The PopFilter 2014 New Fall TV Challenge
Round 3
GOTHAM
VS
TIM AND ERIC’S BEDTIME STORIES
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Gotham and Tim and Eric’s Bedtime Stories put their audiences through many of the same experiences, despite the two shows having almost nothing in common. Having now watched three episodes of each, I have spent the viewing time feeling anxious, nauseated, and confused. I have spent a total of three hours wondering if anyone involved has a firm grip on anything that’s going on, and if not, if that’s the point. I have spent a lot of the time bored, but still want another one after each episode. And now, these two titans of the New Fall TV Season have to face each other, and only one can move on to the final four.
I also thought that each show would have a firmer grasp of itself than it does after three episodes, or at least I would have a firmer grasp on both. For Gotham, it’s just the “new show smell” that plagues most freshman series. It teeters and totters from one tone to the next, hoping it can establish something – anything – before renewals and cancellations are handed out. TAEBS is something quite different, obviously, because Tim and Eric are quite different. Both shows are all over the place, but TAEBS is purposefully so, a horror anthology in true Tim and Eric fashion, complete with weirdos and bad costumes and wacky editing. Reviewing TAEBS is a lot like reviewing a skit show. You know that some skits will work, and some won’t. Is the final review the average score of the total skits? Do you reward potential? It’s tough, and it’s made tougher by the fact that Tim and Eric don’t give a shit if my job is easy. If we’re going by average, I’d say that through three episodes we have a good (Toes), an average (Holes), and a borderline unreviewable one (The Bathroom Boys). Holes is probably more successful than The Bathroom Boys, as it does try for something a little more than Tim and Eric’s usual bucket of crazy, but even Toes, which really is quite good, isn’t interested in being anything more than an experiment.
In many ways, Gotham still feels like an experiment, too, and after three episodes, I’m not sure it will ever be a totally successful one. There’s so many dumb things packed into every episode. Thankfully, however, the list of endearing things (a more assured level of camp, a blossoming universe, Bruce and Alfred) is growing with each episode. Tim and Eric’s Bedtime Stories shows a lot of promise, and I’m sure that this season will provide at least a couple more great episodes, but it’s Gotham that moves on to get the shit kicked out of it in the next round.
– Ryan Haley