, and Real Time with Bill Maher.

[badMike]

I think "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is returning in Sept., which I'm very excited about. I haven't seen "John," but I did catch an episode of "Conchords" and thought it was really funny. However, I never did take the time to bother watching it again.

[JadeDragon]

Whoops!

My laziness kinda ruined what I was saying about Flight of the Conchords....I only said "Flight of the...Whatever" cuz I couldnt remember how to spell "Conchords"! And was too lazy to google it or something. Ha ha! Sorry! I loved that show! Ive only seen one episode, but I think its great!

This is the first year Ive had HBO in a long time, so I dont know how much downhill their original programming has gone. I loved the final season of Sopranos (Including the ending...I think Tony got wacked). And Big Love has been fun. I have always wanted to see Curb your Enthusiasm....never seen one episode...so I cant wait for that.

Real Time with Bill Maher is a favorite. And Entourage is fun...I live in LA so its fun to see them go places Ive been, like Gladstones.

My girlfriend really liked Hank Azaria's HUFF. She was sad to see it go.

But I still hold out hope fort John From Cincinatti, the more I think about it, the more I like the producers for fighting for their vision, even if it gets a bit experimental and weird.

Bring on the new messiah!~~~Patrick

[badMike]

My girlfriend really liked Hank Azaria's HUFF. She was sad to see it go.That was on Showtime.

[JadeDragon]

see next post.........

[JadeDragon]

That was on Showtime.

Shows what I know. Right. You got me.

My bad!

[brundlefly]

Aaaand we're done.....

Say goodbye to 'John from Cincinnati'
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/08/14/television.john.reut/

I had already decided not to watch the show next season anyway, based on the inscrutable season finale that had been promoted as where a lot of the questions would be answered, but then didn't deliver on that. This show had some great performances (Ed O'Neil's Bill Jacks, specifically, and also Brian Van Holt's Butchie and Dayton Callie's Steady Freddy) and I think those characters are what kept me watching, not trying to figure out what John Monad's story and purpose were. Those who think the mythology on shows like Lost or the X-Files is confusing or slow to unfold should have checked this show out for an example of those characteristics taken to the extreme. I mean, I love figuring out a puzzle-box plot and looking for themes and all that, but throw me a freaking bone here, Milch. I dug the underlying religious themes, but those and the show's characters never really coalesced into anything tangible in the end, unless the Stinkweed parade/promotional giveaway had larger implications that went over my head (which is most certainly a possibility).
Hmph. Anyway, not too broken up about this announcement. Maybe Alan Ball's vampire dealy will be cool.....

[Steven Grant]

Maybe Alan Ball's vampire dealy will be cool.....

I dunno... 1) It's vampires, which have pretty much been, no pun intended, done to death now, and 2) are we going on the basis of the first season of SIX FEET UNDER or the later ones?

- Grant