HBO's Veep is good again
HBO's Veep is good again
#1HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/10/16 at 2:11am
I thought the present season of HBO's Veep was off to a shaky start with two perfectly fine, but not particularly memorable episodes, but last night's third episode, 'The Eagle' was absolutely brilliant. Easily the funniest thing I've seen in awhile. Everything was firing on all cylinders as the half hour built to a frenzied third act. This is when the show's at its best - when it seamlessly blends sharp, political satire with out-and-out farce. It's one of the few 'smart' comedies that also makes me genuinely L-O-L.
As for the rough start to the season, it might be explained by a change in creative leadership. Armando Iannucci decided not to return for the fifth season, so that he could stay home in London with his family. But the new showrunner is no slouch - David Mandel is an executive producer of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
#2HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/10/16 at 4:09pm
Veep is the best show on television, and features a stellar ensemble cast. However, I am not crazy about this fifth season. It lacks a certain punch that the past seasons had. I do think it is because of the change in showrunner. The scripts are still funny, and the cast continues to deliver, but it's just not knocking it out of the ballpark the way past seasons continually did. And this sounds strange, but even the switch in filming locations has altered the look and feel of Veep. This new season is the first shot on the West coast.
#3HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/11/16 at 2:09am
I like the show but sometimes I feel like the lines come out of the mouths of the writers and not the characters. People in general are not that quick witted. But I will always love Tony Hale. He can play that part until he croaks as far as I am concerned. Very Funny!!!
#4HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/11/16 at 7:25am
CVS not CBS! haha, haven't we all made similar mistake?
When They Go Low, I Go High
#6HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/14/16 at 11:23am
Aren't CBS and HBO like sister channels or somehow related through Make it happen please!
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
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Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
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#8HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/16/16 at 3:26am
Season keeps getting better and better.
"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-
#9HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/16/16 at 1:18pm
The funereal scene was very funny. Gary Cole looked like he was laughing...
#10HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/17/16 at 1:15am
Another great, eminently quotable episode. They've definitely recovered from a slow start. Love that they went so dark, too.
John Adams
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
#11HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/18/16 at 8:55am
Selina: So where's my mother?
Sue: She’s down the hall, to the right. …and Andrew’s here.
Gary: What…?
Selina: What!?
Sue: At Catherine’s request. ...but I made sure he had nowhere to sit.
Selina: You are good people, Sue.
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#12HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/18/16 at 11:39am
SmoothLover said: "I like the show but sometimes I feel like the lines come out of the mouths of the writers and not the characters. "
Yeah -- there've been a few too cleverly arcane references tossed around this year, more than once I've winced at the over-reaching.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
#13HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/18/16 at 6:09pm
I understand ^that complaint, though I don't agree with it. I think you either connect with a writer's sensibilities or you don't. That same complaint could be lobbed at comedic works from Shakespeare to Wilde to Woody Allen to Tina Fey.
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#14HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/19/16 at 9:17am
Well, not so much a matter of not connecting with their sensibilities, more a matter of thinking that the writers, being mere humans after all, blow it on occasion. For every wince-inducing bit of over-reaching there's been four or five moments where it just bloody well works like gangbusters. Even Shakespeare, Wilde, Woody and Tina all stumble occasionally -- I still get them.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
Updated On: 5/19/16 at 09:17 AM
#15HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/19/16 at 9:50am
Sorry, I wasn't referring to variances in the quality of writing, simply to the criticism that "the lines [sound like they] come out of the mouths of the writers and not the characters".
I was just observing that the same thing has been said about many comedic writers - including some of my favorites. When I don't connect with the writer's sensibilities (say, with the dreadful Diablo Cody of 'Juno' fame), this 'writer voice' quality drives me up the wall. But when I do connect with the writer's sensibilities (Shakespeare, Wilde, Allen, Fey etc.) then it doesn't seem to bother me in the least. And that's not to say that any of those writers can't/couldn't write for individual characters. Of course they could. But they each have/had such distinctive voices, that their styles are almost instantly recognizable. I think the same could be said of the Veep style of writing.
#16HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 5/19/16 at 10:51am
I hate that they aren't using Hugh Laurie more. He was a great addition. Hopefully, it's due to him filming the cable miniseries. I figure it would end up with the tie and him president and she's veep again.
Fantod
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/3/14
#17HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 6/7/16 at 12:13am
Just watched this Sunday's episode and it might be one of the best of the series. Angry, demented, and downright hilarious, it reminds me of the very best episodes of the first season.
#18HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 6/7/16 at 9:54am
Selina's takedown of Senator Knickerson was positively glorious.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#19HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 6/10/16 at 2:55am
HorseTears said: "Sorry, I wasn't referring to variances in the quality of writing, simply to the criticism that "the lines [sound like they] come out of the mouths of the writers and not the characters".
I was just observing that the same thing has been said about many comedic writers - including some of my favorites. When I don't connect with the writer's sensibilities (say, with the dreadful Diablo Cody of 'Juno' fame), this 'writer voice' quality drives me up the wall. But when I do connect with the writer's sensibilities (Shakespeare, Wilde, Allen, Fey etc.) then it doesn't seem to bother me in the least. And that's not to say that any of those writers can't/couldn't write for individual characters. Of course they could. But they each have/had such distinctive voices, that their styles are almost instantly recognizable. I think the same could be said of the Veep style of writing.
The observation I made was not in anyway a criticism of the writers. It is the job of the director and actors to inhabit the dialogue. It is acting and directing 101. If it is not achieved it becomes a distraction from the world that is being created. I appreciate the rapid fire satirical approach but the dialogue still needs to come out of the minds of the characters. Don't get me wrong, I love the show.
"
#20HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 6/17/16 at 8:47am
Jonah Ryan winning the election would not be so funny if it was not so close to truth!
When They Go Low, I Go High
#21HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 6/19/16 at 5:36pm
Just caught up on last week's ep. Oh LORD. That was perhaps the second funniest of the season. The misidentification of Selena and Catherine's relationship had me dying.
Fantod
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/3/14
#23HBO's Veep is good again
Posted: 6/27/16 at 2:42am
A very strong season, going to be interesting to see where they go from here.
"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-
Fantod
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/3/14
