World of Weird Al Yankovic

algonacchick @ May 3 2004, 08:23 AM wrote: BTD, you said a list of tv shows set to music isn't funny. Does that mean you don't like Couch Potato, either? Just wondering.

*sigh* Again, like ICWT, "Couch Potato" makes jokes about the TV shows in the song. Not all of them, mind you, but MOST of them. "Syndicated Stink" is JUST a list, and nothing more!

For argument's sake, let's take a look at some lyric examples:

I Can't Watch This wrote:
Cosby show and Roseanne
Think I've taken 'bout as much as I can
Judge Wopner, oh my
You gotta be Rainman to like this guy
Thirtysomething's all right
If you like hearing yuppies whining all night
Can't stand Twin Peaks
Wish they'd lynch those donut-eatin' freaks
Those Siskel and Ebert bums
Oughtta go home and just sit on their thumbs 

As you can see, there are several random TV shows mentioned here, but a joke is made about each one of them.

Couch Potato wrote: My butt is aching
As I watch NASCAR racing
That show about undertaking
Larry King to "24" to "Law and Order"
The Weather Channel's boring like 60 Minutes
Ancient reporters next up on "E True Hollywood Story"
The rise and decline of twelve actors named Corey

Shows for next fall, they've already been naming
"CSI: Boise", and "Touched By An Uncle", both sound prettying lame, man
so does "Everybody Tolerates Raymond"
and "King of Queens" jumped the shark the first minute
I can't believe Richard Simmons ain't in it.

Again, a lot of shows refrenced here, and some are merely listed/mentioned, but most of them are successfully used to humorous effect.

The Brady Bunch wrote: You can watch Mister Rogers,
You can watch Three's Company,
And you can turn on Fame,
Or the Newlywed Game,
Or the Addams Family.

Say, you can watch Barney Miller,
And you can watch your MTV,
And you can watch
Till your eyes fall out of your head.
That'll be okay with me.
And you can watch (TV)

Now there aren't many jokes in this verse alone, and on the surface it looks like it's very much like "Syndicated Inc." However, the entire verse falls back on the main joke. That is, that the singer would rather watch any of these shows than have to watch "The Brady Bunch." It's the same exact type of joke as is used in "Achy Breaky Song."

Syndicated Inc. wrote: "M*A*S*H" and "All in The Family"
"The Munsters" and "Mayberry R.F.D."
I will always be busy
Watching my TV

Oprah Winfrey talks to me
Every day at three
Then soon it'll be
"Wheel" and "Jeopardy"

A LIST. NOTHING MORE HERE.... No jokes. No irony. No satire. JUST A LIST.

Alright, point taken. I still like Syndicaed, Inc. We all have our little differences here. No need to give that song a new name, either.

Patti

What? You don't like that title? That's what I'm going to call it from now on! HAHAHAHA!

Syndicated Stink!

Well, how about that Amish Paradise tune? *tries to change the subject*

I know I like it!

Patti

Bruce the Duck @ May 3 2004, 10:06 AM wrote: Syndicated Stink! 

I like Syndicated Inc.!

I like Bad Hair Day too!

And I also like Syndicated Inc. I always thought Al was pointing out how everything on TV was syndicated and you can see those shows just about anytime of the day and on many different stations so you won't miss them no matter what. But that's my opinion.
I'd rather listen to Al's rap than anyone else's. Rap is just not my favorite kind of music.

Trixie

I like BHD a lot, AP is my favorite song off of that album, with TNSWC in second place.

Syndicated Inc is probably my least favorite off of the album, though I still like the song.

I like Cavity Search...a lot. In fact, so much I performed it at AlCon. It's my personal anthem for a fun filled summer spent in the dentist chair.

-CindyBob

weirdstef @ May 3 2004, 05:36 PM wrote: I always thought Al was pointing out how everything on TV was syndicated and you can see those shows just about anytime of the day and on many different stations so you won't miss them no matter what.

Okay....but that's still not a joke. It's not funny to name a bunch of shows that are Syndicated. It's hella lame! I guess he couldn't think of any good jokes about shows being Syndicated, but then if that's the case, why make the song at all?

The only redeeming qualities that that song has are the accordion solo and the tune (which credit for goes to Soul Asylum, not Al).

~Negative Nancy

"Syndicated Stink". How long did it take you to come up with that piece of rubbish title? Oh, very clever. ( )